Re: got a 2nd opinion on my Olds today

Sep 14, 2003 7 Replies

You are just plain describing something electrical/electronic in nature, not a burned valve or lifter!



Mike



86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

randy wrote:




> Well, I followed the advice of some of the posters here and got a 2nd
> opinion on the problem with my 97 Olds Achieva with 95K miles on it. >
> The problem is intermittent, and consists of poor acceleration and
> poor power, accompanied by what I would call valve noise or lifter
> noise. Sometimes, if I restart the car it will go away. Or if the
> problem is not occuring, sometimes if restart the car, it will start.
> I also occassionally get a check engine light randomly.
>
> The first mechanic I saw hooked up a device to the computer and showed
> me a history of misfiring which showed that the cylinder #3 had been
> misfiring a lot (something like 30K misfires showed on it). He said
> it needed a valve job for $1200.
>
> The 2nd guy I saw today (called Complete Auto Center on Bellaire in SW
> Houston) charged me $45 for a diagnosis. He recommended that I
> replace all the lifters on the left bank ($24/lifter and $383 labor),
> and give the car a complete tuneup consisting of cleaning throttle
> body and injectors and replacing plugs and wires ($265) and replace
> the engine mount ($160).
>
> I just had a bad feeling about all of this, so I just walked out after > paying.
>
> I asked him whether it needed a valve job, and he said no. I asked him
> if the compression on the cylinders was OK. He said it was.
>
> I have looked at some of the spark plugs, and they look OK, but have
> not been able to get to the #3 plug.
>
> No blowback from the oil cap while running.
>
> Comments?
>
> -------------
> -Randy

I'll second that. If it goes away and comes back randomly, it's electrical, especially if the key event is a 'reboot'. (turning off the car)

I don't know the particular engine, but the likely cuplrits IMO are

2 of the basic 3. Fuel and spark. The injector and/or the spark for the clyinder with the misfires should be checked. Might be something as simple as a coil pack or a plug wire. Maybe someone who knows that particular engine can be of more detailed help.

Have you taken it to a GM shop for diagnosis?

You mention that you couldn't get to the No 3 plug. What are the chances that the last time you had the plugs changed, whoever did it skipped No 3 because they couldn't/wouldn't take the time to get to it either? Anybody think there might be a chance that this is all being caused by a tired or partly fouled old plug? It sort of goes with the computer saying misfires on #3. If these are not platinum plugs, this could be a pretty old plug. If they are platinum, it still should be good, but you really should get it out and look at it.

snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com,

Very likely.. I had a friend bring his pathfinder by my house for a tune up and we pulled 5 of the plugs and they were all a little worn but they looked fine. The last one, hidden in the back, and rather inaccessible, was a different brand and the whole electrode was gone.

He says that the transmission problem he had has lessened in occurance too. Coincidence? I dunno. But the full tune up, instead of 5/6th's, couldn't have hurt..

-Bruce

That's the one I would go with. Used to happen on some of the Chrysler V8s all the time with the back plug which was a bear to get out in some cars. If the person used the same shop all the time chances are the plug was rarely, if ever changed.

One thing I DAMNED sure wouldn't do in the Houston area is take it to a dealership.

It isn't likely burned valves or it wouldn't be intermittent. And I doubt the lifter story either.

Check out the AAA approved mechanics list on their website. Then try one of them.

I think your estimates and diagnoses are less than comforting too.

These are the AAA approved mechanics shops in the area: You will find 6-7 dealerships on this list.

A & L Automotive Houston TX 77070 A OK Automotive Houston TX 77080 Auto Check #9 Houston TX 77090 Auto World West Loop Houston TX 77027 Bumbera's Performance Associates Houston TX 77079 Cad-L Motors Houston TX 77027 Carport Automotive Houston TX 77014 Certified Auto Service Houston TX 77099 Champion Certified Car Care Houston TX 77069 Cunningham Auto Service Houston TX 77054 European Auto Techniks Houston TX 77067 Express Car Care Houston TX 77055 Family Auto Center Houston TX 77015 Fred Haas Toyota Country Houston TX 77070 Goodyear Auto Care Center Houston TX 77041 J & T Automotive Houston TX 77055 Kuykendahl 1960 Auto & Tire Center Houston TX 77090 McKay's Automotive 1960 Houston TX 77070 Memorial Conoco Car Care Houston TX 77079 Meyerland Automotive Center Houston TX 77035 Mikey's Auto Repair Shop & Muffler + Brakes Houston TX 77004 Montrose Tire & Auto Center Houston TX 77006 My Mechanic @ Copperfield Houston TX 77095 My Mechanic @ Jones Rd. Houston TX 77065 Neighborhood Car Care Houston TX 77070 NLine Automotive Houston TX 77018 Platinum Automotive Houston TX 77099 Professional Auto Care Houston TX 77074 R.M.S. Auto Care Houston TX 77098 R.P.M. Automotive Houston TX 77063 River Oaks Automotive Houston TX 77027 Sal's Westheimer Houston TX 77057 Scott's Auto Repair Houston TX 77043 Space Center Tire & Auto Houston TX 77058 Top Tech Auto Repair Houston TX 77072 Westside Automotive Houston TX 77082 Poutous Auto Repair Houston Inner Loop TX 77005 Demo's Auto Center Houston Inter. Loop TX 77005 Eric's Exxon Houston Inter. Loop TX 77030 Northwest Diesel & Automobile Houston North TX 77090 Tommie Vaughn Ford Houston North Loop TX 77008 Hub Buick / Hyundai Houston Northwest TX 77065 Joe Myers Ford Houston Northwest TX 77040 Jones Auto Care Houston Northwest TX 77040 Payne's Automotive Ent. Houston Northwest TX 77092 Poutous 1960 Auto Repair Houston Northwest TX 77064 Phillips Automotive Houston Southeast TX 77061 Ken Thompson Auto Repair Houston Southwest TX 77031 Preventive Maintenance Auto Center Houston Southwest TX 77081 Richmond Auto Repair Houston Southwest TX 77063 Sterling McCall Toyota Houston Southwest TX 77074 Voss Road Exxon Houston Southwest TX 77057 Adams Automotive Houston West TX 77055 Atlas Auto Service Houston West TX 77079 Cooksey's West End Radiator Shop Houston West TX 77007 Don McGill Toyota Houston West TX 77079 Fountainview Exxon Car Care Houston West TX 77057 Jack/John Varcados Shell Houston West TX 77024 MacHaik Chevrolet / Subaru Houston West TX 77079 Memorial CCC Houston West TX 77024

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