Automotive Technicians Technical Discussion and Fixes for May 7, 2005

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	Help Request	Answers
	1989 BMW 325i 2.5L trans VIN: WBABB52305 this bmw 325-i is in good shape all service has ben done.the costomer drove the car into town about 15 miles at the 20 minit mark the trans went into neutral. after a 20 or so minet rest the 325-i will drive fine then systom reapeats. thank in advans for any h...	View
	1996 BMW 740iL 4.4L Gauge Panel Lights VIN: WBAGJ8329T BMW Techs. I thought this might be a common problem but I found nothing on iATN Knowledge Base. The car came in for led's out in the dash. It was indicating "CHECK REAR LIGHTS","CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS" and "CHECK COOLANT LEVEL" when it came in. I had the instrumen...	View
	1988 Cadillac Eldorado 4.5L stereo VIN: 1G6EL115XJ I'm interested in hearing from any tech with experience replacing the factory Delco Bose Radio/tape deck with an aftermarket unit. This is my personal vehicle, bought it from the dealership for $100.00. I have an Alpine CD deck I'd like to install. My question...	View
	2001 Chevrolet Tahoe 5.3L Autoride VIN: 1GNEK13T01 Need some help with this one guys. Is there a way to disable the autoride system on this Tahoe. Customer has had nothing but problems since vehicle was new. If I pull fuses the service ride control message comes on. Customer wants message gone and autoride tur...	View
	1998 Dodge Dakota 5.2L cab I have posted this in the Tecnical discussion Forum a few weeks ago under a different type heading and for other questions. I need some very specific HELP. After the rear sensor replacement I had code 65/66 internal main relay, name of code: Main Relay Open. f...	View
	1990 Ford Aerostar XL 4.0L no start VIN: 1FMCA11UXL This vehicle will NOT start. It turns over like it wants to start but just won't. Error codes from the Modius said primary and secondary fuel pump. So of course we replaced the fuel pump (I cross reference all fixes w/ All-Data).	View
	1996 Ford Windstar GL 3.8L cam position sensor VIN: 2FMDA5143T same old story, trying to help a good customer and going outside our normal areas. customer complained of a random miss, sometimes at idle, sometimes at road speeds. no check engine light coming on.Checked all the basics, wires, plugs etc.. all seems good. Fig...	View
	2002 Ford F-150 King Ranch 5.4L Oil consumption VIN: 1FTRW08L92 Hello techs, This F-150 just came back from a 2000 mile road trip and the customer informed me he had to add two quarts of oil during the trip. Does anyone know of an oil consumption problem on this engine? Thanks for your help, Jon.	View
	1992 GMC K3500 Sierra 7.4L No Start VIN: 1GDJK34N5N I have a 1992 GMC 1 ton dually with a 454 TBI. When it cranks it has fuel but no spark. I have current to the coil and distributor and both are new. I have tested the 4 wires going from the module to the PCM for continuity and they are fine. I have also tried ...	View
	2002 GMC Yukon XL 1500 SLE 5.3L Assist VIN: 1GKFK16ZG2 This vehicle loses steering assist at low speed, specificaly when parallel parking (engine at idle or slightly above and steering wheel turned nearly to max). We replaced OE pump due to broken shaft with Delco reman. Subsequently the pump was replaced twice ag...	View
	1998 Isuzu Rodeo LS 3.2L power door locks VIN: 4S2CK58W34 hi all tech , thank in advance for any ideas on this truck , this car have originally keyless entry not unlocking and lock from passerger front and both rear door it only unlocking drive door but can not lock. it also can not unlock either drive and pass door ...	View
	1996 Lincoln Town Car 4.6L Ride control VIN: 1LNLM81W2T Gentlemen, I am working on a Town Car with rear air suspension. Car came in with Check Suspension Lamp on, compressor fuse blown & right rear down at times. Tried to get codes from system with Genisys unit but all I could get was no codes in library, service b...	View
	1996 Oldsmobile 88 Royale 3.8L Surge, Cuts out, MIL Lamp on VIN: 1G3HN52K7T This car came in with a CEL and intermitant stumble. Pulled the codes and checked failure records. P0102 came up and under failure the baro read 60iHg. Followed test procedures and was instructed to replace MAF. Replaced with aftermarket MAF. Still same proble... Trouble codes: P0120 (maf frequency low)	View
	2000 Pontiac Grand Am SE 3.4L MIL Lamp on VIN: 1G2NF52E2Y I have this problematic grand am. It keeps setting a p0442 code for evap small leak. Each time I check it out I can draw a vaccum on the evap system and it will hold it all day. I'm not sure why the scan tool reads a negative vaccum for the fuel tank pressure.... Trouble codes: P0442	View
