Tech Section
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So since December the light for the engine temp gauge in the Intrepid has been out...I think. It's dimmer than teh other lights but there's enough glow that it's still readable at night. A month ago or so part of the tach (the right side) went dim. I've never pulled a gauge cluster part before...is it individual light bulbs or what? I'd like to think they're just blow bulbs...but the strange thing is that sometimes the temp gauge will light up normally...so I dunno. I wanna take it to the dealer tomorrow and have it looked at...I hope it's not that expensive. It's not a major issue since I can read all the gauges fine at night...it's just an annoyance. The trunk light h…
Last reply by Buickfosure, -
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Does anyone know how to locate part numbers for older GM vehicles?
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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Does anyone know of a GM lock cylinder interchange? Since I basically never sell any cars, I have found it convenient to rekey my cars to use the same lock codes. In some cases, this is quite easy... in other cases, its a little tricky. I currently rekey on a set of one sided E/J keys, which makes things easy for 30 years worth of GM cars. However, I'm not real fond of the double sided keys, especially the '90s ones. Unfortunately, I'm not clear if I can swap these out. Generally, will do things modular style, so some sort of interchange is possible... for example, the '97 Tahoe I just got has a shot set of keys and /or cylinders. To use E/J keys, I need cylinders …
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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...cat-back exhaust systems for my 1995 Tahoe 2-door. I would like to find a dual-outlet system, and though I have seen these trucks with such systems, I can't seem to find them listed anywhere. I have seen systems like that listed for shortbed/regular cab pickups - I'm guessing that these will fit, no?
Last reply by Camino LS6, -
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Ses light went off today and heat was not working properly. So I checked the coolant and it was quite low. Took it straight to the dealership but service was already closed. Any idea what could have caused sudden coolant loss? Also, would a problem like this be covered under the power train portion of the warranty? I'm just over the 60,000 km bumper to bumper portion.
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
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Sometimes when I start my 2000 Tahoe 5.3 there is a very high pitched whine from below the vehicle ,not always but sometimes after it has been running and good and hot?
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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so i just tore apart my intake to get to the thermostat thinking it was stuck open... but i put it in a boiling bath and it opens and closes just fine. i don't think we have an infrared thermometer to test it, but the gauge in the IP goes from 100 - 260, it never goes above ~1/4 the way. i'm guessing @140 - 150. what's the chance the temp gauge is wrong? the heater gets warm fairly fast in not ass cold weather, <20 degrees. any ideas would be appreciated, till then i'm thinking of running cleaner and water through the system, not supposed to get below freezing in the next 10 days... could this be associated with my fuel gauge problem with it almost never being …
Last reply by loki, -
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Yes sirs, my new truck is in. 2007 Sierra regular cab shortbed 2WD. It's a goodlooking truck, to be certain, however, the rear end sits a bit too high for me, it has a definite rake. Lowering blocks seem to be a simple solution. Question for anyone who knows: If my truck has progressive rate springs, that means the more pressure that is put on them, the harder they'll ride, correct? Do lowering blocks compress the springs? Can I install a set of 2" lowering blocks to level the ride height of my truck without affecting the ride? Sorry to sound like a dummy, but this is out of my line of experience. Thanks in advance!
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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Who has the scoop on making this work?
Last reply by Camino LS6, -
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We do a lot of HVAC work, resteraunt repair work, and Electrical work for a chain of truck stops. I've noticed a lot of truckers love the Lucas stuff. Lots of them swear by it. Anyone tried it? I'm trying it in the wife's car. Chris
Last reply by 67impss, -
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that this is easy to replace... Since it looks like the wagon is going to stick around a while...I'm debating whether I should reaplace the MAF soon... It should fix the idle and the pick up issue... Those who have worked on the 3.1s...how easy it is to do? Is it something I can do-or should I get a bit of help?
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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No it's not the oil filter or drain plug. 2000 Alero 2.4L twin cam motor. Just started leaking BAD. From underneath the car looking up, it looks like the oil is coming from somewhere around the manafold area (cam cover, head gasket???) and running down the backside of the motor. Underside of car is covered pretty good. Just went down 1 qt of oil on a 120 mile drive. Seems that if it were the head gasket I'd have coolant issues too? The back side of the cam cover just above the manifold looks a little oily but not like it does below the manifold. Whole back side of motor under manifold is covered with oil. Any thoughts before I tear into this thing? Thanks Buddy…
Last reply by I hope GMRULES again, -
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Ok, I'm a bit stumped on this one.... Last week, the wagon (93 Cav 3.1, 141k) would not start. New battery, fuses, and the Alt tested fine. Even with the new battery, the lights won't turn on, or the gauges won't even move. The only things I can think of would either be: the starter, or I have a wire that went bad somewhere. What is even worse is that my repair book disappeared. Does anyone know where there is a good guide for wiring to the engine for a 3.1? (cavalier) I don't want to let this thing sit too long....
Last reply by daves87rs, -
Malibu leaking water pumps
by Guest MikeBike- 7 replies
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I own a '99 Chev Malibu (2.4L DOHC) LH9 engine) with 100,000 km (60,000 miles) on the clock and am the original owner. I'm now on my 3rd water pump (1st was a GM, 2nd an OEM, 3rd is now a GM). The part is only $190 but the labor is always around $800 because it's OHC and the timing chain plus the tensioner must come off in order to get the old pump out. I dumped the GM "pink" DexCool antifreeze a long time ago at the mechanic's suggestion and have used good old Prestone green ever since. I run the car on Castrol Syncrude 5W/30 with very regular oil changes and the engine runs like a dream, except for the coolant leaks out the weep hole on the water pump. Are the leak…
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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Anyone know if it will fit on a G6? Does the G6 and Malibu have the same strut tower distance?
