Automotive Technicians Technical Discussion and Fixes for Feb 22, 2004

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Open Help Requests for All Makes and Models

	Help Request	Answers
	2000 BMW 528i 2.8L Stall VIN: WBADM634XY Dear BMW Tech's, this BMW drives as nuts: First of all there is no MIL light on and NO faults, not even PENDING faults in the system. In the morning (0 deg. Cel or 32 deg F.) car starts right away and idles fine. With the scanner hooked up you can see how the...	View
	2000 Buick LeSabre Custom 3.8L No Start VIN: 1G4HP54K7Y towed in no-start,i have no cam/crank readings on scanner.in testing i found the dis fuse blown,ohming wiring to ground all seems ok until i plugged ignition module in.seems to go to groung when pluggd in??replaced module with new,same problem,bad new module? Trouble codes: P0300	View
	1995 Chevrolet Caprice Classic 5.7L unknown VIN: 1G1BL52P8S Hi techs - I have an odd one here. This well-kept and clean chevy police car makes a loud pop when releasing the brakes after coming to a stop, every time and under all conditions. It will not make the noise when testing on the lift, off the ground. I have ch...	View
	1996 Chevrolet p-30 school 5.7L Cuts out, Misfire, Poor Fuel Economy VIN: 1GBKP32R2T This one is eating my lunch and I am hungry.Bus came in with contaminated fuel tank with some kind of liquid,unidentified.Ran terrible under load,had lean exhaust indicated on right bank and left bank.I checked fuel pressure, well within specs.Replaced fuel fi...	View
	1997 Dodge Grand Caravan SE 3.3L Hesitation, Cuts out, Stall VIN: 2B4GP44R8V Hi I have this 1997 Grand Caravan and what it does is when it is cold, take it out on the highway with the cruise on, and somewhere between 4-5 miles the van will stumble and the cruise will turn off. Or if the van is cold and driving in town after about 5 m...	View
	1990 Ford F-250 Custom 5.8L high idle speed VIN: 1FTHX26H8L Hi Ford techs: Have an intermittent situation where the idle speed will flare up on its own to almost 3,000rpm's and stay there. Then, drive for a bit, and it will idle normal. continue to idle, and idle will surge after 5-10 min. of idling, not to 3k, but 100... Trouble codes: 21 (coolant temp signal problem), 24 (intake air temp out of range)	View
	1995 Ford Explorer XL 4.0L Cooling system VIN: 1FMDU32X75 This Explorer is killing us. Truck is new to us, arrived this fall from Texas. Customer complained of no heat and a temperature gauge that wanders from "C" to the first hash mark, then back. He had thermostat replaced twice in TX with no change in gauge action...	View
	1996 Ford F-250 Special 7.3L Misfire, MIL Lamp on Customer came in about closing time on Saturday evening.Complaint was that Truck developed a miss and that it would come and go. It would turn on the MIL when it ran bad and it would go out and stop missing. Have not had time to do any thing else customer left... Trouble codes: P0605, P1746 (Pressure controll sol open circut), P0282 (Cly 8 low), P0476 (Exhaust pressure controll valve low output)	View
	1998 Ford Mondeo 1.8L remote door lock VIN: WFOAXXGBBA Hi techs, this is my own Mondeo with remote door lock inop. When locked/unlocked with key everything works OK. Replaced bateries inside key - LED flashes but nothing else.Tried to disconnect and reconnect batery - no change. Anybody knows where locking ECM and...	View
	1999 GMC Jimmy SL 4.3L ignition key inter lock VIN: 1GKDT13W8X ok gm guys, i need some help with this one. this jimmy will not let me turn the ignition tumbler back to the locked positon all the time in park. i have replace the inter-lock solinoid and the transmission controler. i have adjusted the shift cable and control...	View
	1987 Honda Accord 2.0L Starting VIN: 1HCGCA538X This car came in with a no start condition.The cam timing was checked and found to be ok. Fuel pressure is within spec. Tested the ECT and found value to be high. Replaced the ECT- values .3967 ohms old- .232 new. Still no start. Checked distributor for bindin...	View
	1997 Kia Sephia GS 1.8L Cuts out, MIL Lamp on VIN: KNAFA125XV Hello Kia techs: This car has a very intermittent condition that causes the engine to supposedly cut power as the driver tries to accelerate at speeds below 30 mph, and has never happened at freeway speeds. This female driver describes this as the 'gas pedal d... Trouble codes: P, 0300 (random misfire), P, 0400 (insufficient EGR flow)	View
	1994 Land Rover Range Rover County LWB 4.2L dome lites VIN: SALHC1347R hi this is hank at hi-tech aut sa tex. the customer came in and said the dome lite was staying on for as long as five min. with car running and all doors closed. the dome lite should not stay on for five to seven seconds. with ign off doors closed lite ...	View
	1998 Mercury Mountaineer 5.0L MIL Lamp on VIN: 4M2ZU55P7W vehicle came in with mil. illuminated, checked for codes had a p0430 in history, no other codes no symptoms, cleared code and ran diagnostics for code p0430 cataylst efficiency monitor below acceptable threshold bank 2, no real noted misfiring but did notice w... Trouble codes: P0430 (bank 2 catalyist threshold below normal)	View
	1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport LS 3.0L Steering column(?) VIN: JA4LS31P8W Vehicle exhibits a rather obnoxious "rattle/chuckle" that seems to be coming from the steering column. I checked for loose bolts in the steering shaft (only found two, - both are tight), and checked the little "U-joint" for excessive play and it seems to be fi...	View
	1979 Nissan 620 2.0L Excessive Emissions VIN: RN32007636 First let me say that the readings given below are for 15MPH and 25MPH. This truck is a non fuel controlled vehicle and appears to use the air injection to put air into the convertor to clean up the CO and HC. My only manual on this truck is a generic one that...	View
	1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE 2.4L whine VIN: 1G2NE52T6X customer returned with engine noise coming through speakers no radio on sounds like bad ground but can't find a bad ground replaced altenator and noise still there has anyone ran across this before thanks in advance	View
	1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE 3.4L ABS- Trac Hi techs. I have this Grand Am that was towed in with a coolant leak. I replaced the intake gaskets and head gaskets. Runs fine. The customer wanted the brakes done also. This car was never worked on by our shop befofe, so the history is unknown. After road te...	View
	2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 3.8L driver's side air bag VIN: 1G2WP52K9Y This car had reportedly had the driver's side airbag deploy just driving down the road without any collision, bump, or any kind of impact. The car is also dead electricaly with no dash lights or much sign of life. Unfortunatley, being a no start, I do not have...	View

