For the benefit of anyone else with one and experiencing similar problems...
Here's what I went in for today, and the results:
- Oil change. Check. Ok - nevermind this one.
- Clunking noise (bushing noise) front right shock. "Lower control arm bushing separated on both front control arms" Both bushings replaced.
- Hood pull cable sheared off. Known problem (!) The last 0.5" of the cable at the pull-handle was cleanly sheared off. Apparently this is a known design mistake and the cable will cut itself clean off! Anyone else experience this?! Anyway - cable replaced with upgrade part.
- Howling noise when engaging in 1st or 2nd gear. The noise is brief and similar to a belt squeal, but seems more like a clutch howl of some sort. They blamed it on the bushings. I said, "Whatever," and drove away - it did it again before I had even turned the corner, but had to go to work. I'll wait until this one gets bad enough to perform on demand.
- Engine idles at 1500-2000, not related to outside temp or engine temp. They blamed this on error code "P1599" although I think that suggests engine stall or some sort of crank position sensor problem? Anyway - they said this led them to a known problem with the PCM - so I got a software upgrade. "Dave...? What are you doing..., Dave?"
The entertainment of owning a first generation model. Oh well - drives fine now, and it was all free except for the oil change and
4 hours of waiting. Still a good value car, I think, for what you get.-e