Last reply by capriceman, -
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In the last couple months the Malibu has become an absolute fuel hog. Went through the last tank of gas @ about 14-15MPG with about 70/30 City/Hwy. Less than 170 miles last time from full to the fuel light coming on. Absolutely absurd. For comparison in about 60/40 driving I'm pulling 25-27MPG consistently in the 07 Impala. Both have the 3.5L engine and 4 Speed so I don't get it. The last four or five tanks of gas have been progressively getting worse and worse. Can't be bad gas as all our cars are filed at the same Shell station. Injectors and MAF were serviced last summer and I've run thru some of the Techron stuff to no avail. There are no warning lights and th…
Last reply by 67impss, -
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05 model a friend's car.. she called me said it took ~3 times for it to start, seemed like low battery at first... i didn't have a multi meter with me so i don't know about the battery, yet. a quick internet search gave me this http://www.justanswer.com/car/3a6od-2005-mazda-6-turn-no-start-3-4-tank-fuel.html fuel pump problems are common on the 6...?
Last reply by loki, -
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It seems to me that Mazda could be in a unique position in the world of hybrids. Some points to consider: 1. It's entirely plausible to have a car who's only means of propulsion is via electric motors; Tesla and the Electric Mini have proven that. 2. Generators work their best at a consistent, generally high, RPM. 3. Rotary engines are their most efficient at a high rpm. 4. Rotary engines are very smooth running. What I'm suggesting here is mating a small displacement rotary engine, probably less than 1 litre, to a generator to charge the batteries. Batteries in turn run the electric motors <in the wheels like with the Electric Mini> of moderate power. …
Last reply by Cory Wolfe, -
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Recently experiencing overheating problems, my fan seems to be turning on just fine, radiator is filled an working and so is the waterpump yet it still overheats? If anyone could help me with a solution or direction to look for my issue I'd be eternally grateful. For extra information: The car doesn't overheat while idling, only on the highway after driving for about 30 minutes. I'm almost sure there's something electrical going completely haywire.
Last reply by Thed, -
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Meijer Media Alert: Fuel Mixups - Dayton, Ohio On Friday, October 14th, at 9200 N. Main, Englewood, Ohio, our fuel distributor crossed fuels that effected Diesel and Premium Unleaded grade fuels. The problem was quickly discovered and the contaminated fuel has been pumped out and new fuel has been delivered. If you experienced a rough running or rough idling engine after purchase of fuel at the Englewood gas station, please report the incident to the store. Approximately 600 gallons of diesel and 80 gallons of premium were pumped during the timeframe. The only fuel that was impacted is Diesel or Premium fuel purchased on Friday, October 14th.
Last reply by thegriffon, -
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A friend of mine has a mishap in his '98 LeSabre yesterday. He hit one of those rectangular yellow reflectors you see along the side of the road with the right-hand mirror, which only scraped the paint a little bit, but the glass cracked and a strip of it fell off in the middle. The glass is also not supported at the top anymore, so it's like it's stuck pointing down. I wouldn't call myself a mechanic, but I can even tell that he needs a new mirror. So, the question is, does anyone know how to remove the mirror off of a '90s H-body? It's not power-adjustable and I don't believe it's heated, which makes me think it would just pop out if you stuck a thin tool between it a…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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I just have a few quick questions in regards to changing a coil pack. What exactly is involved in changing one? I have a missfire on cylinder 6 on my series 1 3800 SC motor. Should I change all three and the plugs and wires and what do I have to do to change the coil pack itself? What am I looking at cost wise? I haven't been able to drive my Riv in a week now due to this, and with no other form of transportation at this time, I really need to get this thing fixed. Lastly what tools will I need? Thanks in advance guys.
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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whats some super cheap mods for this peice of... fine... machinery.
Last reply by quantum110, -
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Where do I find the VIN on this? needs to be verified by the Florida DMV for title transfer.
Last reply by Oracle of Delphi, -
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I'm trying to wire my stereo in the Monte and I have no idea where the 12V constant lead from the harness goes to. The harness looks like this and the wire is the yellow one you'll see to the right of your screen. I think it plugs into the fusebox but I don't have any idea where. So far, no one at Monte Carlo SS.com has replied.
Last reply by Blake Noble, -
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so with 190K+ Monte's leaking coolant. the pump is about 10 years old with 60K+ miles. seems to only leak after it's warmed up some (pressure in the block? maybe loosing a quart over a week and 150 miles driven, 50 of that is very off and on. the leak is on the front of the engine... where the drips come from, been leaking slowly since late dec. prolly need to check it after 30 mins (after being driven) or so to see if there is an obvious stream. given this, do you think the culprit could be the water pump? what would you recommend i look for? also taking suggestions for cars to replace it with. ... what i'd look for, similar or better gas milage, either a radio…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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Ok, you guys were pretty responsive on the other questions, now I've got a few more. I'm ordering the truck this week and wanted to run the final specs by you guys. First, a little background: I'll be purchasing the truck, and shortly after I recieve it, it will go into the shop for a 6" or 8" Pro Comp suspension lift, and to be fitted with some 35" tires. I was originally going to order the truck with the 3.73 rear end, but have heard that I need to go with the 4.10 rear end instead due to the bigger tires. I don't need the truck to smoke the tires or have lots of holeshot, but I don't want it to totally be a pig either. What do you guys think? 3.73 or 4.10??? …
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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After some process of elimination, I am almost certain that my Regal, a 1992 W-body, needs at least one motor mount. (I think I asked a similar question before, but now I'm more convinced). If I'm going to do this, I want the engine/trans mounting system to have new mounts all around. Is this an easy thing to do via a visual inspection/are they "easy" to see? (I've tried looking for diagrams or pix on the Web and can't find them readily). How many are there? What does this service cost, parts and labor? Thanks.