Fixes & Summaries for All Makes and Models

	Fix/Summary	Answers
	1992 BMW 735iL 3.5L Poor Idle Quality, Surge VIN: WBAGC4317N hi to all and sorry for late response, customer needed to take veh and return with it later for further testing, after searching high and low for a vacuum leak everywhere possible on the engine , we finally discovered the culprit, someone had recently installe... Trouble codes: 10 (o2 controll).	5
	1989 Chevrolet C1500 Cheyenne 5.7L Poor Idle Quality I apologize for taking so long to close this. I recieved some good ideas but none of them proved to be helpful. Customer lost patience and took vehicle to local dealer who started changing parts to no affect. Problem is still not fixed. Wish I could tell you m...	11
	1994 Chevrolet S10 2.2L heater VIN: 1GCCS1441S thanks for all the respnces . turns out that the temp control motor was closing it self while running the heater and not releeasing full temp into cab.	12
	2000 Chevrolet C3500 7.4L No Start VIN: 1GTGC34J2Y Thank you all that responded to my help request. Want to thank especially to the reponses that told me to look at the connector that plugs into the the fuel pump module. There was a burnt spot on terminal C four wire conector. After carefully studing the wirin...	8
	1999 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L Surge VIN: 1B7KF2366X I didn't get to fix this rig yet as a new tps is $450 and so we are letting him drive it for a while. It has only done it once since he took it back. It is actually a cut-out more than a suge. I had 5 replys and I will sumarize there answers. There are no glow...	5
	1994 Ford F-150 XL 5.0L Hesitation, Surge, Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: 1FTEX15N3R Replaced computer and problem has not returned. When performance symptoms occured the 5 volt reference voltage would drop to 2.4 volts causing the problems. Do not believe it had anything to do with the trailer wiring. Probably just happened about the same tim... Trouble codes: 172 (411 -), 411 (412 -), 412 (testing and results).	10
	1995 Ford Contour GL 2.5L Poor Fuel Economy, MIL Lamp on Hey everybody, finally got this car back to test the theories and suggestions that everbody gave. Turns out it was the converters that were clogged up and causing the tube to blow off. Thought the conveters were good since the emmisions sticker said they were ...	9
	1997 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 5.0L tortion bars/eng mounts VIN: 1FMDU35P8V sorry for the delay but the customer had to make up his mind. the fix was the transfer case--it was slipping-- Customer decide to live with the problem for a little while. I want to say thanks for all the replies I did rec' Thank You	11
	2004 Honda Odyssey EX 3.5L Power windows VIN: 5FNRL18094 Thanks to all who replied. It appears that it is a digital signal between the switch and multiplex units and cannot be measured. Elected to replace the switch and all is well.	5
	1997 Hyundai Sonata 2.0L 1-2 Shift VIN: KMHCF24FOV Gentlemen & Ladies: I want to thank again the 4 techs that tried to help. We sent the car to the dealer and they put their magic box on the harness and they said that we had alot of opens. Took car back to shop and checked harness and ohmed every wire no opens...	4
	1998 Isuzu Rodeo LS 3.2L Poor Idle Quality, Stall VIN: 4S2CM58W8W I let vehicle run for a short period. Let it sit for ten min. Pulled the vac line off of the fuel pres. reg and was leaking fuel. replace reg. Fixed thanks for help. Trouble codes: 300 (Random misfire).	10
	1995 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0L blower switch VIN: 1J4FJ68S2S hi all well so far no aftermarket venders for the connector did get some good info though so i got luckey and find one in a bone yard and relaced connector and blower motor which was running at 40+amps and the customer declined the melted ing. switch! go fig...	8
