Automotive Technicians Technical Discussion and Fixes for Jan 31, 2004

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Open Help Requests for All Makes and Models

	Help Request	Answers
	1993 Audi 90 S 2.8L No Start, Cuts out VIN: WAUBJ58C5P hello fellow techs. Need help with this Audi. Picked it up with no start. The car had been sitting for two years. A used engine was installed. The customer requested to change all fluids, filters, and to tune vehicle. Tried to start and sounded as if it was o...	View
	1991 Buick Park Avenue 3.8L No Start VIN: 1G4CW53L5M This vehicle was towed into our shop with a no start condition. Engine will start, run for approx 1-2 seconds and die. this will repeat as often as you want to crank it. Spark seems to last longer than injector pulse. I feel that I am losing injector command. ...	View
	1992 Buick Roadmaster Limited 5.7L Poor Idle Quality, Misfire VIN: 1G4BT5379N Original complaint was: engine runs rough after 20 minutes of driving. On road test, found engine started fine and ran perfectly until up to operating temperature. It then began to miss at a traffic light, in drive at idle. Brought vehicle inside, found code 5... Trouble codes: 54 (Fuel Pump Relay)	View
	1994 Chevrolet K1500 5.7L Speedometer GM Techs Thanks For The Help. I Have A 1994 Silverado That Someone Put a 411 Ratio Rear End In. The Speedo Is Off And Needs Recalibrated. On Model Year 1988 To 1992 We Replaced A Chip In The Speedo. On 1994 Models You Do Not Replace The Chip. Can The Speedo Be...	View
	1997 Chevrolet C1500 Cheyenne 5.7L Hesitation, Cuts out VIN: 1GCEC19R1V My personal vehicle has had intermittent codes over the last couple of weeks with no drivability problems. I was thinking because the fuel pump has been very noisy, I thought I had a loss of fuel pressure intermittently causing the codes. Then today, it starte... Trouble codes: P0134, P0154	View
	1999 Chevrolet Express 2500 5.7L No Start The computer in this vehicle has been replaced 3 times. After about 3 weeks the vehicle stalls and will not restart. Upon inspection, the computer has erratic readings including fuel trim at -75% or lower, ect at 411 degrees, spark advance at 200+ degrees. I h...	View
	1995 Dodge Neon 2.0L torque converter solenoid VIN: 1BE3ES67C6 need help determining whether problem is in wiring or in pcm. to coincidental to just have happened on it's own. ck'd all wires and connections were secured, not sure how to proceed from here.	View
	1998 Dodge Dakota SLT 5.2L No Start VIN: 1B7GL22Y0W vehicle was towed in with no start condition, no spark,no fuel, no initialization, no injector pulse, tested computor, has battery and ignition power reaching pcm, also ground to pcm ok voltage drop on grounds results were in spec. no 5volt reference leaving p...	View
	1992 Ford Taurus GL 3.0L 2-shift3 VIN: 1FACP52U4N This car was brought to me for a tune up I replaced the plugs, wires, fuel & air filter, pvc valve, changed the oil. When I did a road test the shift from 2-3 seems choppy like the lock up is early? this is in D not OD I feel a kind of vbibration in the gas pe...	View
	1995 Ford Aerostar XLT 3.0L Excessive Emissions VIN: 1FMDA11UXS Hello everyone. I have an emission related problem. Our Ontario Drive Clean Program has brought me a tough one to fix. It is a 95 Aerostar 3.0L v6 with no egr system on it. It does have a NOx reduction cat and an oxidizing cat behind it. My tests show both cat...	View
	1996 Ford Windstar GL 3.8L Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: 2FMDA5148T another tech did a spark plug change (tune up) and then went on disabillity. i recived the vehicle with a mil light on a couple of days later. pulled code po304(misfire #4 cyl) and checked plugs and found dark spot on electrode porcelin so i replaced the plug.... Trouble codes: P0304	View
	2001 Honda Accord EX 3.0L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1HGCG16581 When car was brought to the shop it was taken for a test drive. Neither the check engine nor traction control light were on. Car handled normally. Checked for any vacume leaks, checked engine for ignition misfire. Checked for codes. Found code #1491, EGR Insuf... Trouble codes: 1491 (EGR Insufficent lift detected)	View
	2000 Isuzu NPR 5.7L u1041 VIN: 4KLB4B1R6J checked connections @ control module - good ?	View
	1989 Jeep Wrangler Islander 4.2L Cuts out, Stall, Misfire, Backfire VIN: 2JFY39T2LJ This engine will intermittantly cut out while driving at any given time.I havent included many test results because the engine runs perfect till the anomoly occurs, and Im not quite sure how to monitor the ignition system when the problem occurs while driving....	View
