Q: This car has a bad miss when first started when cold.
It idles rough and sometimes dies, surging up and
down.
After it runs a while it clears out and idles up
at a normal rate. Then I will start to feel a little miss,
and the idle gets low going down the road and it loses
power.
It always starts back up and goes on. It has
188000 miles, new plugs, air filter, fuel filter and
fuel injection cleaner run through.
The check Engine light has flashed on and off for a
year or more. Do you have any suggestions?
A: Yellow light on and off is the computer seeing
something it does not like. Check for codes
and follow the indicated system for confirmation
is a good start.....
Q: It's a 3.8 engine, which runs well when cold. It has a
dramatic miss when warm.
If it stalls, when you attempt to restart it, it acts just
like it jumped time, then suddenly clears up and starts up
perfectly.
The injectors ohm within specs. Tested all coil packs, and
they are ok. I have a bench control module, no change.
Fuel pump pressure is 34 PSI.
Unplug the pressure reg, and the pressure increases to 45.
TPS is functioning and within specs. Mass air flow sensor
is new, it was defective. O2 sensor is not lazy, works fine.
CTS is accurate at all temps through the ranges. Motorvaced
the engine, helped but still a dramatic miss.
Suggestions? Thankyou.
A: Locate you computer (right front kick panel) and tap on it with a pen while the car idles...
Also flex it back and forth with your hands to see if the car runs rough or quits... You may need a new one...Ed
Q: I turn the key to on position and all dash lights come on. Turn the key to start position and all go out and nothing happens. Checked the battery. Checked the switch position on steering column. It acts as if not in park. Where is the neutral safety switch located on this car? It is the 3.8 liter V-6 Front Wheel Drive model. Could an engine compartment fuse be the problem?
A: The fusable link close to the battery could be it.... That's where I would start. Ed
Q: I bought a 1985 Olds Delta 88 a year ago from
a retired couple. It had about 52,000 miles on it, original. Now it has 57,000+ miles on it.
It burns about 5 quarts of oil a week. Any ideas or suggestions, it blows out a lot of smoke. I use it 5 days a week to go to and from work, 5 miles each way. How do I reduce the oil consumption and eliminate the smoke coming out
of the exhaust? Thanks in advance, Bob
PS. One local mechanic told me to just drive it
into the ground. I am retired and this is my
retirement job.
A: This would mean that you are burning about a quart every 10 miles....... the engine would not run without fouling the spark plugs badly...
The only thing I can think of.... this is a turbo engine with a bad oil seal in the turbo.... Ed
Q: My 88 has about 70,000 miles on it, and recently the 'sevice engine' warning light came on.
There's nothing wrong with the car, so I need to know how to turn off this dang warning light.
A: I do not remember the 1978 oldsmobile having a computer.... can you give us more info please.... Ed
This way to the live technicians