Last reply by gmpartsgirl, -
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Hey, I've got the Big 3 scheduled: Minor tune-up this month (mostly for the plugs), Motor mounts next month (Dec.), and Trans fluid change, drop, drain, filter, the following month (Jan.) These will hopefully enable me to get to the 300K mark without these major service items So, question on the motor mounts. The car in question is my 92 Regal with the 3800 V6. I'm fairly convinced they (1 and/or 2) need replacement and will be letting a shop who is pretty straightforward do it. So, can changing them open another can of worms? Meaning, it is possible that, during this changeover, the position of the engine can change so as to mess up a tolerance with somet…
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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got it put back together.. well, mostly my dad did, he drove it, it's much better from what he tells me. going to see what SES code is in it tomorrow and replace one boot that cracked that's on the valve cover. what was done, replace intake gaskets, ..didn't run, tore back down to them (vacuum leak, found the hose), rebuild it, idled rough, compression checked 150 - 175 psi on each cylinder, new plugs, wires from a 99 pont GA 3.4. hoping every thing's better, or at least back to only a seldom misfire in #4 (had the least comp)
Last reply by loki, -
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Okay, so this is not a new thing, but I have mentioned to my brother that I have a leak in my trunk. It's not just a leak... everything is SOAKED! For example, if I put a plastic shopping bag in the trunk, take it out an hour later, the entire bag would be soaked and the contents inside would be damp/wet as well. And this is when it hasn't rained in days too. He said he's never seen anything that bad. Even in the summer it's like this. Again, it's not a little water, it's every inch of the trunk. Now, I'm not really concerned with it since I'll probably get rid of the car in a year. Here ya go: I'm not exactly sure why he took pictures of my engine compar…
Last reply by Paolino, -
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I think this question may have been asked before, and I probably know the answer deep down, but that's not going to stop me from asking anyway. I lowered the gas tank on the Corvette this weeked, and threw it away because it was rotted beyond repair. To my dismay there was no build sheet shoved between the tank and the body. It's not tucked under the seats or any of the other interior panels (which are out of the car). Is there any way at all to retrieve the option code information given the VIN of the car? My goal is to bring the car as close to original as possible, no matter what the effort, but if I can't do that I'll option it up the way I want to. I'll gladly prov…
Last reply by Camino LS6, -
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Anyways my "new" 2005 Impala LS has one slight issue with the head unit, at night all the buttons light up and "glow" like they do in my 2001 Impala except these two buttons circled in the buttom right. So I know they are suppose to glow right? Or was the a change in the head unit? (I doubt it but just throwing that out there.) So are there bulbs inside the head unit that can be replaced? Or in order to fix this would I need a new/different head unit? Anyone know or have any idea's? I just would like to know before I take it to the dealer for its first oil change and new mudflaps. If possible and not a ton of money I would like to get this fixed, or get a used head unit o…
Last reply by 2005 EquinoxLS, -
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It is... Anyways, I'm not even sure what I'm looking for here, but I'm just wondering about a few things. The first of which is that it is starting to take longer for it to start. Before, I would turn the key and it would start up without a problem. Now, though, it takes longer and when it does start, it feels as if it doesn't want to run. A few seconds after that, it will finally run fine. Secondly, I noticed it is making a noise. Don't know how long its been making it as its unnoticably from inside. But, it's like a... screeching noise... IDK how to explain it. It sounds like it's coming from the right front area. I didn't look unde…
Last reply by Cory Wolfe, -
took my car in to get serviced at a tranny shop... fluid and filter called and said my seal is leaking, i thought it might have been a power steering leak...nope.... said a fix was ~$150 i think is this fair, and how hard would it be to do not in a shop...aka driveway. any potentially horribleness could ensue by leaving it alone.. short of tranny fluid leaking out quicker than i check on it?
Last reply by loki, -
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So far we've been through 2 full tanks of gas since owning the car. The first tank got 218 miles on it...divide that by 17 and the car got a mediocre 12.8 mpg. Considering this is the base V6 I'm scared to think what the 3.0 and 3.5 would get! In it's defense, this was mostly city driving. So far, on the second tank of gas I've got 250ish miles on the odometer with still gas left. This was more highway-like driving, since I took it to school this past week. Still, I don't think I'll break 20 mpg on this tank. What makes me sad is that Saturn's big new Outlook gets 20 mpg average in a mix of driving (according to Autoweek) So, and suggestion on way to improve fuel eco…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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There are two sounds my car is making and I'm curious as to what they could be/what could be causing them. First of all, I'm driving a 1992 Buick Century Special, 3300 V6, 4A. Tomorrow morning's commute will make me pass 106,000 on my odometer. Sound #1: If you were to take your cell phone, put it on vibrate, place it on a tray and call it, this would be the sound. A metallic, vibrating sound. Oddly enough, it's not really present at a dead stop or park. It's mostly prominent at low speeds (probably because I can't hear it at high speeds). It comes from under the hood. Sound #2: A whirring sound that's getting louder and louder as time goes on. Say you dr…
Last reply by jjf76, -
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My friend's mom has a Delta 88 with a 307 that she's willing to part with for the right price. That price happens to be less than what a new carburetor would cost me, and as a bonus, I'd get a new AC compressor, radiator and transmission. I took it for a quick spin and it bogs down badly around 30mph. I'm thinking fuel filter or pump. Vapor lock? I only ask because if its a quick, easy fix, I can drive it to the secret lair instead of having to find a trailer or something to tow it with. BTW: By bogging down, I mean its surging, kinda like its not getting fuel to the carb.
