Update on my car

[MommyTaz022200]

Ok, I thought it was the power steering pump making all the noise, but it's not. I took my serpintine belt off the car and started it to see if it would be quiet. IT'S NOT!! So the problem is not the altinator, water pump, air compressor, or power steering pump. My thoughts are that either one of the pulleys connecting to the timing belt is making the noise or the exhaust manifold gasket isn't sealed (or even there?). The noise does get louder when I turn the steering wheel if the belt is on, it doeesn't with the belt, so really I guess the pump could be making noises too, but it's hard to tell.

 

The noise sounds like a quiet roar. I'm really starting to think it is the manifold gasket because it almost sounds like when you get those party noisemakers and they are breaking how they still make the noise but it's a lower pitch. Does anyone know a good way to check them and see if that's what's making the noise?

 

Anyway, does the gas pedal feel the way is supposed to?

My sister was over so I asked her to try it and see if it was different then her 2000 Cavalier Automatic. She said it don't feel different that she notices, just more power behind the peddle.

 

shaking usually is caused by misfire or a lean condition....... check the plugs the fuel filter and the ICM and Coils

Fuel filter, plugs, & wires were just replaced. ICM ? If it's the same as the IAC (Idle Air Control?) I just replaced that as well. I'm not sure how to check the coil (I assume that is the coil packs), but with the tach steady at 800 in drive (not even little moveements), lack of check engine light and timing light showing steady even sparking wouldn't the coil packs have to be good?

 

check to see if the cat convertor is fine or not

Monty

I'm not sure how to check.

 

I think I skipped a sentence.. How are the motormounts? You said that oil seal was leaking.. Unless you have poly mounts, oil will eat right through the mounts in no time..

The engine will wiggle a little if I shake it, but doesn't appear to be shaking when it's running, and no more shaking then my Escort does.

 

Check the plugwires for aching, if the jackass slit 1 of the wires the car would run like you are describing.

-Jeff

From what I can tell there is no arching.

 

I would make sure the sparkplugs are fine (gap, no crack in the porcelain). Probaly the wires were deliberately cracked. Check the spark plug wires in the Ignition Coil or possible crack in the ignition coils itself.

 

The crankshaft sensor might be messed up or the wires rubbing. If the coolant reservoir is located in the top center of the radiator, the excess coolant might be dripping directly at the ignition coil/module (if its mounted in front of the engine).

 

Make sure you put a lock gas cap, you don't want someone pouring sugar in your gas tank.

Autozone told me that my plugs are pregapped because the tips are porcelin. I'm not sure what they are called, i can't remember, but they were more expensive then some of the other plugs they had there.

Ignition coil... do I have one if I have coil packs. If so where is it and how do I check it. Crankshaft sensor... where is it and how do I test it? Coolent reservoir is on the passenger side by the strut tower. Locking gas cap... I will be investing in one as soon as I get the car running right. Currently it's in a locked garage and on sunny days I pull it into my driveway while I work on it.

 

Also I'm not sure if my rear main seal is shot or if the leak is from somewhere else. I think some of the leaking is tranny fluid too. Her's some pictures I took of the leaks. Can anyone tell if it would be the main seal from the pics.? If it's not anyone got any guesses?

 

[musthavemuzk]

not a mekanik here but from what i gather here the cat convertor can get extremely hot if plugged or a foul rotten egg smell if it is bad or on its way out.

 

hopefully someone with more knowledge can hel with that one.

 

Monty

[Robby1870]

MommyTaz, the best way to check a clogged cat, is bang on it. If it rattles, its bad. Also, look at it after the car has been run for a while. If its glowing its bad. As for the noise....I doubt its the lower intake gasket, cuz then it wouldnt idle as smooth as you describe. And the oil leak.....that could be anything. How much oil do you lose?

 

Now I got a question for you. Musthavemusk told me you recently took then needles off your gauge cluster to swap to some others. How did you get them off? Im afraid Im gonna break something when I pull on them. Thanks for any help

[Gearhead43]

If you have OIL leaking from what appears to be the rear main seal, it might not be the rear main seal, but the dummy oil pump drive shaft O-ring seal. Oil coming up thru there is under pressure, if the O-ring starts to leak, it can range from a smal leak to oil pouring out for it depending how bad the o-ring is. This site has a write up on how to change the O-ring seal. If you have a 3.4 TDC, you'll must likely have to remove the heads to get to it.

[MommyTaz022200]

Now I got a question for you. Musthavemusk told me you recently took then needles off your gauge cluster to swap to some others. How did you get them off? Im afraid Im gonna break something when I pull on them. Thanks for any help

 

Just pull them straight off. Make sure your pulling straight though because they are just little metal pins they fit onto and the metal can bend. before you take them off make sure to mark where the metal and the plastic meet so you can line them back up right or your needles won't be right.

 

My car leaks almost no oil when it isn't running, when it's running it leaks a lot. I will take a picture of the oil puddle made after 5 minutes of running, cause I don't know how much in quarts it leaks, since right now I don't drive it more then in and out of the garage.

[Gearhead43]

My car leaks almost no oil when it isn't running, when it's running it leaks a lot. I will take a picture of the oil puddle made after 5 minutes of running, cause I don't know how much in quarts it leaks, since right now I don't drive it more then in and out of the garage.

 

That sounds alot like the O-ring seal, it leaks only when running cuz that's when there's oil pressure present under that seal. My wife's 89 GP 2.8 leaked a qt of oil if not more a day before I replaced the seal.

[MommyTaz022200]

Ok, I read the directions for the O-ring fix. It says to check for oil around the top of the oil pump thing. I'm not sure what that looks like, but I took 2 pictures of the thing I was thinking it might be.

 

Sorry about the odd angle, it's hard to fit my camera between the brake booster and the strut tower, and then still see what I'm going to get a pic. of.

 

If this is not where I need to be looking could someone tell me where I am suppose to be looking? This part is kind of by my transmission.

[Gearhead43]

You'll have to look under the Trottlebody down in the valley of the lower intake. You'll see a round cap about the size of a Half dollar. If there is oil standing all around the cap, you might not be able to see it.

 

Removing the upper intake makes it easy to see. Your throttlebody and intake are one piece on the 3.4 I think.