Automotive Tech

gearheadpyro · Nov 12, 2009

ASE Master Certified
ASE Advanced Driveability Certified
ASE Alternative Fuels Certified
6 years turning wrenches, experience on Small Engines, Mercedes Benz, Ford, and Honda's.

Got questions? Hit me up.

Pops · Dec 2, 2009

OK, you asked for it!

I have a 93 Geo Storm, the 1.6 liter with Automatic an air. I bought it new.

It has 175K miles on it and one day it simply stopped running.
Every once in a while it will crank and run a little, but once it warms up that's all she wrote.
I grew up working on cars so I've spent many hours trying to figure it out. I have checked and replaced, the fuel pump, fuel filter, the fuel pressure regulator (vacuum operated gadget on injector rail and I've removed and tested the fuel injectors and have tested the fuel pressure. I've completely rebuilt the distributor, replaced the plugs, wires, coil, oxygen sensor, it has cylinder compression and is firing. It is getting fuel. I've replaced the computer brain, and tested/replaced all the relays. All the electrical stuff works, the motor simply won't fire. only has 12 "flash" codes and all are clear.
I've wondered it the EGR valve could have a rupture, but everyone I talk to says that would not keep it from running, but would only make it run rough.
damnedest thing I've ever seen. It's been sitting for several years now. I have a very hard time giving in and accepting defeat. I guess I'm hard headed that way about some things. . .

any suggestions?

gearheadpyro · Dec 6, 2009

That's a tough one there.

Try this. Disconnect a fuel injector (I'm guessing it on the manifold right by the head, or does this have injectors in the carburetor?), Stick a test light in the connector, one lead on each pin. With the key on, the light should be on. Watch while somebody cranks it over and see if the light flashes. If it does let me know, if it doesn't, look for a crankshaft sensor and try replacing it. That would seem to be a good estimated guess, bearing in mind that I haven't seen the car.

Poe

Hamman · Mar 25, 2010

I had a Beretta of the same vintage. After it warmed up it would die. Replaced a bunch of sensors to no avail. Replaced fuel pump no change. Ended up being a bad computer. Engine would run fine during warm up (closed loop takes no input from sensors) as soon as it warmed up it would quit (open loop takes info from sensors and adjusts to input) open loop fried

Kazhrei · Mar 30, 2010

I have a f-150 and it's developing a knock when I start from a stop. As I get moving it slowly dies out (toward the end of 1st) and stops. It's been getting a little louder lately.

What on earth broke on the truck this time?

Hamman · Mar 31, 2010

When you are at cruising speed and accelerate as if to pass does it knock at all? Is it standard or automatic?

Kazhrei · Apr 1, 2010

Hamman said:
When you are at cruising speed and accelerate as if to pass does it knock at all? Is it standard or automatic?

When I'm on the highway it'll start to knock (more high pitched) when at higher speeds or fighting up certain troublesome hills. It's a standard.

Hamman · Apr 1, 2010

Disclaimer: I AM NOT A MECHANIC BY TRADE, it does sound like a main bearing to me I am sorry to say and hope i am wrong. Good luck because this is not good.

Kazhrei · Apr 2, 2010

The truck has slowly been going downhill lately. I guess the wife and I will be buying that jeep we're eyeballing after all. Just wish our credit was good enough to afford a new car. tired of 2nd hand crap that dies a few years after getting it.

Hamman · Apr 2, 2010

Kazhrei said:
The truck has slowly been going downhill lately. I guess the wife and I will be buying that jeep we're eyeballing after all. Just wish our credit was good enough to afford a new car. tired of 2nd hand crap that dies a few years after getting it.

I am fortunate to have a job that provides me with a new truck. But i am a firm believer in the second hand crap, The wife and I drive second hand and realy like not having a vehicle payment. Our newest vehicle is five years old, make that car payment to yourself a wait until you have a freind or coworker that is about to trade up and snag it with that cash you have saved. If you buy from someone you know, you will know the history of that vehicle. I dont give a dang about the new car smell, it smells like money burning.

Kazhrei · Apr 3, 2010

I definitely agree with the whole not having a car payment. It's one of the reasons I love used cars. I just have bad luck with them I guess. They're in great working order when I get them (from good people who take good care of em), and slowly something goes wrong that is either nearly impossible to replace (the ECU in my old jeep...they didn't make em anymore), or just keeps breaking to where I've put nearly 5 times the cost of the car into repairs (granted the truck was really cheap).

I'd just like to get a used car that lasts longer than 3 years.

gearheadpyro · Apr 3, 2010

I'm totally in favor of the used cars. Anything that looses money as fast as a car is not worth buying, especially if you drive much at all.

Best thing I can tell you for finding a good used car is DON'T TAKE THE SALESMAN'S WORD ON ANYTHING. Take the car to a good mechanic, have them eyeball everything (it may cost a little bit, but it could save you a ton), and ask the mechanic questions. I know I have talked several people out of buying some real crap.

Make sure to ask about that model car in general, not just that specific one. See if they have issues or seem to last forever.

You didn't really give much information (year, engine, etc...) so it's very hard to pick out a problem. It could be a main bearing, especially if the truck has high mileage or oil changes were not kept up well. If it's a newer truck (that has coil on plug ignition) it could be that you have a coil dying out. The high load stress will cause a misfire, that can make a knocking/pinging noise. Not having heard your truck I can't say for sure that's it, but I do know it's a common problem.

Also, Jeep made good trucks. The problem is they (like most domestic vehicles) just don't hold up to high mileage without a lot of money going into repairs. There are certainly some exceptions, but that's the general rule.

Hope that helps.

Kazhrei · Apr 3, 2010

It's a '96 Ford F-150 v6 (seriously...a v6 in that gigantic ass truck?). The styling reminds me of the lariat of the same time.

Lately the knocking sometimes changes to a a squeaking, almost like I have rats in a wheel trying to power the thing.

The wife and I just picked up a 94 Jeep Cherokee Sport with the 4.0 I6 in it. I used to have one and it was a trooper. There is some minor body damage, but nothing past that. Drives great: responds well, steering is tight, and isn't too rough a ride.

So I'll get the truck looked at in the next few days and hopefully it'll be something mundane instead of a bearing going out. Here's praying!