Last reply by 2005 EquinoxLS, -
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I have a 03 z71 and it leaks or burns up coolant. I have searched the entire engine compartment and can not find the leak, the heater core is good, there is no coolant in the oil. I cant find where its all going aany help would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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I have a user who recently had an arm amputated. He is doing ok typing but is struggling with the Ctr-Alt-Del to log in part. He is holding a pen in his mouth to hit the delete key. I've tried macros attached to programable keys on the keyboard and they don't work for that key combination. Any of you other I.T. folk out there know a way around this?
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Hello all, I'm new to this forum, just found it today while looking for some info so I thought I'd give it a try here. I have a 1986 chevy 4x4 that I was going to install a rear locker in. When i pulled the rear cover I noticed that the spider gear shaft was wallowed out, mushroomed and had started to crack. So I sent the locker back and ordered a Detroit Truetrac limited slip differential. The questions that I have are, do i need to have the gears reset just changing the differential itself? The ring gear and pinion look great and I paln on reusing them and not disturbing the pinion at all. Any help I can get would be appreciated, I live in a small town and the only…
Last reply by henrysnead, -
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A friend of a friend is restoring his very rare 400,4spd. special edition Trans Am. The car only has 21k original miles and they are doing a concours-level resto on it. So, I am trying to help find a source for an NOS exhaust system for it. Here is an excerpt from an e-mail they sent me with the original GM part numbers: help us locate an N.O.S.- exhaust system for my 1978 Pontiac Trans Am with the Pontiac 400 engine. Here is the needed info: Front Y-Pipe 10002881 Y-pipe behind catalytic convertor 10003452 Resonator 10002882 Resonator 10002883
Last reply by 2005 EquinoxLS, -
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Hi: When renting cars, Bluetooth and advanced audio systems enable me to play my own music. In my car, I never did because I never looked into it. Buick and Pontiac did not have the MP3 connector in my year, while Chevy did. Okay, so I ask the guy in the electronic department at a (ahem) big box store how to address this and he tells me about an item that goes into your cigarette lighter and might be called an FM transmitter. That's because it works on one FM frequency reserved for this task. Questions: 1. What is this thing called and does it work well? Any features to specifically look for on one I could buy? 2. Does it pull your songs…
Last reply by frogger, -
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I had my C5 dyno'd at Texas-Speed today, the service was excellent, as always. The TSP crew really helped me out and went the extra mile to make sure my car was running at its best. Modifications: PRC 215 heads MS4 Cam LS6 intake manifold TSP 1.75" longtube headers w/ x-pipe underdrive pulley Textralia clutch and flywheel RPM differential with 3.90 gears Results: There was absolutely no 'special dyno treatment' for my car. There were no tricks used here, no icing of the intake manifold, no octane booster, just strapping the car down with pump gas (91 octane) and making some pulls. The intake manifold and throttle body are the next things that n…
Last reply by Chevy Nick, -
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Finally got my PRC 215 aftermarket heads today, hot off of the CNC machine. 215cc runner, 60cc combustion chamber, 2.04/1.60" valves, PRC valve springs. Great flow, great compression, great piston to valve clearance. Sadly, my life will be getting in the way of a proper tune/dyno run, it will probably be 6 weeks before I can post results. intake port combustion chamber exhaust port customized: total package:
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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Whats up with the nes emission standards for the diesel engines? couple friends noticed that on fuel pumps at stations there are stickers saying that new model year diesel trucks will only be able to use the fuel. any idea?
Last reply by tipsy420, -
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So, after a few years of postponing it, I'm going to buy a second key fob. The other one got damaged and slowly started giving up the ghost. This is for a 2008 LaCrosse with the base 3800 V6. My current one identifies itself with "Welcome Driver 2" upon inserting the key. The dealerships want anywhere from $40 to $62 to do this task. I will be buying the key fob aftermarket from one of the major auto part stores. Questions: Can I do this myself? How will the key fob "know" to attach itself to my vehicle once I take out of the shipping container and begin programming it? Will it "know" that driver 2 is already programmed and then default to being t…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Mom finally gave up on fixing her Taurus wagon. So I took her car shopping. She looked at a Passat wagon, Vibe, Vue, L200 and a Malibu Maxx. She was planning on a late model used but later decided to spend the extra couple grand and buy new. So her local Chevy dealer found her an 06 Maxx LT with a couple extras, sunroof, side air bags, XM. Very nice little car, I was very impressed with the solid feel of it. So anyway, my reason for posting.... I'm pretty comfortable with GM's 3.1, 3.4 and 3.8 V6's. But I don't know too much about the 3.5. I'm hoping someone can enlighten me on the changes (as compared to the previously mentioned engines). Is this just an up…
Last reply by Mike The Canadian, -
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I'm thinking about putting a new transmission in my '73. The most likely candidate is a Super T-10 Here's the issue: Currently, I'm running the 406, a Turbo 350 transmission (with a shift kit), a 3:73 posi-trac and 17 inch wheels (Not sure on the tire size -- can you tell I haven't messed with my Camaros in a while? LOL) Anyway, the tranny was rebuilt probably 11-12 years ago out of necessitiy, back when the car had the stock rear end and an old, weak 350. After the rebuild, it was a daily driver for about 4 years, then it was retired to semi-daily, and recently, super duper garage queen. Obviously, I've upgraded around the tranny and it has become the weakest link. It…
Last reply by FUTURE_OF_GM, -
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Just got a new set of shoes from my 2001 Sunfire. Now whenever I hit the brakes there's a constant whine, louder when speed is under 30kph. Its especially bad when the brakes are cold. Any idea's what it could be?
