By MTN Automotive Team
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,
Ohhh 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
A Holden cylinder head?
Hello MTN Automotive Team,
Just have a car motor question for you. If you could help me that would be fantastic.. Do you know the head bolt tensions for a blue Holden 202? I have ripped out the head and want to but it back in.
If you can’t answer my question, but have a website or something that I can get a manual for a Holden?
Thanks
Lachie, Location Unknown
Hi Lachie,
By head bolt tensions, I assume you mean the torque settings for that engine, in other words, how much torque the bolts need for the head to be properly seated onto the engine. Second, how’d you get a Holden? That is an Australian-made car by GM’s Australian counterpart. You don’t tell us where you’re writing from, so I don’t know where you got the vehicle.
The engine size may be similar to that in an American car. Write back with the engine size. One of the best places to go for questions like this might be alldata.com. For $25 a year, you, or anyone else, can gain access to just about everything you need for one particular model of car. But only for one. Extra vehicles are $25 each. I’m not familiar with the Holden make, since they’re not imported to the U.S., I don’t’ believe, except for the new Pontiac GTO, which is basically a beefed-up Holden, with a U.S.-built engine.
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
Fuel Pump—Relay or Fuse?
Hi MTN Automotive Team!
I have a 1990 Hyundai Excel with a 1.5-liter engine. I got a new fuel pump for it. Does it have a relay or fuse somewhere that I also need to look at when I replace it?
Thanks.
Aqumare, Location unknown
Hi Aqumare,
It has both, a fuse and a relay. You should have checked that before you even bought a new fuel pump because that could have been the problem. If you still have a problem, write back and we’ll help you 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
Wiring a Coil to Distributor
Hi MTN Automotive Team,
I have a 1972 Ford pick up with a 360 V-8. I believe that there is something wrong with my distributor. Although I have the Chilton's guide it doesn't show what I need to see. Do you have a picture of how it is supposed to be hooked up?
Thank you,
Don F., Location Unknown
Don,
I think I understand what you are asking. If it is how to reconnect the electrical power to the distributor through the coil, here it is: Connect the 12-volt power from the truck’s ignition switch to the negative pole on the coil. Then connect the lead from the positive on the coil to the distributor. Does this answer your question? If not, email us back.
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
Chevy Firing Order
Hi MTN Automotive Team,
What is the firing order for a 1986 Chevy celebrity 2.8L?
Name and address unknown
Hello,
I have your answer. This information and more is available at alldata.com. If you need any more information on your vehicle, you can sign up for $25 a year for each vehicle you are interested in, and it has lots of tips and help on about every problem for that vehicle. Each car costs $25. See my response elsewhere in this issue of my column for more on alldata.com.
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
Gas Odors in Caravan
To MTN Automotive Team,
I have a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan with a 3.0 liter engine. I am getting gasoline odors from the heater vents mostly when turning the heater on. I can’t find any leaks nor can I smell any odors under the hood or anything from tracing the fuel lines from the tank to the engine. Where could these fumes be coming from?
Thank you.
T. Karcher, Location Unknown
Hi T,
Are they gas odors or exhaust odors? It sounds like you could have a leak in the exhaust system and your car’s heater is picking it up from the fresh air intake. That’s real common. Or, it could be a small oil leak somewhere that is dripping on a hot engine part, and the smell again is being picked up from the air intake. All exhaust is, of course, is partially unburned gas. Check the exhaust system from the manifold back. Have it looked at by a shop. They can find it in no time.
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
Saab Story
Hi MTN Automotive Team,
I have a 90 Saab 900 S. When I first start up it starts right up. But when you drive it and get it to operating temperature and then shut it down and let it sit for 20 minutes it is hard to start. And when it does it acts like it is flooded. It will smoke. If you just shut it off and try to restart it, will fire right up. When you let it sit longer than 20 minutes and turn it over, it is hard to start.
Don Butler, PA
Don,
it sounds like you have a computer module problem. It may be one of the sensors on the motor. It will have to go to a shop where this can be checked with a diagnostic computer.
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
Heater Core Problems
To MTN Automotive Team,
I have a 1990 Dodge Grand Voyager with a 3.3 liter engine. I just installed a new radiator, now I’m getting film on the inside of the windshield when the defroster is on. Can you tell me where heater core is located on this vehicle?
