TECH TIPS FOR AUGUST, 1997

FIRST A LITTLE THOUGHT PROVOKING PROBLEM.

A 1990 TEMPO (NOT YOUR CUSTOMER) IS TOWED IN OFF THE HIGHWAY, WHERE ITS LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN OPERATION. THE TIRE IS GONE, THE RIM BADLY DAMAGED ALONG WITH THE DRUM. YOU REPAIR THE DAMAGE, INSTALL A NEW TIRE & RIM, AND NOW.....THE CAR WON'T RUN.

THE CAR WILL CRANK BUT WON'T START, AT THE SAME TIME YOU NOTICE THAT THE PASSIVE RESTRAINTS DON'T OPERATE EITHER.

THINGS CHECKED: SPARK - GOOD              

               FUSES - GOOD

               FUEL PRESSURE - NONE

               POWER TO RESTRAINT MOTOR - NONE

               POWER TO CONTROLLER - NONE

THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MOMENT AND CHECK YOUR CONCLUSION WITH THE ANSWER AT THE END OF THE TECH TIP.

REPEATED "NO STARTS" FROM A FLAT BATTERY OR A BATTERY WHICH GOES FLAT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED MAY NOT BE THE FAULT OF EITHER THE BATTERY OR THE ALTERNATOR. THE APRIL/97 COPY OF "REMAN TOPICS" FROM THE BOSCH CORP. OUTLINES MANY CASES WHERE MISALIGNED OR STUCK SWITCHES WILL ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING. THEIR ARTICLE IS VERY DETAILED BUT I DON'T HAVE THE SPACE TO PUT IT ALL IN SO I'LL JUST LIST THE VEHICLES AND THE SUSPECT SWITCHED, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT FROM THERE. (IF YOU WANT A COPY OF THE WHOLE ARTICLE JUST STOP AT THE SHOP AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU ONE)

1995 MAZDA   MILLENNIUM   TRUNK LIGHT SWITCH

1995 DODGE   NEON       GLOVE BOX SWITCH

1995 DODGE   NEON       DOME LIGHT

1995 DODGE   NEON       TRUCK LIGHT

1989 BMW     635        GLOVE BOX SWITCH

1993 MERCURY VILLAGER   LIFT GATE SWITCH

1993 NISSAN  QUEST      LIFT GATE STAYS OPEN

1993 MAZDA   626        TRUNK LIGHT SWITCH ( MODELS TO 1995)

1993 MAZDA   RX7        GLOVE BOX LIGHT

1991 FORD    PROBE      HOOD LAMP SWITCH

1991 HONDA   ACCORD     HOOD LAMP SWITCH (ALSO 1992)

1990 ACCURA  LEGEND     HOOD LAMP SWITCH ( TO 1992)

1993 SUZUKI  SWIFT      DOME LIGHT DOOR SWITCH

1995 CADILLAC DeVILLE    TWILIGHT SENTINEL (CONCOUR, ELDORADO)

1993 CADILLAC DeVILLE    DOOR JAMB SWITCHES

THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES THAT IF IN FUTURE THE MANUFACTURERS WOULD PROVIDE A FLASH LIGHT FOR LOOKING IN THESES AREAS THAT THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE HISTORY.

THIS PROBLEM CAN ALSO EFFECT THE LONGEVITY OF THE ALTERNATOR. SUPPOSE THE DRAW CAUSED BY THE STUCK SWITCH IS NOT ENOUGH TO FLATTEN THE BATTERY SUFFICIENTLY THAT IT WON'T START UNTIL AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT FOR MORE THAN 1 DAY. IN THE MEANTIME, WITH GOING TO WORK, THE STORE , THE MALL, TO THE BEACH, THE BATTERY WILL ALWAYS BE IN A STATE OF UNDERCHARGE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE ALTERNATOR WILL CONSTANTLY BE WORKING HARDER THAN IT WAS DESIGNED FOR. AS A MATTER OF FACT THIS PROBLEM AS I HAVE JUST OUTLINED WILL ALSO EFFECT THE LONGEVITY OF THE STARTER BECAUSE THE BATTERY WILL NEVER BE AT FULL CHARGE WHEN THE STARTER IS ENGAGED, AND THE STARTER WILL THEREFORE DRAW MORE CURRENT THAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR.

ANSWER TO THE TEMPO - THE EXPLODING TIRE STRUCK THE INNER FENDER SO HARD THAT IT TRIPPED THE INERTIA SWITCH, WHICH SUPPLIES POWER TO THE FUEL PUMP RELAY AND IN TURN TO THE CONTROLLER  OH! BY THE WAY, IF YOU SUSPECT THAT YOU HAVE THE 1993 CADILLAC DeVILLE DOOR JAMB SWITCH PROBLEM, CHECK A GM SERVICE MANUAL BEFORE STARTING REPAIRS. SEEMS YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE FENDER TO REPLACE THE CORRODED SWITCHES.   HAVING FUN YET?