Last reply by Satty, -
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About to pick up my brand new HHR SS. We live up in Canada, and the block heater is standard on most Canadian ordered vehicles, and is used 4 or 5 days in the winter, every winter. However, there is no block heater option available on the 2.0 turbo charged engine, currently in the HHR SS and soon to be new Cobalt SS. Being new to turbos, the turbo technology seems to be the only difference between the usual normally engine. So, is the fact that its a turbo the reason that a block heater isn't a factory option? I can't imagine what it would conflict with with a turbo charger and an engine block, but there also has to be a basic reason a block heater is not an optio…
Last reply by Avinash, -
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My roommate has a 2005 Grand Am, less then 8,000 miles because he hardly drives anywhere. His heater control is broken. We called the local Pontiac dealer to get a Saturday appointment because he needs his car on the weekdays. They told him they don't do any warrenty work on the weekends. This is a major, every brand but chevy, GM dealer. Anyone encounter this before?
Last reply by Newbiewar, -
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Where in the hell is the starter on the Northstar 4.6 starter in a cadillac XLR helping out one of my friends replace it. Me and him went through a 12 pack of beer searching for it. I'm so confused right now... Where is it????
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Not sure where to post this, so feel free to move where appropriate. This is a questions for insiders and people who have a lot of knowledge about platforms and the engineerings aspects of them. It involves the automaker not some project car. This would be for redesigning/heavily modifying an existing vehcile. How difficult is to to stretch the wheelbase, of a platform, widen it, lengthen the trunk, and change the roofline. In addition to these structural changes, the vehicle using this platform would need new suspnsion tuning, and work on NVH levels. Would it be easier an more cost effective to modify this platform to meet these requirements, or design a new platfo…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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I was replacing the driver's side rear window regulator on the Mercury, was just about done, tightening the last bolt (one that holds the glass in place) did it too tight and the whole damn thing shattered everywhere. So obviously I'm pissed at myself for tightening it too tight (and too a lesser extend pissed at Ford for designing crap regulators that break all the damn time, then riveting the stupid things in place). Problem is that the car has one of those landau tops, and the part that goes on the door goes over the stupid window frame. There's no way to get the glass out or in with it there. My question is, what adhesive do they use the secure the tops? It looks ki…
Last reply by Camino LS6, -
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I have a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.8 45k miles. Recently I have noticed that whenever I go above 4000 rpms the car quits accelerating and makes a puffing sound from the engine. Tonight I found out that the car will not go above 90mph and it is hard to accelerate at higher speeds and the service engine light came on when I tired this on the interstate. I have put fuel injector cleaner in the tank twice but it has no effect. You can not notice a problem with the car when driving normally on city streets and the car still gets around 22mpg. I want to fix this myself so I don't have to take it to a shop or the dealership. Thanks! -mk
Last reply by Mr.Krinkle, -
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Mobil 1 right now. Granted, it is protecting, but it doesn't stay clean very long. I figure if I pay good money for a better oil-it should at least hold up better. I haven't even noticed a change in my Cobalt.... Makes me wonder if I make should change to a blend oil instead... Sorry, I had to vent....
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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So, recently I have been needing to jump the Toronado if I let it sit more than a few days. Last night, in anticipation of a road trip this morning, I put the battery on the charger for about 4 hours. This morning, it fired right up, no trouble. I head out on my road trip, 250 miles total. I had my headlights on for most of the trip due to rain. During the trip I made at least 3 stops where the engine was shut off. Each time, on restart, she fired up like she just rolled off the line at Linden NJ. I arrived at my destination around 1 pm. At 4:30pm, I run out for a quick errand, no more than 5 miles each way No problems starting at either of my stops. I pull …
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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Basically, I need to figure out whether or not the Prizm was a base or LSi model. The insurance company is being anal retentive ass monkeys. They say that they got their $1,500 value basing it off the car being a base model because they couldn't find out whether it was an LSi or not. The paperwork I sent them had 4 Prizms for sale, 2 Lsi 2 base models, and two NADA printouts...one of the value of an LSi and one of the base model. The difference is $100 dollars... $2,325 VS $2,425...but they're idiots...how dumb you ask? Today the woman asked if I had a "5 speed manual or a standard transmission?" I tried calling a few dealers to find out and they couldn't...the only thi…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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Hi folks: My LaCrosse has the highly "chromed" and bling laden grille common to the '08 and '09. It is not chromed at all, but plastic. I was almost going to buy chrome cleaner but did a little homework by reading the instructions on the can of chrome cleaner and as well as getting the opinion of the guy working at O'Reilly's ... and nixed that idea real quick. One is not supposed to use chrome cleaner on these areas, let alone on this car, probably, since there is little to no chrome. I've just washed the car and then dried this area off. I'd like to know if there are specific ways to care for these areas: 1) the plastic chrome effect on the grille …
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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anyone have copy of the TSB for this. Also can I get instruction how to remove the mirror. Dealer not helping, has excessive play where mirror face mounts onto guts inside mirror housing. thanks in advance
Last reply by jaycough, -
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Hello, first time around C&G! I have a question about the Ocatane rating on my 1996 Z28 (roughly 60k miles, and stock). This car is NOT my daily driver, and I only drive it when the weather's good...so roughly 3-4 months out of the whole year. Now the problem. Since I dont drive my Z28 all that much, I figured I would let a family member take it to college for the spring-summer semesters. Well, I got the car back about two-three weeks ago, and really did'nt get the chance to drive it until last Saturday...thats when I noticed the engine was pinging like crazy at idle. My first thought was that stupid b* used Diesel or something, no she used E-85…