	1994 Land Rover Range Rover County 3.9L brake bleeding VIN: SALHV1243R replaced abs hydrolic control unit due to leakage, replaced front calipers and all 4 rotors(below specs), bleed brake system per alldata instructions. still unable to get a brake pedal. good fluid coming from bleeders. althought in alldata procedure calls for ...	View
	1989 Mercury Grand Marquis 5.0L overdrive hi, this is a family members car that i am attempting to repair cheaply. when gear selector is in regular drive the trans will try to shift to overdrive and then just starts slipping. when the gear selector is in the secound drive position it seems normal pro...	View
	1999 Nissan Sentra SE 2.0L Stall VIN: 3NIFB42D9X Hello IATN friends, I hope you can help me with this sentra. The problem it has is that it stalls when you put the transmission in drive or reverse, just for the next 5 minutes after starting the car with engine cold, and just in the mornings when the weather...	View
	2002 Nissan Altima 2.5L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1N4AL11D62 Any of you Nissan techs familiar with this? Car came in with the MIL illuminated, had a code P0420 (catalyst efficiency) stored. Looks like they look for too much oxygen sensor variation on the post cat O2 sensor. Watched O2 sensors on a scope on a road test, ... Trouble codes: P0420	View
	1987 Oldsmobile Toronado Brougham 3.8L Head Lamp Switch VIN: 1G3EZ1134H Hello, this vehicle has had two headlamp switches. The problem goes away for 2-3 months. The problem is the park lamps stay on after the car and switch is turned off. After removal of the switch you can see and smell that the switch is burned up. I have checke...	View
	1997 Saab 900 S 2.3L headgasket VIN: Y53DD35B0V hello tech...my brother needs the torque specs and order of tightening for the for mention..also is the procedure the same for a 2.0...thanks for the help if you can...this a /// 900S///...keith	View
	1993 Saturn SL2 1.9L Automatic seat belt VIN: 1G8ZK5573P The Mouse that travels up and back with the shoulder belt will travel about 5 inches up the rail from the forward position and then cycle back and forth about an inch,it will not continue to the closed position at the drivers left shoulder to secure the belt w...	View
	1987 Subaru DL 1.8L Hesitation, Surge VIN: JF2AN52B1H After a hot soak in warm or cold weather,upon restart vehicle runs very lean in low to midrange operation. Idles fine,will pull barely off-idle,but midrange it has a SEVERE lean surge condition. It will run on wide open throttle with secondary open just fine. ...	View
	1997 Suzuki X-90 1.6L MIL Lamp on VIN: JS3LB1159V THIS EGR SYSTEM WORKS IF YOU DISCONNECT THE METAL TUBE FROM THE EGR TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE EGR WILL OPEN AND ALLOW EXHAUST GAS THRU THE PORT HOWEVER ITS ALMOST AS IF THERES TO MUCH VACUUM FROM THE MANIFOLD THAT IS HOLDING THE EGR SHUT WHEN THE TUBE IS REI... Trouble codes: P00, 43 (egr flow malfunction)	View
	2000 Toyota Tundra Limited 4.7L Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: TBBT4412YS good day all, this tundra has the mil on po300, 305 and 307. compression is 175 - 180. current ramped and voltage tested ignition coils and injectors w/ 5100...all good. motorvac'd w/ motorvac solution then with 3m. misfire is not as severe but still there. st... Trouble codes: P0300, P0305, P0307	View
	2004 Toyota Camry SE 3.3L Suspension VIN: 4T1BF32K04 This is a new 2004 Camry with a loud noise in the right rear when it hits a bump. It sounds like a srut that is worn out or the gas charge has escaped. The Toyota dealer said the strut "had no gas charge" and replaced it. The noise is still there. As 2002 & 03...	View
	1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 1.7L oil pressure VIN: WVWCA0151C this is a very agrevating engine,although it runs great this high oil pressure is driving us crazy. tried three oil pumps as the check valve is in the pump, the first two oil pumps were from top notch german company, and the second was from another. we even tr...	View
	1996 Volkswagen Jetta GL 2.0L No Start VIN: 3VWRA1H8TM Car towed in died on hwy. Started it and ran into shop and it ran fine. Let sit outside over night and no start, no spark. I checked the cam and crank sensors with a lab scope and I have a good sine wave from crank sensor and the cam makes and nice square wave... Trouble codes: P0300 (Multiple misfires), P0304 (Misfire 4cyl)	View
