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MTN Under the Hood
Need free expert automotive advice? Ask the MTN Under the Hood automotive experts, please email: publisher@michigantoday.net. More questions in the next edition of Under The Hood!
Timing Belt Woes
Hello MTN Automotive Team,
My name is Kim. I have 92 Acura Vigor, and the timing belt is broken. I had it towed to the shop, where they replaced the timing belt, gave it a tune up and replaced the valve cover gasket. It ran one week and I heard a noise inside the engine, and I found one valve broken, and one spark plug broken. I didn’t know if it happened because they did timing belt wrong or another thing happened. But I can start the car. The shop told me the air idle control is not good.
Thank you for your helping.
Kim
Hi Kim,
Sorry that you're having problems with your car. It sounds like you shouldn't go back to that repair shop again. They only fixed the easy part, the timing belt. It sounds like they opened the valve cover, looked at it, found the bent valve and sealed it back up and didn't want to do the hard part. For some reason known only to them, they did not re-do the head. A lot of places don’t want to get into heavy repair and they’re only after the easy money.
When a timing belt breaks--and that is why you ALWAYS need to replace the timing belt at the mileage recommended by the auto manufacturer--the valves can hit the top of the piston on a zero-clearance engine such as yours. That is apparently exactly what it sounds like has happened. You'll probably need to have the cylinder head pulled and repaired. Why your shop did not do this is beyond me, but stay away from them next time. That is something anyone in beginning auto mechanics 101 would know. I would in fact call them and complain. Then find another mechanic, and have them also diagnose the possible air idle control problem.
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
Another Timing Belt
Hi MTN Automotive Team:
I drive a 1998 Chrysler Concorde with a 3.2-liter engine. It has 140,000 miles on it and runs real good. Do you think I should change the timing belt? It still has the original one on. I plan on driving this car for a few more years.
Sincerely,
Mark, location unknown
Hi Mark,
Ohh yeah! Change it right away or run into the same problems that Kim had above. Don’t change it and you could be in for big engine repairs. Your belt is living on borrowed time. I say again: Change it now for a cheap price or change it later and change the cylinder head too! I’ll say it again, for emphasis: It’s pay me a little now or pay me A LOT later deal. And yet again, ALWAYS change the timing belt according to your owner’s manual. I think you and others out there, who are probably driving cars with the same problem, get my point! At last I hope!
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
Fried Fuel Gauge
Hi MTN Automotive Team,
I have a fried fuel gauge in a 1964 Chrysler New Yorker wagon. I discovered the voltage limiter in the gauge is pretty worthless. This one is located in the fuel gauge.
I found an article that mentions replacing the limiter with a chip. Because the limiter is located in the gauge unit am not sure where to hook the wire from the chip to. Does it reattach to the back of the fuel gauge as if it were going through the original voltage limiter??
Any help would be GREAT!!
Marcia
Hi Marcia,
I’ve never heard of this chip you’re talking about. Contact the place you bought it from and get instructions. The simple answer is you have to complete the circuit for it to work. My best guess is to say yes, but contact the people you bought the chip from and find out.
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
Starting Problems for 87 GMC pickup
Hi MTN Automotive Team,
I have an 87 GMC pickup, rear-wheel-drive, with a 350 V-8, TBI. The engine won’t start but the battery is brand new, and the starter is good. What is my problem?
Petra, Location Unknown
Hi Petra.
I’m going to need more information from you, as your problem could be many things. It’s probably going to have to go to a shop because you’ll have to run it through a computerized diagnosis. You’ll have to check the fuel pressure, computer, spark, the “noide” lights on the injectors. They flash if you are getting power to the injectors.
Now, all that’s not going to help you as you probably don’t have the proper equipment. The engine computer controls just about everything on a modern vehicle. They’re many times more powerful than the computer that helped send our astronauts to the moon.
Once you get into fuel injection problems, you almost have to take it to a shop. If you want to buy a diagnostic scanner, one I have is nearly $7,000! About the only thing you can do is check the engine for spark, but it might also knock you on your butt if you’re not careful because of the vehicle’s HEI, or high energy ignition’s 49,000 volts! Again, don’t just start throwing parts at a car either. It will cost you more than probably what the real problem will cost. Write back to us and we’ll try to help.
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