Last reply by 2005 EquinoxLS, -
The 2004 Grand Prix GTP has been in the family about 3 years now, and recently it has started belching out an awful, dieselly odor from the HVAC every so often. Its been too intermittent for me to put my finger on the problem, so I'm curious if any other GM owners have come across such a problem. The problem is that the car will just be driving along normally when it happens... not hitting any bumps, turning or braking. We've observed it with the AC on and off, with the Recirc on and off. The smell lasts about 5 seconds and smells remarkably like one drove into a big cloud of diesel smoke. Of course, there is no smoke... or any diesels for miles, usually. I would im…
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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Some problems on our cars I thought I'd ask about... The first is on my Granddad's 2007 Impala LS (Optioned out just like ours except it's black). (as he describes it to me) When the car is warmed up and has been running for a bit, and the air conditioner is off, there is a a Rotten Egg smell coming through the vents with the air. When the air conditioner is on (recirc) or when the fan is off, the smell isn't there. The next few are on my G5: -When the car is off for a bit the gauges have a tendency to move up and down all by themselves for a while every once in a while. The best way to describe it is that the gauges are having siezures. -The car makes a b…
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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As I mentioned in another thread, the blower motor on my car went out last week. So I popped the hood, hoping the it was under there and not in some asinine place under the dash. Lo and behold, it was right there against the firewall on the passenger side, right where it should be. I left it in place (that was my first mistake) and went on my merry way to an auto part store. I go in and tell the guy what I need, he asks for the make and model, I tell him its an '89 LeSabre Estate, he types away furiously, goes to the back and comes back with a box. I look at it, and since it looks like a blower motor, I go on my way(second mistake). Its not until I get in the car an…
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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How much does the TIME between oil changes matter? Its been about 4 months since my last oil change, but I've put less than 2000 miles on the car since then. I plan on getting it changed this week, but I was just curious how much of a factor time was in the life of oil if the miles are low and not very hard.
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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OK, this is somewhat a debate between my friend and me. He drives a Mazda 3, and he says that the oil used in his engine, his friend's BMW 325i and mine are all different, just because the manufacturer specifies different oil change schedules. His is max 8 months, mine is max 6 months, and the Bimmer 1 year. Thus he insists that his car's oil change must be only done at Mazda dealers. I argued that the oils are actually the same thing, unless it's synthetic from factory, which I highly doubt. The only difference between them is the viscosity. The manufacturer schedules are set out as guidelines, and as long as we know how to reset the oil life system (if equipped), and …
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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Is this a common problem? If dealer fixes the leaks, will no more problems exist? Those 1994-1998 Chevys would go 200-300K miles with few problems. I wonder about the newer ones. The Silverado belongs to a relative. A shame to have problems on a vehicle with a few thousand miles.
Last reply by 01Malibu, -
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Cliffnotes version: What happens if you go from using synthetic blend motor oil to conventional? Full-fat: I took my car to the dealership yesterday to get some work done (mistake 1). Back when I had the recall work for the engine fire concern on the 3.8L V6, I took my Intrigue up to the local Chevrolet-Buick-Pontiac-GMC-Isuzu dealer to have it taken care of. Everything went fine, I got my car back and was happy as a clam that I wouldn't find it and/or myself engulfed in flames one day. To further make me happier, I received in the mail around the beginning of July/end of June a letter from the dealer thanking me for choosing them to work on my car. Included in this l…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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Ok, this is going to suck. I might have to put tires on the Cobalt sooner than i thought. The Cav still gets good tires(they get replaced in the spring), but it looks like I might have to get cheaper tires for now. I was planning on Traction TAs(about 315 buck), but might have to drop to about 200 bucks... Are there any decent tires in this price range?
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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I know that the modern way to align a vehicle involves mounting optical sensors to the wheels and reading the computer screen to tell you how far to adjust the caster/Camber/toe etc, I've done it a hundred times. But how was alignment checked before computers? Toe I can imagine using some sort of metered stick and eyeballing it, but how caster and camber were measured I can't figure out.
Last reply by CMG, -
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Does anyone know where they are or where I can find an exploded diagram of the engine? There are a total of 3. Dad found the one under the catalytic converter, but can't seem to find the other two. I'm in Pittsburgh and they're in Miami, so I can't exactly go out and look myself. thanks in advance
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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So the head gasket is going out on the Impala finally at just a little over 105K. Dealer says $1100. Seems a bit high to me. Am I mistaken? Let a guy know.
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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So I'm repainting he plenum and have come to a bit of a stumbling block. I forgot to get silver paint to outline the lettering. It's got Rust-Oleum high-heat primer, high heat flat black, and will eventually have high heat clear coat. For the silver. I have a can of Rust-Oleum Metallic silver. Could I use this for the lettering and cover it with the high-heat clear coat? If not, it'll have to stay black, as I want this to be dry tomorrow so it can g on the engine. I figured I'd ask to see if it would work or I'd have letters catching fire.