	1999 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8L Starter, windows & courtesy lights won't operate VIN: WVWNA63B2X Help! Vag-com reports that only engine, ABS, instrument cluster , OBDII and something identified as KW1281 are controllers that are online. It will not connect with the Comfort System or CAN Bus Controllers. All fuses are fine, including the ones on the eight...	View

Fixes & Summaries for All Makes and Models

	Fix/Summary	Answers
	1995 BMW 740i 4.0L Poor Idle Quality, MIL Lamp on VIN: WBAGF6326S John [...], MBCHEVTC NAiled this one. After checking the intake system with a smoke tester, We found the smallest leak at the throttle plate seal. Replaced it and seems perfect. What a great tool 'IATN' Thanks again, JMS Trouble codes: 1222 (feedback at limit).	8
	1996 Cadillac DeVille 4.6L no shifting VIN: 1G6KD52Y5T I only received 2 replies to this one and it has b een open for some time now. I am still baffled as to why this car won't throw any codes regarding gear ratio errors or slippage or anything like that. One reply said to try running my own grounds to the transm...	3
	1991 Chevrolet Lumina Euro 3.1L temp reading VIN: 2G1WN54T3M i would like to thank everyone for there help on this problem. i fixwd the problem useing a lisle cooling system spill free funnel 22150. it placed the coolant above the thermostat housing. forceing all the air out of the system. this is a must have tool it wi...	14
	1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo LS 3.1L Lighting VIN: 2G1WW12MXW I checked the battery at work and it didn't test that well. I'm going change that battery with a better one, perhaps of better quality. This is the third battery I've had in the car the last year. The other ones went bad because each of them had atleast one de...	8
	2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 LT 6.0L driver memory VIN: 3GNGK26U93 Thank you for the 3 people that replied. I was pretty sure that when we re-programmed the door modules and the body computer we would loose the function of mirror memory; although I could not confirm it specifically any where. So where do you turn? I.A.T.N. ...	3
	1987 Dodge Dakota 3.9L Hesitation, Cuts out, Stall, Misfire VIN: 1B7GN14MOH Thanks for the responses! The 3 replys mentioned carburetor solenoid, poor grounds and bad spark controllers. After much testing we decided to take a closer look at the distributor and after removing the pickup found the reluctor attached to the dist. shaft wi...	3
	1988 Dodge W100 Custom 5.2L Excessive Emissions, Poor Idle Quality, Hesitation, Surge, Stall VIN: 1B7HWO4Y2J hi everyone,i checked the distributor and it needed repaired but did not fix the problem so i decided to pull the intake and check for vac. leak and low an behold i found my problem a cracked gasket. thank you for the help CHARLES [...]	12
	1994 Dodge Grand Caravan ES 3.8L Battery VIN: 1B4GH54L5R Hello all. Thank you for all the help and replies I received. Being this is/was a intermediate problem (could take 3-6 weeks to happen) I am hoping since it has been over three weeks now that the problem was fixed. I did all the checking I could and never real...	11
	1997 Dodge Neon 2.0L transmission VIN: 1PES42C5VD We disasembled transmission and it needed to much parts to repair. We enstalled crhysler reman transmission, since customer stated trans had same condition since car was new i figured ther might be simple adjustment to repair. I thank everyone for info and hel...	17
	1998 Dodge Intrepid 2.7L No Start, Poor Idle Quality, Cuts out, Misfire VIN: 2C3HH46R6W Well, I hate to close this without any answers, but due to how cold the weather has been here, and the fact that I haven't been able to drive under the conditions that the problem occurs, I have had no opportunities to do any more testing. I had a reply the ... Trouble codes: P0300 (Random/Multiple Misfire).	7
	2003 Dodge Grand Caravan EX 3.8L head lights VIN: 2D4GP74L53 I recieved 4 replies for this one, 3 of them said that the belt gets wet and causes slipping, the other one said to check the battery condition and the alternator output which we already did and everything checked out ok. Customer took the vehicle back to the ...	7
	1995 Ford Windstar GL 3.8L Brake System VIN: 2FMDA5140S ThankYou for all your tech. support with good advise, I found the right rear ABS sensor was off gap, fill with all dirt surround the sensor, I clean up the sensor and regap, the system back to normal braking, thanks again for the help.	12
	1995 Ford F-250 XL 7.3L No Start, 8 qts low on oil VIN: 1FTHF26F4S The main fix was replacing the injector O-ring. All the responses I received made the job successful. I had a lot of repair tips that I will summarize. Removing the right rear injector required removing the vacuum box from the evaporator core housing. I did no... Trouble codes: P1219 (cylinder ID), P0261 (1 injector circut low), P0279 (7 injector circut low), P0267 (3 injector circut low), P0273 (5 injector circut low), P1271 (1271-1278 high to low side open).	15
