TECH TIPS FOR MARCH, 1999

I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO LIVES IN THE MIAMI, FLORIDA AREA AND WHO CALLED WANTING ME TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITH HER TRUCK OVER THE PHONE!!  THE PROBLEM AND ITS CURE IS NOT ELECTRICAL, BUT ARE INTERESTING. THE TRUCK IS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER, 4.0L, 5spd MANUAL (I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY MADE A MANUAL FOR THIS VEHICLE), MILEAGE IS IN THE LOW 90,000 MILES (150,000km), BUT RUNS WELL OR DID UNTIL MONDAY MORNING WHEN SHE WAS GOING TO WORK. WHEN SHE TRIED TO START THE TRUCK, IT WOULD INSTANTLY STALL. AFTER ABOUT 8-9 ATTEMPTS SHE GOT IT TO RUN, BUT HAD TO KEEP THE RPMS ABOVE 2000 OR IT STALLED. PART WAY TO WORK THE "CHECK ENGINE " LIGHT CAME ON FOR ABOUT 5 SEC.

AFTER WORK, AT MIDNIGHT, WHEN SHE STARTED THE TRUCK, IT DID START, BUT WOULDN'T IDLE. THE ENGINE WOULD SURGE FROM ALMOST A STALL TO ABOUT 2000 RPMS AND THEN DROP BACK. SHE MADE IT HOME AND CALLED ME IN THE MORNING!  I COULDN'T HELP HER EXCEPT TO TELL HER TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER TO SEE IF IT WAS LOGGING ANY CODES. SHE CALLED ME BACK ABOUT 11/2 HOURS LATER AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. WHEN SHE WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE WRITER, A MECHANIC WAS STANDING, LISTENING TO HER TALE OF WOE. THE MECHANIC INSTANTLY SAID " I KNOW WHAT THAT IS" AND TOOK HER TRUCK TO A BAY.

HE REPLACED 3 VACUUM HOSES, AND THE TRUCK RUNS FINE. HE SAID THAT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON AND THAT HE HAD SEEN IT A NUMBER OF TIMES. IT IS APPARENTLY ONLY 1 HOSE THAT WAS BAD BUT THE OTHER 2 WERE SUSPECT, SO THEY GOT REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS A 1hr MINIMUM LABOUR POLICY, SO THAT IS WHAT SHE PAID. THEY DIDN'T EVEN CHARGE HER FOR THE COUPLE OF FEET OF HOSE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PROBLEM IS SPECIFIC TO THE YEAR, AREA OR MANUAL TRANS, BUT FILE IT AWAY FOR WHEN ONE COMES IN.

1987 - 1993 VW FOXES CAN GET YOU RIGHT UPSET WHEN THEY WON'T START EVEN WHEN YOU'VE CHECKED EVERYTHING AND REPLACED THE STARTER TOO. WHERE ELSE CAN YOU GO, YOU'VE CHECKED EVERYTHING? CHECK THE FUSE PANEL. THERE SHOULD BE A WIRE CONNECTOR BETWEEN TERMINALS # 38 & 36, IF ITS NOT THERE OR IS LOOSE THE STARTER WON'T WORK.     COURTESY OF BOSCH REMAN.

1995 DODGE AVENGERS & CHRYSLER SEBRINGS WITH 2.5L ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC CAN HAVE ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING WITHOUT LOGGING ANY CODES. CHARGE LIGHT STAYS ON, ABS LIGHT STAYS ON, AND VEHICLE MAY OR MAY NOT START. THE PROBLEM MAY BE THE WIRING HARNESS NEAR THE SHIFT LEVER, WHERE THE WIRES HAVE BECOME FRAYED. REPAIR THE HARNESS AS NECESSARY AND MAKE SURE THERE IS 1/2" OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE HARNESS AND THE SHIFT POWER. COURTESY OF BOSCH REMAN.