	1996 Toyota Corolla 1.6L Surge, Cuts out VIN: 2T1BA02E4T When Cold Engine Will Run Fine After 10Min. Engine will Cuts Out & Missfires. Spark & Fuel Del. Ok, Injectors Are Cuttting Out Loosing The Ground Side. Lab Scoped Crank Sensor,Ignitor,Cam Sensor All Ok. Checked & Cleaned All Grounds & Volt Drop Ok. Replaced EC...	View
	2004 Toyota Tacoma Pre Runner 3.4L Alarm VIN: 5TEGN92N64 Hey guys, Hope someone can help me with this alarm concern. I have the factory keyless entry (via remote) and it beeps once when locked and twice when unlocked. It also unlocks the drivers door with one push and all others with two pushes. My problem is that I...	View
	1999 Volkswagen Jetta GL 2.0L Poor Idle Quality VIN: 3VW5C29M4X please help. car came in as a "someone gave me the car" car will not idle cold or accel. cold. if you add fuel it will run and accel. if i pinch the return hose it will idle. performed much needed complete tune up, didnt like f/p so i replaced the pump. pulled... Trouble codes: P0422, P1128 (po300-), P0300, 301 (302 -), 302 (303 -), 303 (testing and results)	View

Fixes & Summaries for All Makes and Models

	Fix/Summary	Answers
	1993 Audi 90 S 2.8L tach trans VIN: WAUBJ58C4P we sent the car to the dealer and had them run the codes . they found no engine speed signal codes in the trans computer . They removed the speed sensor and cleaned the dirt off of it reinstalled the tach started working and the codes in the trans computer cle...	3
	1999 Audi A4 1.8L abs VIN: WAUBB28D9X hello after putting two junk yard abs controllers in this car with no luck we finaly put in a new one and all is fine thank you all for your help	4
	2000 BMW 528i 2.8L Air Bag light on?No radio control from Steering wh VIN: WBADM6342Y Thank you all.Most of you fellow technicans hinted that the Ignition switch is faulty and indeed the purle wire had a 6 v voltage drop. I replaced the switch after measuring the voltage drop and the problems went away. Thanx again you where realy helpfull. Det...	16
	1990 Buick Regal Limited 3.8L MIL Lamp on VIN: 2G4WD14L5L I wish to thank everyone for there time and much effort on this car. Also I would like to thank IATN for posting this. After rechecking all grounds and power pins,checking all wiring again,I almost gave up on this car.Something was amiss and I could not figure... Trouble codes: 21 (throttle position).	8
	1995 Buick Park Avenue Ultra 3.8L idle-noise-vibration VIN: 1G4CU5219S Most replys were to replace harmonic balencer, it was new, had a few on checking tensioner travel, some suggested reinstalling the old pulleys however they were not avaliable and were wearing with flat spots, the bearing in the new pulley on tensioner had gone...	15
	1995 Buick Skylark Custom 2.3L No Start VIN: 1G4NV55D4S We replaced the timing chain kit when we found that the exhaust cam was out of time with the crank and intake cam. Interestingly enough, the intake cam had remained in time when the chain skipped a tooth. The clue to this came due to the apparently low compres...	8
	1991 Chevrolet C1500 454 SS 7.4L Surge, Cuts out, MIL Lamp on VIN: 1GCDC14N9M This vehicle is fixed!! I originally saw the PCM commanding the TCC on and off at cruise with no apparent reason. This was the only symptom at the time. I checked the TPS, MAP, fuel pressure, battery, all related wiring, and performed an O2 feedback test. Clie... Trouble codes: 45 (Exhaust Rich).	6
	2002 Chevrolet Cavalier 2.2L Poor Idle Quality, Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: 1G1JH12FQ2 The fix was checking the timing on the timing chain. Found the intake camshaft was half a link advanced. We retimed this thing and all is well no rough idle or shake. LIVE AND LEARN! Trouble codes: P3000.	4
	1997 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie 5.9L Excessive Emissions, Poor Idle Quality, Misfire, Poor Fuel Economy, MIL Lamp on VIN: RAM15004X4 Sorry for the delay to post this fix as I was bombarded with other vehicles with a driveability concern while awaiting for the parts to arrive. 'Hissing Sound' (customer description) Vacuum leak is noticeably audible upon underhood inspection. I used a water... Trouble codes: 43 (unknown).	10
	1997 Ford Ranger Splash 2.3L Poor Idle Quality, Cuts out, Stall, Misfire VIN: 1FTCR10A0V hey all thanks for the info. it turned out to be a faulty computer, (even the new rebuilt one.). replaced it with a known good one and it started firing. but i had severe detonation on the #3 cyl. and it prob burned a valve. pulling the head off monday to see....	7
	1998 Ford Escort ZX2 Hot Coupe 2.0L Poor Idle Quality VIN: 3FAKP1133W Well, we will call this one fixed. Did a top engine cleaning with GM's X-66a and the 3M brand cleaner.(helped quite a bit) Another thing I found was the brace under the trans was touching the trans pan (bent that back into possition)And found the gas tank loos...	18