Thanks,
J. R. Clemand, Location unknown
Hi, You’re correct to check the heater core, as it is probably leaking. Another way to tell a heater core is bad is if you smell a sickly sweet odor coming from the heater ducts. That is anti-freeze leaking from the core into the heater box.
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
Hard-Starting Chevy S-10
To MTN Automotive Team,
I have a 1994 Chevy S-10 Blazer with a 4.3-liter Vorte c engine. The problem I have is it won’t start unless I use starting fluid. Once it starts it runs fine. I have 40 pounds of fuel pressure.
Branden, Location unknown
Hello, Branden,
The problem is probably your fuel pressure regulator. You say you have 40 pounds of pressure. The information available at alldata.com says that that engine should have a pressure of 62 to 90 kPa, which translates to 9 to 13 PSI. Your pressure is too high, so therefore, it sounds like a bad regulator. Check it out and let me know if we're correct.
Thanks for writing!
MTN Automotive Team
Frozen block?
Hi MTN Automotive Team,
I have a 97 Dodge Dakota. It was 14 degrees this morning. When I started it and went to the gas station, I ran in to get coffee and a paper and left the truck running. I came out and the temp gauge was at 210 degrees, slightly above normal and I had no heat. I started driving away and the temp gauge fell all the way down and I had heat. Then it would rise and I lost heat. I recently had a water pump and thermostat put on and I’m thinking that too much water was added and not enough antifreeze and maybe the water froze in the block. Do you know what’s going on? Thanks in advance.
McCumbers, Wayne, MI
Hi,
It sounds more like a defective thermostat. Take it back to where you got the repairs done and let them know what’s happening. And check the antifreeze as well. There’s a reason for that water-antifreeze mix, by the way. If you put straight antifreeze into an engine, it won’t cool as well. But your problem sounds like a bad thermostat. And 210 degrees is not excessively hot since your radiator system operates under pressure and we all know that the higher the pressure, the higher the temperature before water boils. But for it to jump up and down, it’s got to be the thermostat opening and closing. Write us and let me know if I’m right!
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
Mitsubishi Alternator
To MTN Automotive Team,
I need to learn how to put an alternator in a ‘92 Mitsubishi Expo. Please send me instructions.
Name and address unknown
Hi,
it’s kinda hard to explain how to do everything in a few sentences. If you’re looking to do it yourself, check out alldata.com, punch in what they ask for, and pay $25 for a year’s worth of how-to-do-it knowledge.
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
Engine Dies on ’84 Audi
Hello MTN Automotive Team,
I just bought a used car and I am having troubles. I bought a 1984 Audi Coupe GT; it starts, but will not stay running. It runs for only about 5 seconds and it sounds fine. If you give it gas, it dies out quicker. It does not smoke. Valves do not make any noise. No lights show up on the dash. It has a 2.2 liter and has a big list of maintenance that was done by certified Audi mechanic but it's at home and I'm at work. It has 200,000 miles on it.
The person I bought it from said it ran fine. Then he parked it for two years and after tried to start it and it would not start. I checked the fuel injection fuse and it was burned out. I changed that and this is where I am now, stumped. I think it may be the fuel filters and was wondering if this was it hopefully.
Thanks a lot,
Buck Hertel, Wisconsin
Hi Buck, Your problem probably lies in the fuel filter, the fuel pump or the pump relay or pressure regulator. Turn on the key and listen at the tank. If you hear a distinct whine or whirring noise that runs for a few seconds, that’s the pump pressurizing he fuel to send it to the injectors. It runs intermittently as the system needs to send fuel to the engine. If you don't hear it at all, the fuel pump is not working and it needs to be changed. If the pump is located on the fuel rail leading to the engine, check that out there. Since the car is fuel-injected, the pressure regulator regulates fuel pressure to the injectors. This is something that should be checked by a good mechanic. Otherwise if you replace it without the proper diagnostic equipment, you'll be just throwing parts at the car and that may not fix the problem First, replace the fuel filter and check the pump. That's the simplest possible solution. The fuel filter should be changed according to the owner's manual or every 15,000 to 20,000 miles. Most people ignore it. The fact that the car has been sitting for two years might mean the filter is gummed up with fuel residue. Anytime you store a car that long if a period, that is a possibility. When in storage, use a fuel stabilizer. Those are about the only things it could be.
Good Luck!
MTN Automotive Team
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