--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGM00088 Date: 12/15/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 07:52pm \/To: RON TAYLOR (Read 0 times) Subj: Chevy Van -=> Quoting Alan Morrison to Ron Taylor <=- Sorry Ron, the BBS chopped and channeled my drawing. This one's better. RT> My '90 full-sized Chevy conversion van runs a bit rough RT> intermittently. Occasionally the "CHECK ENGINE SOON" light comes on When the CHECK ENGINE light comes on a code should be stored in the ECM (computer) memory. It will be erased if power (battery or ECM fuse) is removed for more than a few seconds. RT> problem is that on at least three occasions, it shuts down to what RT> seems like an idle. After a few minutes of cooling off, it fires up RT> and goes on as if nothing has happened. Obviously, something got hot. This sounds like an ignition module, but the engine would normally not continue to idle. Some electronics cooling spray may help diagnose this after you get an idea where to spray it. Radio Shack has it; # 64-4321... (The ignition module is inside the distributor.) RT> Description: 1990 Chevrolet series 20 van RT> 5.??? (350 cid), auto, EFI A 350 is 5.7 liter. RT> History: 255,000 miles, changed plugs at 114,000 RT> Plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, fuel pump, and fuel RT> filter last week. Might be worth looking into the catalytic converter to see if it's getting plugged. It would limit power at higher rpm, and probably cause some overheating too. RT> Chevy dealer technician tells me that he cannot duplicate the RT> condition nor does the computer show any codes. You can retrieve the codes yourself with a paper clip or wire. Under the dash, near the driver should be a connector like below; It may have a plastic cap that should pull off. ....F E D C B A .-----------------. |o |-|-|-|-|-|-| o| ALDL CONNECTOR .-----------------. -------------- ....G.........M A - Ground E - Serial Data B - Test Terminal F - TCC C - G - Fuel Pump D - Check Eng. Lamp M - Serial Data Insert a small wire from A (ground) to B (test) with the ignition key on, but not running. This puts the ECM into diagnostic mode. It will flash once, then twice - * * * - to indicate a code 12. This means the computer is in diagnostic mode. Each code will repeat 3 times. After a code flashes 3 times, the next code will appear. When it returns to the code 12, all trouble codes have been shown, and the sequence will repeat unless you remove the wire or turn off the switch. If you get any codes, post them here and I will look them up for you. If you prefer to learn more about this, a book is available at many auto part stores including Auto-Zone, and Pep-Boys. The book is by Haynes manuals and is titled "Automotive COMPUTER CODES". --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGM00089 Date: 12/15/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 08:01pm \/To: KENNY HENDERSON (Read 0 times) Subj: cool cop cars -=> Quoting Kenny Henderson to Devin Dimitri <=- DD> Do you have traction control? I own a Crown Vic with the KH> No traction control for me. It was an option, but mine doesn't have KH> it. I prefer to control my own traction thank you! :-) But if it snowed much and the wife/GF had to drive, I would insist on it. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGM00090 Date: 12/15/97 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 09:41pm \/To: PAT BREEDEN (Read 0 times) Subj: Heater in 1987 Chrysler New Yorker -=> Quoting Pat Breeden to All <=- PB> My mom has a 1987 Chrysler New Yorker and the heater will be working PB> just fine and then all of a sudden it will just start blowing out cold Most Chryslers have a heater control valve under the hood. Follow the heater hoses until you see them go through a valve. Some are operated by cable, others by vacuum. I would suspect yours would be the vacuum type since it has electronic controls. Check all the vacuum lines, and also see if they have vacuum on them with the engine running, warm, and the control set for heat. Most likely the control is getting old enough to stick, so you may have to check it again when the problem occurs. Try to move it manually if it's closed when it should be open. Replace it if it's leaking or sticking. