RE: Need some advice,car troubles

RE: Need some advice,car troubles (Full Version)

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LadyPact -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 7:17:52 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: WyldHrt Oh, I don't know about that, LP. Some years ago, when I was living in SLO and the floods were really bad, the Paso Robles fire chief decided (being a firefighter and all) that he could drive his car across a flooded street. The pics of him on top of the car (which had washed down 200 feet and come to rest against a boulder) and the subsequent rescue, performed by his own squad, were on the front page of the paper the next morning. Poor booger never did live it down [:D] ETA- To make things worse, it was his Dept issue car. TPTB were not amused. [8D] This was completely hilarious. Thank you. To be honest, I can see it happening, too. Not so much with someone that you would think would know better, but because of seeing how high the water can get on certain roads here. I'm not as familiar with the problem in SLO, but in Paso, there are certain roads that you avoid during heavy rain and take alternative routes.

kdsub -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 9:34:03 AM)
I am an idiot... Many years ago, driving my trusty Chevy, I, with 4 people in the car, decided I did not want to wait at a low water creek crossing with the gauge showing 2.5 feet. I got out... wrapped a bread plastic wrap around the distributor... loosened the fan belt...and off I went singing anchors away. The currant was so strong on the up creek side that water lapped in the window... The car stalled in the middle and began to slide towards the road drop off... At the last minute the engine caught and we barely made it across almost sideways. The car was full of water to the seat tops I have no idea how the engine started and continued to run. It had to be towed from the other side. I was lucky Butch

lisub4one -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 9:35:19 AM)
mike, you said early on that the first time you tried to turn the car over that it just clicked. Normally i associate that symptom with a starter problem. Get under the car and locate the starter and check/dry the electrical connections. Make sure the battery is holding a good charge, check the air filter to see that it is dry (as has been mentioned previously), and remove the spark plugs, making sure the boots or COPS are insulated from the engine. Try turning the car over to see if it still just clicks or if the starter is cranking the engine. If it still just clicks disconnect and unbolt it and take it into an auto parts store like Advance Auto Parts or Auto Zone to have them test it, and replace if necessary. If the starter is good and the battery is holding a full charge (or was being jumped when you ran your test) then reinstall the starter and reconnect the electrical cables - being very sure the starter is properly GROUNDED, as weak/poor ground connections are a big source of starting failures. Best of luck!!!

slvemike4u -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 2:18:53 PM)
The odds of the insurance agent being called are rising by the minute.....many parts taken apart....water found where water shouldn't be. More later...when my hands are not so greasy.....and wet.[:)]

areallivehuman -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 3:02:43 PM)
Feel free to c-mail me direct if you wish, I am a GM dealership technician with over 30 years experience fixing cars.

DomKen -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 3:25:03 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: slvemike4u The odds of the insurance agent being called are rising by the minute.....many parts taken apart....water found where water shouldn't be. More later...when my hands are not so greasy.....and wet.[:)] It really sounds like its hydro locked. Fixing that was described up thread but it is a long and fairly unpleasant job. Probably easier to get her insurance involved they may just total it.

Muttling -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 3:50:40 PM)
I think the engine might be flooded.... [img]http://images31.fotki.com/v1097/photos/3/32697/376809/888vi-vi.jpg[/img]

slvemike4u -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 6:05:20 PM)
Okay,first let me say how much I appreciate all the help I received.....merely by asking.How wonderful that is..this is indeed a beautiful community. Now I took things as far as me and my niece's boyfriend could take it(okay he took it as far as he could take it.....my skills start and end with treating the damm thing right,regular maintenance and common sense )Next step is to call the insurance agent...they can either write it off...or have it towed to a station and repaired by professionals Again thanks for the help................but despite all your best efforts ,even the offer from the professionals amongst you...it is too big for me;-)

pahunkboy -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 6:13:25 PM)
be sure to lube up the rear end.

servantforuse -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 6:45:58 PM)
I was a Phone man, not a mechanic, but I'm thinking that distributor caps were gone about 10 years ago if not more.

BKSir -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 6:52:41 PM)
Actually, since we're on the topic, our 90 dodge grand caravan SE has picked up this bad habit of blowing the fuel pump fuse... but only on really wet days. Sadly, it's spring in Utah. So, twice now in the last 10 days. Very inconvenient and annoying. No, replacing the fuse doesn't help, as most often it blows the second it's replaced. It's in the shop now and they're essentially scratching their heads and going "uh... durhurrrr..." Going to replace the pump itself, filter as well, maybe the wiring harness. Any other options are appreciated though. I'm frankly as stumped as they are.