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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OK, so here's the deal. On my Bonneville ('01 SLE), I've been unable to engage the parking brake since I got the car. I don't know if there's anything wrong with the cables or anything... ...but what I have found is that there's some kind of obstruction that keeps the pedal from traveling at all... almost like it was disassembled and then put back together wrong. Look at the uploaded picture... the piece right in the middle is what's blocked from traveling anywhere by the metal piece right behind it. (Sorry I don't have any more technical terms other than "piece") Has anyone (on a Bonnie or Park Avenue) seen something like this before? How might I go about r…
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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Its an 03 Siera and i cant find the part number for the armrest/seat back for the front seat it hasa bench. the lid fell off the hinges broke off so i need the whole counsle assembly. if there is a part number that would be help ful or a web site that might have . thanks for your help!
Last reply by flacajun, -
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OK, Just a bit confused here.. I'm looking to get a Map sensor for my beater car...(93 Cavy, 3.1) I priced one at Napa Auto parts....90 bucks... One at Murray's Auto Parts.....30 bucks... Why the feaking huge price difference? :huh: I know I should buy the Napa one (better made, I think)...but this car is just a beater with well over 100k miles on it. I'll be happy if I can get another 15-30k miles on it. :) (that, and it is started to rust pretty good) How long to you think that 30 buck part would last? I take good care of my cars, and I am pretty easy on my beater (grandpa-like driving) What do you guys think?
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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Apparently, most GM cars have PassKey III after 1996, which uses an RFID... odd, considering my '99 Bonneville has a resistor pellet (and I guess is PassKey II). This makes some sense, as the '04 Grand Prix keys are marked PK3. However, both the '98 Sunfire and the '97 Tahoe are both well optioned, however, both use a metal key which cannot possibly have a RFID in it. I can believe the Tahoe might have had PassKey III bypassed... but the Sunfire has spent most of its life in out family... I can't imagine that it was bypassed when the car was less than 6 years old... in fact, I find it hard to believe both vehicles might have been bypassed. Is there some sort of easy w…
Last reply by SAmadei, -
Locally, we have an exhaust shop with a very good rep for workmanship and reasonable prices. They have stainless pipe and a mandrel bender, with a choice of muffler designs. I want to get them to make a dual cat-back system for my truck, but I don't know if I want 3" pipe, or 2 1/2". I have heard that there is such a thing as too little back pressure. Is this something I should be concerned with if I go with 3" pipe? Will 3" pipe have any advantage over 2 1/2? Will the sound be any different with the same mufflers through the bigger pipe? I think I'd like the looks of the 3" pipes doing a side exit behind my wheels. Thanks to anyone who can point me in the right d…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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I figured I'd tell you all my plans for the Camaro. I'm going all-out with it. Well, as all-out as I can for right now while staying N/A and only tinkering with the engine and rear end. I'm going to open it up a bit by going from a 3.08:1 final gear ratio and open differential to a 3.73 set and a Zexel-Torsen LSD I JUSTT won off eBay. They should be installed ASAP. Then, I'm saving my money. Because hopefully early next summer I'm going to cam it and stuff. B) There will be the following done to compliment the cam: (Sixty8 will like this)Abbott Racing Stage II headsAbbott Racing Port/Polished Intake ManifoldPro Magnum Roller Rocker ArmsCompCam…
Last reply by Sixty8panther, -
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What is a limited slip differential? Is it similar to a rear locking differential?
Last reply by Sixty8panther, -
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We have an 06 Pontiac Wave and for the past couple of months, the alarm has been going off. There is nothing around to give it a reason (no airplanes, loud noises,people, whatever). Is there a resolve? Thank you Bill
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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I've noticed in the last few weeks my wagon has started losing power on its pick up. It struggles to get up to speed-but seems to be ok once it gets there-until I have stop again. I was planning to replace the pcv valve, fuel filter-possibly the IAC. But I've noticed that it really gotten worse as it has finally warmed up. But I'm wondering- could the cat be causing most of these issues? (After BV's Fire' and my dad bringing it up-it got me thinking) The car has hadsome bad gas in it's life-even had some a few months ago (thanks, BP. ) And the Cat has never been replaced, which is now over 140,000 miles. What do you guys think?
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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my power steering pump is making noises and im pretty sure its goin out and i dont know what ratio it is but if i have a free pump from anouther motor and the ratio is 12 to 1 will it still work? does anyone know how to find out my ratio
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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In the CRV, the power steering doesn't seem to work if the car has been sitting for a a bunch of hours. After start up, it takes 3 to 4 minutes before it kicks in with assist, but is fine the rest of the day after that. Ideas?
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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Since we have a basic hand tool thread going why not a power tool thread? What's in your arsenal? What do you want add to it? For drills, I actually have three. My very first power drill is a Black & Decker CDC1800. It's been a great drill but the NiCd batteries no longer hold a charge and it just doesn't fulfill my needs anymore. (3/8 chuck, 650rpm). Last year I purchased a Skil 2364-02 720 rpm compact drill/driver. This has been a great little tool, having 2-speeds (which the B&D lacks) makes stripped screws a far less frequent occurrence. A few months ago I was given a Makita 6227D, however it too had a dead NiCd battery. These are nice drills so I ordered a…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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Just curious what would cause a power window to intermittently malfunction in my Buick... it's the driver's side rear window, and it goes up and down perfectly, but about every other time, it'll stop about an inch from the top when raising it. Never a problem going down. And when it stops, all I have to do is lower the window again an inch or two and hit up and it closes all the way. Any ideas? No other problems with any of the windows in the car.
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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Just picked up a poweraid spacer (cheap) for my 2001 Sierra 5.3l. As the installation goes I need to adjust throttle cable. There are 2 cables attached at that point....any ideas?