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGM00091 Date: 12/17/97 From: JASON WEDEHASE Time: 09:41am \/To: ROY WITT (Read 0 times) Subj: American Sports Car Roy Witt told the story like this: JW> When you're about 12 second runs, .4 is a lot. RW> It sure is, but it's not a "seriously embarrassing" situation when RW> your outgunned by 142 cubic inches to start with. Oh, fine! Heh. RW> If I tied you up and placed you at the 122 foot mark, would you want RW> the Corvette or the Viper to test it's brakes in front of you? Well, I guess that's one way to look at it. I'm curious... why does the Vette stop faster when the Viper hsa so much bigger a contact patch for braking? Jason Wedehase strife66@Psynet.net http://www.Psynet.net/strife66 ... Resistance is futile if less than one ohm. ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 --- QScan/PCB v1.19b / 01-0154 * Origin: MicroLink BBS * Dinuba, CA 209-591-8753 (1:214/80) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGM00092 Date: 12/15/97 From: DEVIN DIMITRI Time: 02:40pm \/To: JAY EMRIE (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: cool cop cars JE> My 92 crown Vic is anything BUT mushy - and it does NOT have the JE> performance package. My 89 Crown Vic was very mushy - Shocks make a JE> big difference. Mine's a '93. Friends was a 95. I was referring more to extreme maneuvers. You know, like driving the boat like it's a pony car. I am used to more, er, concise handling, though. It's a great car, though. I'm thinking that with some huge anti-sway bars, or maybe something else to cut the body roll, and it could be really fun. Like an Impala SS or mething. -Lates --- Telegard v3.09.g1/mL * Origin: The Rapid Eye - FinalNET HQ (USA) - Olathe, KS (1:280/183) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGM00093 Date: 12/15/97 From: DEVIN DIMITRI Time: 02:43pm \/To: TOM WALKER (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: cool cop cars TW> They are just as delivered by FORD on a Police Car order. And being TW> a Government Beuroacy things like Shift Kits are out of the question TW> no matter how much sense it might make. They can get money to Repair TW> the Transmissions but NOT to Modify them. Speaking of cop cars, modifications, and going fast, the only ones in my area are the Vics, and i've heard that they're totally inferior to the Chevys. Does anyone have any hard performance numbers, or know exactly what extras are put on the car? -Lates --- Telegard v3.09.g1/mL * Origin: The Rapid Eye - FinalNET HQ (USA) - Olathe, KS (1:280/183) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGM00094 Date: 12/15/97 From: DEVIN DIMITRI Time: 02:51pm \/To: ROY WITT (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: Bugatti RW> Just got my AUTOWEEK Buyer's Guide, and I'm even more impressed with RW> the C5 road test data they presented... It's a very impressive car. It looks just a tad bit strange from a few angles <3/4 from the rear> but the performance is top notch. RW> According to a survey they took back in June, the C5 gathered 43% RW> more nominations than the Viper for America-made favorite sports car. Because of the Vette's history. Also, the car IS more refined than the Viper. Viper is better from a pure performance standpoint though. RW> speed of 43.9mph, pulling .872g on the 200ft skidpad. ^^^ I thought it was supposed to pull like .94 or something. RW> in 117 feet. Better than Viper (126ft) and very close to the Porsche ^^^ Did they put ABS on that car?? I thought that it stopped in like 130-140 ft. If it's that low without ABS, think of what it'd do with ABS, 105-115, maybe? RW> I'll leave those exotica cars for the deep pocketed individuals who RW> like to impress everybody with themselves... The pure exotics are toys. VERY fun and VERY expensive toys, but toys still the same. But i must qualify this statement, the Ferrari Manerllo is definately a toy <199 mph>, but it's very refined, and you would be able to drive it every day like you can a C5 or 300ZX, and can't a Viper. -Lates --- Telegard v3.09.g1/mL * Origin: The Rapid Eye - FinalNET HQ (USA) - Olathe, KS (1:280/183) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: EGM00095 Date: 12/15/97 From: DEVIN DIMITRI Time: 02:53pm \/To: KENNY HENDERSON (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: cool cop cars DD> Do you have traction control? I own a Crown Vic with the performance DD> package, but the traction control is either missing or damaged DD> but i drove a DD> friend's Vic of two years newer, and it handled much much better. DD> Still mushy and everything, but the handling on the edge DD> improvement was immediately obvious. KH> No traction control for me. It was an option, but mine doesn't have I hope you live somewhere that doesn't ice. :) -Lates --- Telegard v3.09.g1/mL * Origin: The Rapid Eye - FinalNET HQ (USA) - Olathe, KS (1:280/183)