Minds of the Forum unite and fix my SHO!!

[FO-SHO]

Pleaze help me fix my broken SHO! The following things are wrong with my 93 ATX and the last thing I want to do is take her to the dealership.

1. I had my heater core replaced at Pepboys, and they screwed up the electrical! The rear running lights and dashlights did not work immediatly after the replacement, and the headlights went out a month ago. The headlight switch and the MFS appear to be in working order. When I turn the switch, the radio lights dim in and out, and I can hear/smell a shorting in the headlight switch. These symptoms happen with the MFS disconnected also. Can I rewire the lights with a new harness??

2. The AC is not functioning. I refilled the freon, and it still blows warm air. Bad compressor?? It is a 93 with converted R134a.

3. The engine makes a knocking noise during acceleration up to 2500 RPMs. The noise appears to be coming from the front of the engine on the passenger side. This noise doesnt happen on expressway, only when accelerating lightly and idleing. When I accelerate hard, no noise.

 

[Slo-Sho]

3. The engine makes a knocking noise during acceleration up to 2500 RPMs. The noise appears to be coming from the front of the engine on the passenger side. This noise doesnt happen on expressway, only when accelerating lightly and idleing. When I accelerate hard, no noise.

Worn rod bearings will be a dead giveaway with a faint knocking noise at idle. I say with the problems you have mentioned...you are in for a wallet reaming.

 

[shofun93]

As far as the A/C goes, the lines were removed when the heater core was done (required), often they are damaged durring removal and then when they are re-installed they leak all the freon right back out. Have the A/C load-pressure tested and see if it is holding a charge. If yes, then you may want to look at the compressor or the electrical relay, if no, the A/C lines into the cabin are shot and need to be replaced.

As for the electrical, best of luck if they messed up the connections when putting the dash back together.

 

[oxrox]

For the A/C it could the blend door actuator motor...(which is why I have no A/C right now). You can do a self diagnosis through your EATC, which will tell you what is wrong. The instructions are on SHOtimes FAQ, you essentially hold down the Floor and Automatic buttons until it reads a code....may help with the diagnosis...

http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/mod...e=article&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0&sid=139

Ryan 95 ATX

 

[FO-SHO]

Update

Knocking - power steering pump is going out, the noise ended up being the pulley & belt.

Electrical - spent 2 hours under the steering column inspecting all the possible wiring circuits. Finally found the problem. When the experts at pepboys were bolting the steering column back on, they pinched 3 wires from the headlight circuit and shorted the whole system. Rewired it, everything works great.

AC - Had the freon refilled and she was cold for less than a day. It was pressure tested and appeared to be holding the freon, but it still leaked out. Still trying to figure out what the problem is. Compressor?

As far as the A/C goes, the lines were removed when the heater core was done (required), often they are damaged durring removal and then when they are re-installed they leak all the freon right back out. Have the A/C load-pressure tested and see if it is holding a charge. If yes, then you may want to look at the compressor or the electrical relay, if no, the A/C lines into the cabin are shot and need to be replaced.

How can I tell if the compressor is good or not?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[FO-SHO]

For the A/C it could the blend door actuator motor...(which is why I have no A/C right now). You can do a self diagnosis through your EATC, which will tell you what is wrong. The instructions are on SHOtimes FAQ, you essentially hold down the Floor and Automatic buttons until it reads a code....may help with the diagnosis...

http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/mod...e=article&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0&sid=139

Ryan 95 ATX

Also, ran this test and recieved a no failure(888) result.

 

[Denny]

Your knocking has been in existance for a year now hasn't it?

 

[FO-SHO]

Your knocking has been in existance for a year now hasn't it?

It has basically been parked for 2.5 years and I have only been using it for long trips. The knocking has been around for at least 1.5 years, but I have not bothered to fix it since I have not been driving the car more than once every 3 months. I am attempting to get it in good working condition to drive myself or to sell. Unless the mechanic stethoscope lies, this is definitely the power steering pump. Thanks.

 

[Denny]

Whew, figures it couldn't have been rod bearings, there is no way an engine would survive this long if that was the case. The power steering pump, although being a pain in the royal ****, will be much better than bearings

 

[oxrox]

I have a similar knock at low rpm (light accelleration) when the motor is cold, goes away at high RPM...glad to hear it is the steering pump...I was a little scared for the rod bearings...although I thought the rod bearings were more of a high RPM (MTX - where you can actually get the RPM's up) problem...and quite rare in ATX's.

Ryan
95 ATX

 

[FO-SHO]

I am very happy its not the bearings......that would have been the death of my SHO. I am trying to locate a used power steering pump to put in there, so it shouldn't be too bad. The only thing I can't figure out is the AC problem.

As far as the A/C goes, the lines were removed when the heater core was done (required), often they are damaged durring removal and then when they are re-installed they leak all the freon right back out. Have the A/C load-pressure tested and see if it is holding a charge. If yes, then you may want to look at the compressor or the electrical relay, if no, the A/C lines into the cabin are shot and need to be replaced.

This makes sense considering the freon is lasting less than 24 hrs after recharging. Could this be a compressor problem? I had the system load pressure tested(I think), the shop said it was fine and then the freon leaked out anyway. How can I check if the AC lines are shot? Are they easily replaced?

 

[FO-SHO]

Update

The AC problem turned out to be a hole in the low pressure hose that runs under my battery tray. I liquid welded it and now she is holding a charge. I definitely got lucky that it was the low pressure hose instead of the high pressure.

As for my knocking sound, I still can't figure it out! After further inspection, the problem is not the rod bearings, or the power steering pump or the timing belt. The noise actually appears to be coming from under the rear intake manifold plate or the surronding area. Any ideas would be great. Thanks.

 

[oh_SHO]

The AC problem turned out to be a hole in the low pressure hose that runs under my battery tray. I liquid welded it and now she is holding a charge. I definitely got lucky that it was the low pressure hose instead of the high pressure.

As for my knocking sound, I still can't figure it out! After further inspection, the problem is not the rod bearings, or the power steering pump or the timing belt. The noise actually appears to be coming from under the rear intake manifold plate or the surronding area. Any ideas would be great. Thanks.

Ah, that sounds like it might be a cam-chain tensioner. Time to pull the valve covers for further inspection.