Posted on 12/01/2005 10:28:11 AM PST by Bear_Slayer
Can any Freeper suggest a good online resource for car questions? I have the Chilton manual for the car, but I looking to pick someone's brain.
Specifically: I need detailed information to solve a fuel problem for a 88 Chevy Spectrum.
Everyone should have a Slant 6 at one time in their lives.
Good Luck
"Everyone should have a Slant 6 at one time in their lives."
LOL..When I was younger I bought a 61 AC Ace without an engine. The only engine I could find that fit was a Plymouth slant 6 and had it installed. Now I had this hot little Cobra lookalike. Unfortunately, it sounded like a greyhound bus as I roamed the streets of Southern Cal..Thanks for the reminder.
Wow, I've found the opposite: Chiltons seems positively wordy compared to the Haynes manual I just bought for an old F150.
Try replacing the O2 sensor. Bad O2 sensor will cause the car to act sluggist or like it is lugging and will also key the check engine light.
Thanks.
Sounds like you may have a faulty or clogged inline fuel filter.
"All-Data" . often available at libraries on cd rom.
I disconnected the fuel line from the pump and then ran my compresssor into the tank. Clear, clean fuel, jets nicely out of the line. The pump is 2 months new. I replaced the fuel filter yesterday. It's getting fuel.
If replacing the fuel filter didn't fix it, you have an intermittent problem with the fuel pump, presumably electric.
Replace that.
Don't worry about the O2 sensor - yours probably gave up long ago, and in any case won't give symptoms like yours.
Ah, one other thing: make sure your fuel tank vent is working properly, letting air in to replace fuel removed. If not you could be drawing a vacuum, preventing fuel from leaving!
A little more info might help:
Does act like this at high speeds?
At idle?
Upon acceleration?
All the time?
When you reach a a certain RPM?
There are different reasons for each incident.
Like FR, you have to register to post.
Here's another mental picture for you:
I had an old Chevy Vega back in the '80s. A small hole in the floor had rotted out under the drivers feet, but I didn't know it because it was covered by carpeting & insulation. In the middle of rush hour traffic on Woodward Ave. the insulation sagged down and was laying on the hot exhaust pipe right underneath. Just about the time I thought I smelled something burning or melting, the carpeting under my feet burst into flames that were shooting up over my knees.
Thank God it was in the middle of winter - I yanked the steering wheel, went up over the curb and drove across somebody's yard that was deep with snow. The hole underneath scooped the snow and put out the flames. Clouds of black smoke were pouring out of the car. Needless to say - it was a bit embarassing when other motorists kept stopping and asking if I wanted the Fire Department called. What a car!
For those of you who don't remember - the Vega was the little car with the aluminum engine. The engine ran forever - but the cheap body rusted out in no time. Ever hear an aluminum engine after the muffler has fallen off? I'm surprised you didn't hear mine! It sounded like a Titan rocket at launch time.
Sell it for scrap.
Exactly!!
Yup. Sounds like a plugged cat.
I had an 86 Accord and it took only 4 tanks of Ethanol enriched to completely destroy the fuel pump.
Ha ha ha! The car guys that have the radio show of a similar name had their top ten worst cars of all time on a webpage. Of course, the Vega made the list, as did it's Ford counterpart, the Maverick. Yugo was #1 worst of all time. Anyhow the vega story (they had an actual listener story with each car) was awesome! Something like the guy had a rusty Vega, was crossing a hideously bumpy railroad crossing, heard his car buckle - looked left and the rear end of his car was swinging around, smashed his door and mirror! I haven't laughed so hard in ages. The frame broke in two and his rear end smashed his front end! The story brings tears of laughter!
Don't forget everyone's favorite: "Assembly is the reverse of disassembly" - like, yeah, duh, but most things come apart a lot easier than they go together.
My first car was a '66 Plymouth Valiant with that engine. No power steering, no power brakes, and no A/C (with vinyl seats).
It ran like a top, although it was extremely dangerous in the snow.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.