More trouble with my car

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Ultima

Platinum Member
Oct 16, 1999
2,893
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After fixing the head gasket, and after fixing the timing, I still have problems with my car.

The idle used to waver slowly up and down when I first started the car but would slowly settle down to 1000 rpm. However, when I put in in Drive or Reverse, the idle would go dangerously low (500 or so), then swing up to 1000, but 2 seconds later it would go low again. The car stalled a few times like this. I "fixed" that by disconnecting the PCV valve hose assembly from the intake manifold. Another thing I noticed is that the car sometimes had trouble starting (turned over but didn't catch) unless I gave it a bit of throttle.

What this did is raise my neutral idle to between 2000 and 3000 rpm, and it wouldn't dip anymore in drive or reverse. *However*, today I was driving with the heat full blast and it was stalling again in drive!! I was looking for a garage to tension my timing belt properly and check the timing since I didn't want to take the lower cover off and didn't want to buy a tensioner. After the prices they quoted me though I think I'll just buy the tensioner.

On the way back home the oil light was flickering on and off, so I stopped and checked it and the engine was out of oil! There was oil sprayed everywhere in the engine compartment.. ! Luckily I had some in the trunk..

Fix one thing, another thing goes wrong.. fix that, something else messes up... lol

I'm gonna get the dealer T for the PCV valve but I have a feeling that's not gonna solve the idling problems since it still stalled even with the intake manifold connector left open to the air :( I've checked the other vacuum hoses and I don't see any obvious problems..
 
N

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
38,241
4
0
Oil has a tendancy to spray all over when you remove the PCV valve. I mean, it covers up a hole in the engine.....
 
U

Ultima

Platinum Member
Oct 16, 1999
2,893
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Originally posted by: notfred
Oil has a tendancy to spray all over when you remove the PCV valve. I mean, it covers up a hole in the engine.....
Click to expand...

The PCV valve is still there, it's just not connected to the intake manifold. Also, how the heck does oil from the bottom of the T that's connected to the valve end up on top of the engine and on the radiator hose? :confused:
 
A

alm99

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2000
4,560
0
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are you doing all the work yourself? Its a pretty simple engine to work on
 
U

Ultima

Platinum Member
Oct 16, 1999
2,893
0
0
Originally posted by: alm99
are you doing all the work yourself? Its a pretty simple engine to work on
Click to expand...

Heh.. when you know what to do ;) This is my first car so I'm learning!
 
T

Tominator

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,559
1
0
I forget the name for it, but there is an assembly usuall located under the MASS airflow sensor with a couple hoses and wires going to it. I think it's called the throttle servo motor. It governs the idle speed.

On my daughter's Probe I removed the complete MASS air flow assembly and replaced the servo motor. I've since read of using carberator cleaner to throughly clean the passages after taking it off and that sometimes fixes the problem.

The Probe one cost $125 and the one on our Mitsubishi cost $225!

All that is asssuming you've got all the hoses connected properly....
 
C

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
0
Originally posted by: alm99
is this the $300 1988 Dodge Shadow?
Click to expand...

my friend bought an 88 Sundance for $600 CAD (about $400 USD) and it lasted him a year of frequent driving without a single problem.

fantastic cars in my experiences (I had a LeBaron)

I'd say let the car warm up a bit and just live with it.. it's only a $300 car. :)
 
J

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
1
0
Yeh my sundance was great until the telephone poll incident. Probably would have lasted a few more years....thanks for nothing goes to the old codger who ran me off the road.
 
Evadman

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
81
Originally posted by: Tominator
I forget the name for it, but there is an assembly usuall located under the MASS airflow sensor with a couple hoses and wires going to it. I think it's called the throttle servo motor. It governs the idle speed.

On my daughter's Probe I removed the complete MASS air flow assembly and replaced the servo motor. I've since read of using carberator cleaner to throughly clean the passages after taking it off and that sometimes fixes the problem.

The Probe one cost $125 and the one on our Mitsubishi cost $225!

All that is asssuming you've got all the hoses connected properly....
Click to expand...

You are thinking of the IAC or Idle Air Control. Could very well be the problem.
 
P

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
i think it would have been better to invest in a high end BMW considering all the money and time you've spent on that thing ;)

1. Really considering buying this Dodge Shadow 1988 Auto
2. Finally bought my first car! (It's a Dodge Shadow 1988)
3. Teach me how to maintain and repair my car.
4. WTF! How can my tires be THIS bad in the rain?
5. Problems with CV Joint
6. Noisy Idle.. like a diesel.
7. Wtf? A Firebird Transam gets about the same gas mileage as my Dodge Shadow
8. right flasher.. FIXED finally
9. My car's engine stalled and it won't start up again. edit: apparently fixed to the tune of $115US
10. first real snowfall here in Mtl, and wow, I have virtually no snow traction whatsoever!
12. Just got my first speeding ticket :|
13. Question about fighting a speeding ticket in court
14. What's your *actual* gas mileage
15. Rammed a curb; what kind of damage could result?
16. How do I improve my gas mileage?
17. Head gasket removal trouble
18. Something's wrong with my engine
19. More trouble with my car
 
U

Ultima

Platinum Member
Oct 16, 1999
2,893
0
0
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
i think it would have been better to invest in a high end BMW considering all the money and time you've spent on that thing ;)

1. Really considering buying this Dodge Shadow 1988 Auto
2. Finally bought my first car! (It's a Dodge Shadow 1988)
3. Teach me how to maintain and repair my car.
4. WTF! How can my tires be THIS bad in the rain?
5. Problems with CV Joint
6. Noisy Idle.. like a diesel.
7. Wtf? A Firebird Transam gets about the same gas mileage as my Dodge Shadow
8. right flasher.. FIXED finally
9. My car's engine stalled and it won't start up again. edit: apparently fixed to the tune of $115US
10. first real snowfall here in Mtl, and wow, I have virtually no snow traction whatsoever!
12. Just got my first speeding ticket :|
13. Question about fighting a speeding ticket in court
14. What's your *actual* gas mileage
15. Rammed a curb; what kind of damage could result?
16. How do I improve my gas mileage?
17. Head gasket removal trouble
18. Something's wrong with my engine
19. More trouble with my car
Click to expand...

LMAO. I hadn't realized how many posts I've made about the car. How many $$$ would I have now if not for the damn thing ;) I have it now though, all I want is for it to run without stalling or splashing oil everywhere.. grr

 
U

Ultima

Platinum Member
Oct 16, 1999
2,893
0
0
Got the T for the PCV valve, car is STILL stalling (and also won't even start unless I give it a bit of gas while starting it). At least I don't think it pissed much oil today.
 
W

wiin

Senior member
Oct 28, 1999
937
0
76
Time to get a new car buddy. After having to replace the starter, alternator(twice), clutch, and brakes, I decided it was time to get a new one. All that repair and the dealer would only give me $800.00. Yes, it was a ten year old car with 124,000 miles but still...

I now drive a 2003 Honda Accord LX. Anyone else driving this car?
 
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