August 20th, 2006
Question:
I have a problem. – 86 Celebrity 2.5L
Car will crank but not start. While swapping battery and connecting
positive cable first I heard a popping sound by the right firewall. I
finished hooking up the battery and tried to start the car:
1. Car would crank but won’t start
2. Checked for spark wth timing light – no start
3. tried to pull codes (with paper clip) old fashion type – light would not
flash
4. radio fuse blew, all others ok
5. Could it be the computer? If not what could it be?
6. Is there a way out can check the computer – or just buy one from a junk
yard”
Answer:
It could be the computer, or a fusible link in the wiring harness. A fusible link is basically an inline fuse, that is not replacable. You would have to find the link in the harnas and replace it. Sometimes there are fuses/relays in the engine compartment also, but that is more common on foreign cars. To really diagnose the issue, you need a multi-meter, and a good repair manual with wiring schematics. You need to see if the computer is getting power, and test some of the outputs to see if it’s working.
You can buy computers out of a junkyard, and this may be an easy way to diagnose your problem without spending too much time or money. (depending on the cost of the computer) I would think you should be able to get the computer from a junkyard for less than $150. Check out www.car-part.com to search junkyard inventories.
Posted in Electrical, Engine | No Comments »
August 20th, 2006
Kevin,
Question:
First off, you have a great blog. Very informative and useful.
I own a 1982 Corvette with a 5.7L(350 cu) V8. Is this an interference
Engine?
My timing chain broke, and I’m wondering if there will be valve or cylinder
damage.
Thank you very much,
David
Answer:
From my knowledge the stock 350 is not an interference engine, so you should be ok. If you were at very high rpms or have an aftermarket cam shaft, then all bets are off. A higher lift cam could cause the valves to hit the pistons. Also if you have a set of high compression pistons in the car, same outcome.
The good news is that it’s fairly easy to change the timing chain on the SBC and you should be able to do it in a day and fire it up to see if there was any damage. This will save you the hassle of taking the intake and heads off to inspect for valve/piston damage.
Good Luck,
Kevin
Update…
Kevin,
Thanks for your answer to my last question. I have another question.
My car is a 1982 corvette with a 5.7L V8. My car started with a timing
problem. It would idle, but stall when I tried to drive it. I replaced
the fuel filters and retimed the distributor. Everything was fine for 2
days, but suddenly it refuesed to start. It won’t even turnover. It just
cranks.
Posted in Engine | No Comments »
August 19th, 2006
Question:
I had a water pump and hoses replaced on a 1995 Chevy G30 van, the morning
after I got it back I noticed a small 2″ spot of a yellowish-green oily
fluid on the driveway. Thought it might be some residual antifreeze driping
off the engine. By the next day I noticed my A/C seemed to not be getting as
cold as usual and 2 days later it started cycling of and on, by the next day
it would not cycle the the A/C on at all and was not cooling at all. I took
back to the service department and the said they found refrigerant leaking
from the A/C Compressor High Pressure Cutout Switch and replaced it. When I
was talking to the tech doing the repairs and explained that I just had the
water pump and hoses replaced and questioned if the switch could have been
damaged then he seemed to think that it could have happened. When I went to
get the car and told the service manager my story he stated that there was
no possible way that they could have caused the leak in the switch. He said
it was just a coincidence that the leak started when it did. I was just
wondering what your opinion was. If you have ever heard of a A/C Compressor
High Pressure Cutout Switch just start leaking on its own before. Thank you
for your time any comments.
Answer:
Rick,
This is a preview of
A/C Compressor High Pressure Cutout Switch
.
Read the full post (345 words, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)
Posted in Heat & AC | No Comments »
August 19th, 2006
Question:
Brown speckles began appearing all over my white yukon. The dealer said rail
dust, fix with claybar treatment, $300 thank you! The spots started to come
back within 2 weeks. The GM dealer now does a tap dance and with lot of BS.
Who can I take this vehicle too to find out what is really happening to
this paint job. No other cars where I park this car are similarily
afflicted. Thanks
Answer:
I am guessing you are in the mid-atlantic region. I too have seen the little black spots on my car. My spots looked like little balls of tar and you can scratch the tops of the ball off, but a small spot still remains which is hard to remove? Is this what you are seeing? If it is, you problem is not rail dust, but Artillery Fungus ! Yes I said fungus. In the mid-atlantic region there has been a real problem with this little known fungus which shoots a sticky liquid from it’s insides up to a couple of feet away. The wind can then carry them even further. They grow in rotting wood and mulch. It may not be from your place of business, but rather from your house, or even the gas station you may visit every morning for coffee. (if they have mulch around)
For more information, Dr. Donald D. Davis of Penn State is currently doing research on this annoying fungus http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/d/d/ddd2/
Posted in Body, Car Care | 3 Comments »
August 19th, 2006
Digital Chosunilbo – Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors also went up 0.64 percent and 2.04 percent, rising for a third day. The tech-heavy Kosdaq gained 3.74 points or 0.68 percent to close at 551.81 points. The U.S. dollar fell W4.20 to close at W961. ( englishnews@chosun
Market for small, redesigned cars grows as gas prices rise
Canton Repository – Model July from 2005 Chevrolet Aveo 35,078 16.1 Toyota Yaris 32,822 NA Hyundai Accent 21,476 16.3 Toyota Scion xA 19,794 28.4 Kia Rio 16,957 11.0 Honda Fit 15,922 NA Suzuki Aerio 6,843 59.4 Nissan Versa 2,956 NA Total 151,848 43.0 Source
TEST DRIVE
Columbia Daily Tribune – A South Korean brand that has never suffered the early quality complaints of its parent Hyundai, Kia is one of the most remarkable success stories in recent automotive history. Just 12 years after entering the U.S. market with a modest Sephia compact
Hyundai says it has no interest in acquiring Ford’s Jaguar brand
Ludington Daily News – Hyundai, along with affiliate Kia Motors Corp., is aggressively expanding its overseas presence. Hyundai plans to build a new factory in the Czech Republic while Kia plans one in the U.S. state of Georgia. Hyundai already has factories in the United
Aveo geared for more gas savings
Detroit Free Press – The Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Nissan Versa entered the U.S. market this year, joining the Aveo, Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent. Aveo is the best-selling subcompact in the United States so far this year but was outsold by the Yaris in July. Chevy executives
Posted in Automotive News | No Comments »