	1999 GMC Savana 2500 6.5L No Start, Cuts out, Stall VIN: 1GTGG29F4X hello fellow tech's. - sorry for taking so long to post a fix. - we did get this one fixed. - finally after a lot testing, digging thro t.s.b's, talking to tech support lines (ac delco & iatn), our local g.m service advisor, shop forman, leaving the vehicle at... Trouble codes: P0251 (inj pump a rotor cam problem mar 2001 51762km), P0251 (inj pump a rotor cam problem mar 2001 51762km), P1216 (fuel sol response time too short nov 2002 89921km).	5
	1997 Honda Accord EX 2.2L engine VIN: 1HGC05638V I did not get any usefull replies for my oil leak. The leak was indeed coming from under head.I found a broken head bolt. It was at rear of engine (close to dist) towards radiator.I call front of engine towards timing belt. Thanks for the members who tried to ...	12
	1991 Isuzu NPR 3.9L steering box VIN: JALB4B1K4N Replaced steering box with new box to fix leak ,no rebuilt units not avalabile thank for all who replied Paul [...]	4
	1993 Mazda 626 LX 2.0L No Start VIN: 1YVGE22A3P Thanks to all that took time away from their busy schedule to respond too me. A new computer fixed the no start. The car runs great. This young college girl is happy her car is fixed. A quick summary of the testing I did: with the distributor removed I could r...	8
	2000 Nissan Maxima GLE 3.0L srs airbag light VIN: JN1CA31A9Y Thanks guys! I received four responses to my help request. Bob from Ontario's response got to me first, so I forwarded the message to my customer (who wanted to try and perform the reset himself). He did not have any success and so brought the car back to me. ...	7
	2000 Saturn SL1 1.9L anti theft VIN: 1G8ZH5283Y A special thanks to Brian [...] who suggested to NOT wait for the light to change state ie. stop flashing. All I had to do was wait the ten minutes between key cycles and the car started up fine. The downside to all this is that the Saturn i...	8
	1998 Subaru Forester S 2.5L master cylinder VIN: JF1SF6551W thanks to all who confirmed my suspicion of the booster vacuum hose. i tee'd in vacuum guage then put car outside overnite. in a.m. i checked the vacuum guage & found it read 18' of vacuum so i knew the booster was ok & the check valve was ok at holding vacuum...	11
	1985 Toyota Celica Supra 2.8L Mechanical VIN: JT2MA67L9F First of all I would like to thank those who replied to my post. Anyways, I went to a local Toyota dealer to get the spec. which was .002 - .0098. So, I was still within the factory spec. So under warranty repair, I went ahead and replaced rear main, front mai...	13
	1999 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8L rotors VIN: WVWMA63B7X Thanks to the techs that responded with their suggestions of a bad master cylinder. Obviously the cheaper thing to do between that and the ABS module. It has been 3 weeks now and customer says no more overheating brakes!!! (Although I still don't see how the m...	9
	1999 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 2.8L system function VIN: 3VWTEZ9M6X Hi Only had one person got this one . We had to replace the climate control module. Dealer price $444.25 although customer didn't want to pay that much so we found a use one $200.00. Most every one agreed the cooling fan control modules tend to go bad. These a...	9
	2000 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 1.9L heater After considerable research It would seam the PCM has an error on the logic side. The parameters to activate the coolant glow plugs obviously were met, as the ambient here, as of late, has been below 0°F. Apparently when the ECT sees temp below 55°C the system...	3
	1994 Volvo 850 2.4L valve timing VIN: YV1LW5526R Hi guys and girls On this car i removed the cam housing and set the timing with a home made tool . The Idea came from HTH Danny. what all data did not have or mitchells was on the Hanes book. How to make a tool to set the timing. Its almost like working on a F...	9
	1996 Volvo 850 GLT 2.4L MIL Lamp on VIN: YV1LW5545T So, the customer needed the car back the next morning and we weren't able to do any tests. It has not acted up since we looked at it anyway. Most responses mentioned having trouble with aftermarket ECTs, we had used an OE one. Paul [...] had one car with roden... Trouble codes: P0115 (ECT Performance Problem).	6

(Also Available: All, Asian, Chrysler, European, Ford, GM.)