	2000 Ford F-250 Super Duty Lariat 7.3L Poor Idle Quality, Surge, Cuts out VIN: 1FTNX21F6Y well I fixed this one but ashamed to say the problem was gasoline in the diesel. I checked the quality of the fuel and the smell of the fuel when I first started looking at this vehicle and everything looked good. On the second go around starting from the basi...	7
	2002 Honda Accord Value Package 2.3L Vibration on acceleration VIN: 1HGCF866X2 Firstly, my thanks to all who responded. I apologise for the delay, however I had to wait for my customer to return. I have changed many timing belts and my usual technique is to mark the old belt and the gears and transfer the marks to the new belt to save ti...	26
	2000 Hyundai Sonata GLS 2.5L Cuts out, Stall, MIL Lamp on VIN: KMHWF25V8Y This vehicle had multiple problems and we only fixed one of them. The stalling problem turned out to be the Torque converter intermittently locking up so when the vehicle was stopped it would stall. The customer 'needed' the car so we never found the source of... Trouble codes: P0740, P0335 (crank pos sensor fault), U3118 (undocumented code), C0307 (undocumented code).	5
	1993 Lexus LS400 4.0L Unknown VIN: JT8UF11EOP I feel that this is a drain back issue as Larry from NY said. I did try a transmission flush and filter change. there was very little debris in the pan and the fluid was super clean. the customer decided to let the vehicle warm up for a little while before dri...	3
	1998 Lincoln Continental 4.6L Misfire VIN: 1LNFM97V3W Thanks to all who replied. The problem has gotten 95% better after doing a trans flush with Wynn's flush & additive. I'm sure the torque convertor was and will again be the problem. Customer is happy with results. Thanks again!	15
	1998 Mazda Protege DX 1.5L Hesitation, Misfire VIN: JM1BC1414W I apologize for the long delay in closing. Customer has not contacted us up untill a couple of days ago. Has indicated that car is running better with fewer occaisions of 'missing and hesitating' but it is still occuring. We took a quick look at the MAF sensor... Trouble codes: P0301.	10
	1976 Mercedes-Benz 450SL 4.5L 2-3&3-2 shift VIN: 1070441203 the clouds have parted, the sun is shining and the monster went away. thanks to all who replied! after weeks of hair pulling and three diferent valvebodies 6 different cores so if anny one need some parts just call [...]. thanks!!!	8
	1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 3.2L fuel gauge VIN: WDBLK65GXX everyone suggests replacing both sending units with uprated gold contact types. fuel cotamination seems to be the culprit not milage.after 10 years the contacts corode from the gasoline. my book says it takes 8 hours the remove and replace the fuel tank. is th...	15
	1993 Nissan 240SX 2.4L shift points VIN: JNEMSE7AOP Jon and Philip hit this one. The car actually was doing a 1-3 shift. Upon pulling the pan and inspecting, there was alot of clutch/band material in the pan. So it is off to the rebuilders. Thanks for the insight guys..	3
	1985 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 5.0L Poor Idle Quality, Stall VIN: 1G2FW87F0F thanks to all that replied. this car has been quite a headache. performed all of your recommended tests and found everthing was testing ok. no signs of a vacuum leak. finally after extensive testing found the cause of the lean condition and stalling. found the...	7
	1994 Pontiac Firebird Formula 5.7L Misfire, Spark Knock VIN: 2G2FV22P3R Hello Fellow Techs, Sorry for the delay in responding (over a month!) customer travels a lot and wasn't able to bring the car back until this Monday. Took the entire week to work the kinks out, but vehicle runs great and customer is happy. Yippee!! Had many ex...	21
	1999 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 3.8L entire electrical systems VIN: 1G2WP12K9X thanks to everybody that replied.the concern has not happened for about a month now and i have not had a lot of time to attempt to duplicate it.once i eventually figure it out,i will post what i find.	12
	1988 Toyota Pickup 2.4L Hesitation, Stall, Misfire VIN: JT4RN50R4J Thank you all for the help and ideas. Everyone was helpful. To Scott, I checked the air pump. It was a good possibility, but it checked out okay. To Jim, I checked the fuel pressure, and it checked out okay as well. To Jeff, I could see where the accellerator ...	18
	1998 Volvo v40 2.0L Hesitation VIN: YV1VW1223W hi members thank for you all with your help information i was able to fit the problem as you told to by testing the fuel pump i fine out that the fuel perssure drop down and it really after the performase of the vehicle while the accrattor press dowm with your...	4

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