	2001 Kia Rio 1.5L Stall VIN: KNADC22331 I received six replys and am very grateful for them. Victor said to check for a faulty a/c compressor clutch diode but I did not find one. Jeff said there is a TSB -- a reflash of the PCM-- for hard start that helps a stall condition. Our Hi-Pro Scan Kia diagn...	7
	1994 Lincoln Town Car 4.6L inst panal light's &headlight's VIN: 1LNLM81W9R Thank's to all the great tech's that replied. The yellow sense wire had a very high voltage drop traced wire to fuse box underhood passanger side. Took fuse box apart and found all the termales green cleaned termales prolbem sloved. Thank's to Paul who hit the...	4
	1998 Mercury Villager GS 3.0L Rear Heater VIN: 4M2ZV1118W Hi All, I want to thank everyone for their help...all had about the same info, the problem is in the dash mounted Heater/A/C control assy. circuit board, it has a solder connection and foil that is unable to handle the current of the rear motor and eventuall...	14
	1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST 2.0L head light circuit VIN: 4A3AK54F6S I figure it was in the istrumetation cust did't have the funds so i hooked up a relay so it would close the circuit when you turn the key on (so the idiot lights would not be on dim)and discount the circuit when the key is off).	2
	1992 Nissan Maxima GXE 3.0L Misfire VIN: JN1HJ01P9N Response was great, consistent and helpful. I was advised to check for TSBs relating to injector replacement and harness availability from Dealer. I was told AC Delco part #s pt112 and pt113 will work if the injectors on this vehicle are the normal Bosch injec...	9
	1985 Other European Testarossa 5.0L Excessive Emissions VIN: ZFFSA17A8F Thanks for the help. I set the CO to .75 before the cats with the O2s disconnected. This cleaned up the post cat readings to 0 Co and about 25ppm HC. It passed the TSI test perfectly as it wouldn't go on the dyno. Thanks again	3
	1991 Plymouth Sundance High Line 2.5L dealer install cruise control VIN: 1P3XP44K2M I was able to find the info that I needed to correct the problem at a web site I found when searching for the manufacture of the cruse (Dana) this site has a lot of useful info on 12 systems. I recommend that you check it out. Technical Information for Mobil...	5
	1993 Pontiac Bonneville SE 3.8L starts in second or third gear VIN: 1G2HX53LP1 Thanks to everybody who replied in such a fast manner. All I can say no matter how long you have been doing this you will some thing every day. Going deeper into the problem and talking to the customer found out wrong Trans was installed. Special thanks to 'De...	10
	1999 Saab 9-3 2.0L excessive crank time VIN: YS3DD58T9X resetting ecu did not have any effect, tried replacement ecu with no improvement. client will take vehicle to dealer to see if they come out with something.	3
	1993 Toyota MR2 2.0L Electrical VIN: SW20-00596 Well! this mr2 with celica vvti still in the workshop awaiting a wiring diagram for this engine type. It seems that we will just to wait for the request to toyota Japan for the required diagram to arrive. And then see if possible to connect vvti engine to the ...	6
	1992 Volkswagen Corrado SLC 2.8L power brakes VIN: WVWED45OON Hello VW Techs The 3 replies we received, said to check the speed sensors, we cleaned the speed sensors and now the brake system is working fine , at this time I will say that the problem is fixed. thanks for the replies	3
	1999 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 1.9L fuel gauge VIN: 3VWSF29M4Y thanks for all replys,fred and jack nailed it,fuel sending unit was faulty,a basic break in the windings. thanks again scott	7

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