DesFIP -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 9:05:52 PM)
Sounds like you have a short. Do you have a micrometer? If so, start checking wires.

BKSir -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/18/2011 9:11:40 PM)
That's kind of what I'm thinking too, but at the same time, it only does it when super wet out.

DeviantlyD -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/19/2011 2:14:22 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: areallivehuman Feel free to c-mail me direct if you wish, I am a GM dealership technician with over 30 years experience fixing cars. Where were you when I needed you a couple of years ago! whines Just out of curiosity...even though I am now going to junk the car...how difficult is it to fix an airbag sensor on a '96 Cavalier that sustained water damage? Sorry to distract from the OP's dilemma. :)

areallivehuman -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/19/2011 2:25:23 AM)
Airbag sensor should not be overly difficult, depending on which one it is, there are several. Why would you junk a car just because of an airbag light? Live dangerously.......

areallivehuman -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/19/2011 2:33:27 AM)
For BKSir, intermittent short circuits are notoriously difficult to diagnose. Fuel pump is probably the way to go, paying close attention to the connector at the pump unit. Water intrusion into that connector could carry the pump voltage direct to ground, blowing the fuse. If I was working on it it would be running on the lift while I sprayed the back of the tank down with a garden hose..........

DeviantlyD -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/19/2011 2:56:18 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: areallivehuman Airbag sensor should not be overly difficult, depending on which one it is, there are several. Why would you junk a car just because of an airbag light? Live dangerously....... LOL Uhm...well, this particular air bag had a recall on it...one I had received mail on, but didn't read until after the fact. (The notice indicated that should the airbag sensor become wet, the airbag could deploy without warning or might not deploy in a collision.) The sensor is located under the passenger side front seat. But...this is just one of many problems. Some jerk at work backed into my car and took out the driver's side mirror. (This was in the employee parking lot. Nice to know the people you work with are that honest. sarcasm) I had not been able to find a replacement. It's funny 'cause I went to NAPA and the one they had for the make, model and year of my car did not fit at all. Same with CarQuest. And the one they had was different than the one NAPA had. Junk yards around here turned up empty for a match. Then there is the engine coolant. There is a slow leak somewhere. I think it may be one of the hoses. I had to have the radiator replaced about a year and a half ago and the cost of the hoses was ridiculous, so they reused the ones I had. The brake pads need replacing...the holes in the top (it's a convertible) are so big...well...that was how the airbag sensor became wet in the first place...a torrential downpour and my car had a good inch of water in it. (This after years of tarping every time it rained. sighs It only takes one time of being careless...) The rear window that I had replaced (the previous owner had plexiglass) was made out of a cheap plastic and so it's entirely occluded, years later. I'm amazed I've passed safety inspections with it! Then there is the minor stuff...the washer fluid container has a crack in it, so I can only put small amounts in at a time...the inside door panel on the driver's side is partially separated from the exterior...lots of chips and scrapes and dents on the exterior...nice ring of rust around the antenna...I'm sure that would have rusted out one day...and the spare tire is rusted into place in the trunk. Rust being a hazard of living on an island surrounded by salt water. ;) If I were to hold on to it, it would be a money pit since the cost of repairs that are needed would be considerable...and that wouldn't even include the stuff that wouldn't be altogether necessary. I bought it for $2K over 6 years ago. I confess I took shabby care of it. I could have had more life out of it, had I taken better care of it, but all things considered...I got my money's worth. :)

DeviantlyD -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/19/2011 2:59:45 AM)
Oh! Speaking of fuel pumps...if a new fuel pump was put in and done so improperly, could that cause the ABS and check engine lights to simultaneously come on? That was another issue I had. It came on intermittently and started doing so after I'd had my fuel pump replaced. I drove it that way for...hmmm...about a year and a half.

areallivehuman -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/19/2011 3:08:33 AM)
Your last question, no. Be strong, take that car behind the barn, and put it out of its misery.

DesFIP -> RE: Need some advice,car troubles (4/19/2011 6:12:07 AM)
I find anything causes the check engine light to come on. Speed bumps will cause it to come on or turn off. I've given up on it and since the VW Passat has six or eight oxygen sensors, I'm not replacing them. We own our own code reader at this point, and just clear the damned thing and drive carefully for 30 miles before showing up at the shop for inspection.

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