Last reply by longhorn0044, -
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I first noticed the service engine light came on when I was driving yesterday, and when I accelerated, I heard a loud racket under the hood. The battery gauge on the dash also fluctuated a lot. Upon examination, the bottom of two pulleys on the passenger side was not turning. This pulley is driven by the ungrooved side of the serpentine belt. The pulley itself turned fairly easily by hand when I stopped the engine. The belt is about one year old too. The sound is caused by the belt rubbing hot against the pulley. What is this part that the pulley is turning? Would it require replacing, or is the belt too loose? I have included some pictures of the part in the atta…
Last reply by FAPTurbo, -
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Here is a place to list/review/recommnd products and accessories you use on your cars. I'll start with my most recent "discovery" Bosch Icon brand wiper blades. These are the low profile blades you may have seen on the new BMWs and new Lucerne. They don't have a traditional blade frame, rather they are a one piece plastic unit with a "spoiler" lip on the top. I've found they work much better then any other blades I've purchased. Due to their framless design, the also work well as a winter blade. Easiest install ever. You'll spend 5 times as long trying to get your old blades off as you will putting theses blades on..... unless your old blades are also Bosch Icons…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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I think my 99 Buick Park Avenue Ultra just died. One night, just before I got home, a pulley snaps off and the engine loses power. It is at the top of the 3800SC engine, all the way up front. Yes, I got it towed home, which was only a few blocks away. When I described the problem to a service guy at Pep Boys, he said to bring it in and they can replace that pulley. I get a call 90 minutes before the appointment that the supercharger locked up and that will also need to be replaced. Not just the pulley and the regulator attached to it. What was going to be a $400 job turned into about a $3000 job, because the entire SC had to be replaced. That is only because the S…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Yep, it was finally time to do the brake s on the Prizm. I've put it off for a while even though the rotors have been warped for at least a couple years. However they started to squeak while driving down the road, and since I had just finished the a/c on my car, I parked the Prizm until I had time to do the brakes. It's been at least 7 years since they were ever done, maybe longer. BUt the time came to do the front rotors and pads. For pads I went with ceramics, regular non-directional rotors, and Carlson hardware kit ($12 at Rock Auto and made in USA) vs $30 the local parts store wanted) I started by giving the rotors a quick coat of high heat paint to help protect aga…
Last reply by Justin Bimmer, -
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I purchased this wonderful GMC hood ornament while at the AACA show last weekend in Hershey, which I'm pegging to be from '58 or '59 and from a heavy duty truck (not the 1/2 ton to 1-ton models). I'd love to get it sandblasted so I can repaint it in the traditional colors of white with red centers (assuming I don't go for rechroming). Would a typical neighborhood body shop offer sandblasting services? Or would I have to find a restoration shop instead? Sorry, forgot to include the picture:
Last reply by GMTruckGuy74, -
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So I noticed today someone put a very small ding in the front fender of the GTO I took a picture, and it doesn't show up that well but you can see it because of the high-resolution. It's in a rather odd place and I'm not sure if it can be popped out, so I thought I'd ask to see if anyone knows. The ding is in the upper part of red "circle," above the crease in the wheel flare.
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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i really want to put a fully functional ram air system on my 04 monte... i was just wondering if anyone knew what kind of horsepower gain i should expect... i plan to get an SLP cold air box with ram air option and a single scoop ram air hood... also does anyone know any other thing i can do to get lots of horse for relatively cheap? i know the ram air stuff will run me about 700 for the hood and 120 for the cold air box... so any other mods for under 1500 would be good thanks alot
Last reply by Bizz, -
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1998 Chevy truck with 309,000 miles. Fuel tank strap broke and the new strap also broke. Mechanic told me he couldn't promise me that the second one would hold. 3 weeks later the new strap broke also. The cross section where the fuel tank straps connect to is bad even though the frame was said to be OK. Another mechanic said it would cost too much....fuel tank would have to be removed as well as the bed.Now the strap closest to the cab is fine. So is it safe to drive the truck with a ratchet strap under fuel tank? Ratchet strap is supposed to work up to 1000 lbs. with a breaking point at 3000lbs. Roadside salt is death on car frames in northern US.
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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I know there are a few of you who have one of the 3800 engines in your cars. What kind of real world fuel mileage are you seeing? Highway and city? I'm pondering a Riviera as there are a couple decent ones available locally. Also, am I correct in thinking that the mid/late 90's 3800 suffered the infamous intake(?) gasket failure problem which the 3100's suffered? TIA!
Last reply by jwbouch, -
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I was looking around the Chevy site at the Silverado but I don't know about the axle ratio mentioned. What is better the lower or the higher number? I guess it would depend on the use of the truck. I was going through the locate a vehicle section and reading what each one has and noticed it varies from 3.08 to 3.42.
Last reply by redtruck, -
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Hi all. The past two months I've been having an issue with the rear wiper arm of my 2006 GMC Envoy. When it swipes, the arm will push out but not retract/spring back, so the first swipe it clears the rear hatch window but on the return swing it sticks out and looses contact with the glass. It then does not seat right into the wiper arm holder on the gate. Is this a known problem?
Last reply by GMTruckGuy74, -
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2006 Chevy van with a 4.8 auto. The tranny feels like the converter is slipping badly. The truck has 25,000K on it. It has a "towing" button on the dash, when the tranny slips the worst it seems to work like it should. When the tranny feels like the converter is slipping as it usually does it doesn't seem to do anything, button in or out. I do NOT tow with it, and I already checked the fluid, the level is up but it doesn't smell like I'm used to. Doesn't smell "right", but doesn't smell "burnt" either. Is there any techs here? I'm looking for any possible TSB's etc...
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker,
