Messages

1

Auto Repair Car Questions / Sebring Convertible filling with water

« on: June 10, 2013, 08:18:41 PM »

Our Sebring convertible is filling with water when we have a heavy rain.

The top is in poor condition but it is really seems to be the glass that is pulling away and allowing water to enter the rear compartment.

We tapped the glass back in place but it still appears to be leaking into the rear stow/trunk area.

How does the rain shed off the convertible top in normal conditions . Are there drainage plug fittings that could be blocked preventing water from leaving the rear of the car?

Thanks

Bob

2

Auto Repair Car Questions / 1988 Ford F 150 Starting, running problem

« on: February 28, 2013, 08:34:46 AM »

Our plow truck is having starting and running issues.

When it runs good it runs good. It starts up instantly and idles nicely.

But after a short while it will 'choke out' and die.

Starting is then a problem. It will turn over for many seconds (10 -20 secs) and then staggers into running.

The exhaust blowing into snow is very dirty(as if the is incomplete combustion).

I'm thinking its  something to do with the throttle body control or fuel injection.

Maybe needs a tune up?

This is very frustarating as snow we have a foot of heavy wet snow

Bob

3

Auto Repair Car Questions / Re: Ford F 150 Transmission Oil Coller

« on: October 26, 2012, 06:08:11 PM »

So I bought the replacement cooler.

I could place it  in series with the original cooler in the main radiator or  simply connect directly to the transmission.

Your opinion please.

Bob

4

Auto Repair Car Questions / Ford F 150 Transmission Oil Coller

« on: October 22, 2012, 12:25:44 PM »

Hi

Our 1987 F 150 transmission oil cooler has stripped threads on the pipe fittings out of the cooler and replacements are expensive or hard to come by used.

Is it possible to remove and bypass the cooler? It seems very small and wouldn't provide that much cooling.

The transmission fluid would still flow through the regular radiator.

We only use the truck for plowing and yard work in New England.

Bob

5

Auto Repair Car Questions / Re: Saturn Ion Windshield Wiper Problem

« on: June 18, 2012, 01:06:34 PM »

I just looked it up on Ebay.

$50. Used

Bob

6

Auto Repair Car Questions / 87 Ford F150 truck starting issue.

« on: June 18, 2012, 07:25:22 AM »

Hello

Our 87 F150 truck was starting and running fine after I swapped out the neutral safety switch mounted on the tranny.

The other day when we  started it the engine was racing at very high revs. We immediately turned it off. It did that for a couple of times. same thing. We left it for a day then tried again. This time no start. Cranking strong but no hint of the engine firing.

Any suggestions.

Thanks

Bob

7

Auto Repair Car Questions / 1997 Ford Escort low power

« on: May 13, 2012, 10:03:11 AM »

Hi

Our 1997 Ford Escort wagon is running with low power. It starts and runs ok but seems very under powered.

No check engine light but the 'service engine soon' light comes on occasionally.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Bob

8

Auto Repair Car Questions / Re: 1989 F150 not cranking.

« on: January 12, 2012, 06:01:11 PM »

The saga continues.

I decided to replace the ignition switch located on the steering column. This was not really easy but a after an hour or so I managed to replace the switch. On reconnecting the battery  the cranking resumed. I was flummoxed. I then guessed I had blown the new starter solenoid when trying to jump the starter yesterday. I re installed the old solenoid and hay presto, No cranking. Yes, Honey, I had blown the starter solenoid.
So now I was ready to plow. Only one problem. The truck would not start.
I looked at the distributor and it was damp from the small amounts of snow that had infiltrated the engine compartment. I sprayed with wire dryer. No spark. I took the distributor cap off and cleaned the terminals/rotor. I have seen worse. No spark.
I'm wondering If I might have blown a component in the ignition  system when I blew the solenoid?
Oh yes, and after I re-installed the original solenoid the original problem reemerged. Now I knew it has to be the solenoid. A short sharp whack with a wrench did the trick. I could have saved myself some aggravation if I had tried that earlier.
Anyway, 6" heavy snow on the ground and more to come with no plow.
C'est la Vie.

Bob

9

Auto Repair Car Questions / Re: 1989 F150 not cranking. You are going to like this one. :)

« on: January 11, 2012, 05:02:03 PM »

SO I changed the starter solenoid. Nothing. (cleaned cable terminals.) 
Then I replaced a fuseable link in a wire coming from the harness going in the direction of the starter motor.
I jumped the starter from the battery cable terminal on the solenoid across the solenoid. Starter cranks.
Then I changed the ignition relay. Nothing.
Checked fuses. No fuses relating to starting.
Turn ignition key to on, all dash lights on. When turn to starting position nothing (No click or crank), apart from very slight  dimming of some dash lights.
Went to store bought neutral position sensor, ignition cylinder and key, and ignition switch (so called). Trying to cover all bases.
Back at truck decided to jump from car to make sure battery good. Vigorously moved auto tranny gear selector/lever. Turned key and starter cranked.
Only problem the starter kept cranking when I turned the key from the start position. 
Expletive deleted!
SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT TO DO PLEASE.
The snow is almost here!

Bob
 

10

Auto Repair Car Questions / 1989 F150 not cranking.

« on: January 10, 2012, 03:32:55 PM »

The truck was being used all day in the woods, starting OK multiple times. Then when trying to start nothing. Turn key, nothing, no  clicking, no lights dimming, nothing. Battery good. Ignition lights on. I jumped the starter directly from the battery to the starter positive terminal and the starter cranked.

Any ideas please.

Thanks

Bob

11

Auto Repair Car Questions / 87 Chevy 3/4 ton truck. Ignition problem

« on: July 29, 2011, 08:12:28 PM »

Turn the ignition and nothing.

no wiper, no start, no instruments. Dead apart from flashers and horn.

Key in column seems solid in ignition.

Battery seems ok.

Did briefly come to life as far as the ignition came on, but turn to start and it went dead again.

Ideas?

Thanks

Bob

12

Auto Repair Car Questions / Re: 2000 Dodge Neon Electrical Problem

« on: July 16, 2011, 03:43:54 PM »

Make sure the battery ground connector to the car frame/body is clean and free of corrosion.

13

Auto Repair Car Questions / Re: 95 Ford Escort starting issue

« on: May 08, 2011, 07:34:42 PM »

Thanks for your response.

No, the starter does not crank, except when it does and the car starts normally.
I looked below the automatic shift lever inside the car and noticed one component that has a plunger which was broken at the end where it attaches to something(Hard to tell what, as it's broken). Might this affect the intermittent nature of the problem.

1.9 engine and there is no starter clicking when it fails to start. Not due to a week battery. There is a very quiet 'click' when trying to start but I think that's a relay associated with the ignition.

Bob

14

Auto Repair Car Questions / 95 Ford Escort starting issue

« on: May 07, 2011, 11:58:21 AM »

Hi

Recently we have been experiencing an intermittent starting problem. Some times it starts and sometime it doesn't. Our mechanic reminded me of the trick to tap the starter which worked once.  Now I just changed the starter and the problem persists. Is there another system controlling the starting system? Such as the gear lever (automatic).

Any ideas?

Thanks

Bob

15

Auto Repair Car Questions / Re: 88 Chevy 3/4 ton truck. Running very rough.

« on: February 01, 2011, 03:53:40 PM »

Filter is just as it appears in the picture.