Shadetree Mechanic
Wanted to start a topic for folks who enjoy
working on their car. Maybe for initial topic we
can discuss what type vehicle is a good base for
starting hobbyists (i.e. cheap initial price, easy
to work on, cheap parts). Other things could be
tools, equipment, safety, etc...
working on their car. Maybe for initial topic we
can discuss what type vehicle is a good base for
starting hobbyists (i.e. cheap initial price, easy
to work on, cheap parts). Other things could be
tools, equipment, safety, etc...
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Comments
Seriously though, I remember my first car, a 1968 Oldsmobile station wagon. When you needed to do something with it, you just opened up the hood, climbed in to the engine compartment, sat on whatever was handy ... Well, okay, it was not quite that spacious. :-) Funny thing about that car, it burned about a quart of oil between changes, until I noticed that the pressure sensor was leaking. Bought a new one, swapped them out, and it stopped "burning" oil.
That car died after the timing chain broke and something (not sure what) got overstressed. There were some interesting things that happened along the way ... like a burst pressure hose on the power steering pump, or (my favorite) when a brake line ruptured shortly after Sears did something (I forget what, this was all 18 years ago!).
Since this was a '68 -- the year before the dual brake systems -- the brakes went out entirely. I was stuck in merging traffic on the capitol beltway at the time. This was at the point where 270, 355, and the beltway all come together, for those familiar with the area -- I was headed east on the 270 spur when I had to jam on the brakes (sudden traffic crush ahead as the spur fed into the beltway) and they sprang their leak. Since this was rush hour, no one wanted to let me move. I had to limp along on the parking brake for a long way before someone finally let me move left and on over to the shoulder. (Then I sat there for several hours, unable to go anywhere, until someone finally stopped and helped out. A couple of police cars had already passed by without even pausing. But that is another rant entirely. :-) )
Boy those acorns sure do hurt when ya get nailed on the head, pointy side down of course. OUCH!!!
There have been times when working on the car that the squirrels sit in the tree and purposely fling acorns down at me....or so it seems.
I guess an oak tree would make a good engine hoist, it sure made a great tire swing when I was younger.
P.S. The car is worth approxamately $63, which is what the local scrap metal dealer would pay. Car wrecking yards wouldn't touch it for all the rust.
Don't bother thanking me, it's my pleasure!
Sounds like you have 2 out of 3.
Dave
1. Does it act like it is trying to start such as cough, misfire almost catch etc?
2. What happens if you spray ample quantities of starter fluid into the throttle body.?
3. Did it ever run for your friend? Ie. whats the history of the problem?
Not sure what electronic controls they had but I would suspect a map sensor or computer module if it exists on the car.
I dont think the coolant not coming out the top is a problem at all. You wont see any until the engine heats up and the thermostat opens.
Dave
is this section for serious questions and
commentary, if so I have a 1987 Honda Accord
that the PGM FI light is coming on, and on
occassion it stalls out. After reading the
code and precisely following the Service
Manuel all the way down to replacing the
Electronic Control Unit with a known good
one, still have the same code and problem.
Can anyone steer me in the right direction.
Thanks
Good luck!
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
Mine sounds like it's running but very little air comes out and it seems to be blocked. I've heard from a brother-in law that Chevy changed fan motors from bushing types to bearings a while back. Could this be the problem?
Mine looks like a flat piece of metal with a notch near one end, which goes around the electrode and allows you to gently bend the electrode to the proper gap.
Do not bang the sparkplug to set the gap, this could cause the sparkplug to crack.
If you change fan speed settings, can you hear the difference in the speed of the fan?
A bad ground could cause the fan motor to run poorly. My fathers 83 Cutlass had this problem.
Maybe check for obstructions in the air intake or the ductwork.
If you change the air flow settings (defroster to floor setting) does the flow change? If not, then something need to be looked at, like the vacuum dampers, if so equipped, or the associated electronics.
good luck
My 86 Ply. Reliant has vacuum controlled dampers which direct the air flow accordingly (defrost,foot,panel/foot,panel).
It also has a cable which swings a door in the housing for heat or fresh air (not a/c equipped).
A repair manual should cover this.
Bruce
Wish I could help you more, but am out of suggestions.
Maybe post this in the Pickup conference, as I do not know how many of the truck people visit the Maintenance forum.
Good luck to you.
Bob
Hope you will post the resolution to this problem.