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Comments
English is a very difficult language.
I took the car to the dealer today and they told me I had two problems, the rear rotors had to be turned down and my right front tire had the belts shifted. These are the original Firestone 680 tires. It so happens the front tires are almost new.
It took them about an hour to cut the rotors. The brakes now work fine.
I had another problem over the week end with my wife's '98 regal. I was on the GSP going to the shore doing the speed limit (65/70mph) when I lost power with my power steering. I was lucky to be able to pull over to the shoulder and stop.
When I lifted the hood I found the belt all shredded and the idler pully gone. I had to get towed off and to a local gas station to have it repaired. This was a very scary situation
Both cars ride better now than when they were new. I'm going to Cape Cod next week, I'm going to enjoy the ride.
However, when hot this one has a noticeable clacking noise which is stronger on the passenger side tire well. Could be water pump, or pulley bearings but to me sounds more like push rods clacking away etc. Disturbing as the other 3.8L was quiet.
Anyone out there have a similar noise with their 3.8L. Quiet when cold, only seems to be there with the engine hot after at least 10 miles of driving.?
Or is is just when car is moving?
To eliminate extras on the engine making the noise, take off the serpentine belt and run it for a short half-minute when it's making the noise. See if the noise stops when the belt's not turning the water pump, idler pulley, alternator, powersteering, air conditioning pulley. You might spin the pulleys on those items by hand to see if there's extra noise when they turn without load.
Do not run the engine more than a few seconds without the belt for the waterpump.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2. Check on the transmission ratios for the models in each car. One may have a much different lower gear ratio than the other, giving a much m"quicker" feel to the takeoff.
3. Check on the final drive ratio for the cars.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
You may have carbon buildup. Higher octane burns more slowly leaving more carbon residue. This is according to some radio mechanics I listen to. Especially a problem for the gullable American male who buys the advertising that more power comes from higher octane -- in cars meant to use regular. Yours are supposed to use higher octane -- plus or premium.
I use Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner occasionally. Follow directions on the plastic bottle. Use when tank is almost empty. Fill up with premium. Run low. Then use another bottle with fillup. This according to high quality mechanic on Cincy talk radio -- he owns his own shop in premium part of town.
If car is driven on shorter trips rather than on 50mile or more high speed interstate trips, try a longer trip with it. Along with cleaner in fuel, that might bring back the original kick to the engine. Carbon buildup could be causing knock retarding the spark. My cars always run better when I get home from a long trip on vacation or weekend.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I change them early just to avoid this. The expense of changing the $6 plugs early by doing it myself i trivial. If you change your own, you may want to do it early. If you pay a garage to do it, you may want to wait longer.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
"You're correct on the final drive ratios, but all 4T65e transaxles actually have the same 3.29:1 ratio differential. Yes, we know that the GT has a final drive of 3.29:1 and the GTP has a 2.93:1 final drive (in fact, all L67 3800 SC engines, and hence MN7 transmissions, have this 2.93:1 final drive - the Comp G's 3800 SC engine is actually known as the L26). So how is this done? It's all in the ratio of the chain sprockets, not in the differential."
Don't use Shell gas...I've heard form more than a few mechanics that it is the worse gas out there...A Buick mechanic was one of them...
You might want to install Autolite 605 or AC Delco 41-932 plugs which are one range colder...You didn't mention whether you change your own plugs...
And if you want to go faster there are several after market suppliers of speed equipment, like Intense-racing, ZZPerformance that can change your car from a 15 second 1/4 mile car to a 12 second car...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Your car has memory seats?...
However, I have 2 more questions for you (or anyone else who might know):
(1) What function does the metal screen inside the air hose (next to the throttle body) serve? It looked clean and bright, so I didn't touch it. I wonder if it's the last line of defense for dirty air.
(2) Is there a PCV valve, and should it be replaced at regular intervals? Would a clogged one cause poor performance or pick-up?
You have to wait 3 minutes, I believe, after a failure due to wrong resistor reading before trying again with another key. So be patient. That's probably the problem.
Could be poor contacts or breaking wires inside the steering column. Early (93) Lesabres did that from the column going up and down a lot like my wife and I do getting in and out. If the column doesn't get moved as much, the wires don't break inside the insulation. But the SECURITY light came on in that case because the reading is not correct, but the car continued to drive and start okay. But dealer said it wouldn't b e long before the wire broke.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The stock Throttle Body can be restrictive even on a stock engine. The factory installs a screen in the inlet of the Throttle Body to straighten the air as it travels into the MAF sensor. This provides a smoother idle and more consistent fuel delivery. For Maximum performance this screen is disruption in the airflow that can be removed with little or *no adverse effects. On the flow bench we have realized a 10-15% increase in airflow by removing the screen.
Begin by using two sharp objects like screws to pinch the retaining C clip together. Pull towards you for removal. Insert a small object like a screw or flat head screw driver into the edge of the screen and pry it out being careful not to damage it.
* In 97 and 98 GM incorporated the MAF channel into the TB itself. On these cars we have noticed that some of them will idle rough without the screen in the throttle body. If you experience this, simply replace your screen.
