Have no clue what to do

[SHOTIME2669]

Alright well I've had my 94 ATX SHO since late 1999. I bougt it with 79k on it and it currently has 164k. The car really has been giving me problems since day one, but I've fixed it everytime something came up. I just bought a 98 Contour SVT and that makes car number 3 for me. The SHO's current issues are as follows.

A/C doesn't work because of faulty pressure sensor and the high pressure outlet rusted out so it had to be crimped shut. I just replaced the A/C compressor because the clutch burnt up due to the pressure sensor going bad. So to fix this problem I need to replace the pressure sensor and replace the A/C line that has the high pressure outlet on it.

Oil leak after oil leak. I had my oil cooler and seal both go out on me so I replaced the oil cooler as well as the seals for it. That was quite a job just because those parts weren't made anymore and I had to track all of them down. As soon as I fixed that another oil leak started on the rear side of the engine. It appeared to be the rear valve cover. I tore into it and replaced the rear valve cover and put a coating of RTV sealer around the outside edge. The engine still leaks. I don't know from what and at this point I've grown tired of fixing the car.

I just don't know what to do anymore.

With all that said I would appreciate any thoughts or comments.

-Mike
94 ATX SHO
98 Contour SVT #49 of 6535
85 Camaro 358ci, 255rwhp

 

[SHOTIME2669]

For some reason I noticed it chopped off a section that I wrote...

Here is what I was thinking of doing

A- Sell the car as is and take my losses
B- Part it out as I'm sure the car is worth more in parts then it is as a whole
C- Try to remove the transaxle to get a better view of things and hopefully see where the leak is coming from and fix it, and then the SHO lives to drive another day.

Any ideas on what I should do would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Mike

 

[Rockledge]

If the SHO is still in good shape, then I suggest you fix it and keep it until you know for certain that the Contour is a worthy substitute.

So where are you noticing most of the leaked oil? The Yamaha engine can develop oil leaks from a couple different places. Aside from the valve covers, there are also the cam seals, from which oil can leak down underneath and give the impression that the leak is coming from somewhere else, as well as the crank seal. Then there is the oil pan gasket.

The cam and crank seals are more or less maintenance items on the SHO engine and they should be replaced at some point whether they are leaking or not. If you decide to do that, then it is universally regarded as good policy to go ahead and do a full "front 60K" maintenance program which includes replacing some other items while they are accessible, such as the crank sensor and timing belt.

http://www.shophoenixproject.com/lower60k/lower60k.htm

 

[FrankenSho]

try to fix it man. i had a crx not too long ago and i got fed up with fixing little things here and there, and everythign is a little thing unless it involves removing the motor, so i sold it and i miss the **** out of it and wish i could have it back.

 

[TYSHO]

1. Fix the oil leak, then turn around and sell it.
2. Sell as-is.
3. Keep it as a beater.

If you part it out, you're going to have to do more work than it is to fix the oil leak, and it's going to take longer to get your money from the SHO. I've been trying to part mine and it's not worth it, slow sales and takes forever. I just keep the parts for my other SHO's.

 

[SHOTIME2669]

Well here is a little bit more detail on the oil leak.

The thing smokes to beat the band when the car comes to a stop, that and it leaks quite a bit enough to burn a quart of oil after driving 60 miles or so. Since it was leaking in the back and dripping on the cat I figured it might be the valve cover seal since about 6 months back I had repalced it. The reason why I say that is because I have heard from a few people that more often then not when people replace the gaskets they tend to not get it seated right where the cams come through because of the dips in the valve cover. So I tore into it and replaced the gasket again making sure this time that there was no possibility of it seating incorrectly. So the next day I went out to start it, let it warm up, and then sure as **** it was dripping again.

This time I jacked the car up and started while it was in the air. I used my creaper and slid underneath to see what the **** was going on. After the car warmed up I started to see dripping off the side of the ATX oil pan. As I looked closer I could see a steady stream coming down the side of the transmission. It was coming from the driver side. The only problem is the transmisson is tucked underneath the back side cylinder head and doesnt allow a clean view of the back of the engine. I know that it is not leaking from the valve cover, I also know that it is not leaking from the oil pan. So with that I have no idea what else it could be leaking from.

I tried to get a look at the side of the engine block below the head by sliding back further so I could see over the transmission case, but it wasn't much better. I thought I could see some oil dripping from the upper left towards the end of the valve cover, but I got out from underneath and reached around behind the valve cover in the engine bay and it was dry to the touch. So its coming from something lower then the valve cover.

The only other thing I was thinking was that maybe there is a oil pressure sensor on the back side of the block and that it may have a blow by and is in need of some more teflon tape.

-Mike

 

[firstgen89sho]

yes, there is an oil pressure sensor on the back of the block, at the back of the engine, a pita to get at with an ATX, and they have been known to let go and leak oil

 

[SHOTIME2669]

Whats the easiest way to determine if it is in fact leaking.

...and if it is how does one go about getting at it.

-Mike

 

[SHOTIME2669]

So does no one have any idea how to check this?? I mean I can't even see back there let alone check to see if its leaking.

-Mike