Thanks.
But...
Programming Key-less Entry Transmitter
1. Sit in driver's seat.
2. Remove ignition key from ignition
3. Close all doors
4. Press and Hold the Door's Lock switch to the Unlock position.
5. Insert and remove the ignition key twice (don't rotate the cylinder - leave in off)
6. Insert the ignition key a third time, leaving it in the cylinder
7. Release the Door's lock switch from the Unlock position
Three fast chimes will indicate the system is entering programming mode
8. On the keyless entry transmitter, press and hold both the Lock and Unlock buttons simultaneously.
Two fast chimes will be heard to confirm programming of the keyless entry.
You may have to hold both buttons for up to 12 seconds
9. Repeat step 8 for each transmitter.
10. Remove ignition key from cylinder.
NOTE: That to enter programming mode, you hold the DOOR's unlock button - not the unlock button on the keyless remote.
$60 or so and car had to be trained to recognize the key's radio device signature.
Don't lose the key and keyfob to your car is my moral...
But todd2 needs to contact a dealer if it doesn't say how in the manual because it probably is a dealer item.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2. Regal is programmed to ignore what the outside temperature sensor shows, and to use the temperature just before the engine was switched off, if the car is parked for less than 3 hours. Otherwise it would read the heat of engine. It starts to use the sensor after something like 20 minutes or 20 miles driving, do not remember exactly. I believe, that it is described somewhere, maybe in the user manual.
There is also a sunload sensor on top of the dash along with sensors in the return air sampling duct to adjust what the system is doing. Our newer car's outside sensor stuck at 77 or some number like that one time and the outside temps were near 90. It seemed to require greater up and down adjustment on the request temp inside on the control to get the typical output that one day and evening. Next day everything was back to normal.
I have not read about how long the system ignores the outside sensor if it's not logical in its reading.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The holes in the front of the dash suck in air from the compartment and mix with some air coming out of the duct and give a temperature sensor a reading of what the system is currently putting out.
When I get some time, I'm going to read the service manual and see how much they explain the logic in the auto system...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
About 40 minutes later the Anti-Lock, Trac Off, and Service Vehicle Soon light up. All three lights appeared simultaneously.
It happened Saturday late evening. Returned home only about 9:30pm, too late to do anything. This morning I took it to Firestone, the only shop I know which is working Sundays. However, as it turned to be, they are doing only oil change etc., the technicians competent to do diagnostics will be at work Monday.
I took the car home till Monday. Will decide, either to took it to Firestone, or to my Chevrolet dealer.
Strange thing: the anti-lick, trac off, and service vehicle lights appeared again when I drove to Firestone. However, they did not light when driving back to home.
The following may be relevant:
I think that I hear a very slight howling sound from the front when moving very slow, 5 mph or so. Both when braking and when accelerating. I noticed it about 3 weeks ago. However, I did not drive the car for a month before noticing the sound. My wife who is driving it every day did not hear anything unusual.
The sunroof failed about 70 miles from home, and we drove with open roof. Switched off the A/C at first, but the windshield fogged. We had to blow hot air.
Just in case, the fuses for sunroof and ABS are fine. There is no fuse in the "Low Blower" slot. I am sure, from the very beginning, and, any case, this is irrelevant to the current problem.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Thank you!
It would be unusual for two systems to break in one trip, some 30-40 miles apart, after driving 38,000 miles without problems. I tried to understand the common cause. However, could not imagine any relation between sunroof and ABS, except, probably, electrical.
The sound from the front is resembling what I heard for couple of weeks before alternator died on my other car, Chevy Malibu. So the first idea was that it is dying, and the voltage is low enough already for some systems to fail. I checked the battery. Turned to be I was wrong: it is charged to 12.6 volts, i.e. well enough. Did not check the voltage with working engine, however.
I also seldom open the sunroof, and usually only raise the back when I am doing it. Almost never retract it into the roof. However, the car was parked on open place for a whole day, my son complained, and I tried to vent out the hot air fast...
No, I did not jack up the car. I hope that mechanics will find the cause tomorrow. Oh, sorry, it is already today...
Total $255 including taxes. Much better than to what I expect, or rather was afraid. The switch itself costs only $26, but replacing it requires a lot of work. $110 labor, $20 waste fee, and $85 diagnostics for ABS/Traction control.
My dealer has charged small amounts for materials and I have a problem with that. That's what their shop rate is to cover. My dentist doesn't charge for cleaning compound or tissues.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
To my understanding, the federal and state governments mandate rather expensive and complicated procedures for disposal of waste. I believe that it is just to pass the costs on consumers.
Basically, the fee do not depends or almost do not depends on amount of waste. Today it was $20 for a disposing of a small electrical switch. However, disposing of four tires costs roughly the same, if I remember it right. In other words, this really works as fee, surcharge, or, if you want, a form of tax.
I think that the subject is somewhat off-topic for this thread.
Since it was brought up in a billing, wasn't it relevant question...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,