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HELP!

GTPluv

GTPluv

New member
Tuesday, I took my car in to have the recall work done. When I got it home, I could see the gasket. Alittle worried about that. There was oil all over everywhere so I let it cool down, then sprayed degreaser on it and washed it off. Went home. Wednesday, I went to get some bolts for my hubby, then left out for Oklahoma City (90 mi away). I got about 30 min. out of town and my car was idling REAL ruff. Didn't want to go. The tach (at 80 mph) was goin crazy. Normally around 2300 2400 rpm. Goin up a very slight hill, the boost would come on and it would jump around alot (3000 rpm). Well, I was goin to see Styx and Boston in concert, so I wasn't goin back home.
I know my o2 sensor is bad. whoopee. But, my service engine light Flashed all the way there and back. It will barely idle now. Any ideas? I'm hoping plugs and wires? I tried not to get the coil packs wet.
I got 16 mi/gal on the highway. help!!
 


ok....first calm down. Have you checked your oil level since they did the gasket replacement? 2nd....get the car scanned to retrieve the code!!!!!!






.......

I had my old 95 SE, acted like what your were discribing before I through a rod on the highway. DONT...under any means think that is wrong with yours..
 
So far with this whole recall thing, I have only heard BAD things coming from people who have the work done at a Pontiac dealership. I have seen on this board, and other boards as well.

Like Losn said, get the car scanned at Autozone or someplace that does free scans to determine what the error code is.

I know some people complained about the plug wires being moved around and new clips added to the wires to keep them away from the valve cover, like that is or was the likely source of the car engine fires in our GTPs *rolls eyes* I would pull the plug wires on the front bank and check to make sure they are ok and then resecure them and see what happens.

You could go as far as removing the plugs themselves to check them, but I dont think they actually remove them during their install of the valve cover gasket. But it cant hurt to have it checked. But you really should look at getting that 02 sensor fixed :)

I hope you get it figured out soon :)
 
There should not have been oil all over the place, and you should not be able to see the gasket, unless they have new style that no one has mentioned yet.:th_lipssealed2:

I would take it back and make them fix it right AND have them make note on the invoice of their mistake with the service managers signature.

A scan ahead to time to find out the code would be nice, in the event you need to get nasty about it.:o
 
On the flip side, if you know your O2 sensor is bad, you need to have it replaced before any other diagnosing can go on. It's difficult to find a problem with other known problem still existing.
 


Yeah, I checked the oil in OKC before I came home and it was a qt low. I called the dealer and they said it's not their fault. They want me to pay to have it scanned. They won't look at it at all unless it's 'something obvious like a plug wire off or something'. I told him I checked em. Last night, before I came home I started it to look for a spark, nothing, so I pushed and made sure the wires were on good.
You can barely see this picture I took with my cell phone of the gasket hanging out.
It's the off white/yellow thing.
06-24-08_1748.jpg
 
Is that thing actually hanging out from the valve cover? Nice fix if that is the case! I would be super pissed! I would be going there and getting their manager of all Customer Service down there and chew him a new one. I would say either its a poor design, or a bad mechanic who slapped it together.

But it sounds like the Dealership has already drawn its line. I think its time for you to push it back :D
 
Lord help them.....

Lori, dont be drinking before you go.....Im running short on bail money...hahahah

webracin
 


If they fix the car, it's so worth it to spend a night or 2 in jail. This is Enid, not L.A. so I don't think jail will change me much. Thanks though. You might want to pray for them tonight just incase.
C-ya, I'm goin to the bar.
;)
jk
 
Could be a number of things really. Could be just moisture in the wire boots. Are your wires original? I assume they are. With them moved around during the install they can break inside and cause misfires. Thats why I tell anyone with a 3800, if you want me to change your plugs and you have original wires, buy wires and we'll do both. I refuse to just do plugs w/ original wires. I know of many people who simple pulled off there plug wires to change just plugs, when the put the wires back on they misfired like crazy. The wires get brittle and weak with age.

Also too you vac lines are old and they could of been disurbed while the install. The hoses or fittings could be cracked. A can of carb cleaner will tell ya. As for the oil everywhere? Most likely the "Quailtified/Certified ASE Mechanic" (my ass!) didn't clean up his mess when doing the install. He just poped the cover off (doubt he even cleaned the surfaces), poped a new gasket in and that was it. You can't trust anyone to do anything anymore. As for seeing a gasket hanging out, I can't see it in the pic but it wouldn't surprise me, alot of mechanics half ass things. The 3800 Valve cover gaskets i've seen, the colors are usually grey or orange and its an o-ring like material. If the oil is low or reappearing, you gasket may not be sealed. Speaking of oil, you may want to check it or top it off, better yet, change it.

As for the O2 sensor, that probably ain't helping things, get that replaced and don't replace it with a POS Bosch crap. Get an AC/Delco or Denso.

Could be one of many things, it most likely simple and stupid and I wouldn't be surprised if its a mechanic screw up...
 
Fairly new plugs and wires
Took my car to autozone to have it scanned yesterday. (Came up misfire # 3)
Went to leave and car wouldn't start. Key wouldnt go back to where I could take it out of the ignition. I messed with the tilt. Nope. Messed with Park. Nope. WEBRACIN told me how to get it out of gear(by the shifter forgot the name). Still nothing. Had to call a tow truck. Keep in mind I JUST got my new hood,air dam, and spoiler a week ago. The tow guy BACKS INTO MY CAR. I was screamin and jumping up and down. Just flippin smooth out. I wanted to kill him. He had the nerve to tell me to "Calm down, I'll put some touch up paint on it". Could he have said anything worse?! I went off some more. Cried. Towed to my mechanic friend. (Got it in writing that he damaged my car & will fix it. He was pi$$ed that I asked for it in writing) The way I see it, he's lucky hes still breathing.
Turns out, friend pops hood and the Dealership didnt put my battery cable on all the way. Dumb dumbs! Still runs crapy. I had such a bad day, I just left my car there and told him I'd get it Monday.
Gasket hanging out: Turns out, it was the bottom of the valve cover. Who knew? (I never took the 3800 cover off when I had looked at it)
My mechanics helper heard the car run and it's knockin real bad. Thinks I need a new motor. I say : Plugs/Wires, or Coil pack, or module by coil packs.
I'll let you all know, but I'm tryin to stay away from it. Bad stuff seams to happen.
 
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WOW!! I you have a LOT more self control than I would have. if the Tow truck guy backed into my car.....I would turn into the Hulk!

is it a low pitch knock, or a very fast pitched one? #3 misfire..... I would take the plug and wire completely out. look over the plug for any hair line cracks or damage......

also check the plug wires...be sure that they match with the correct cylinder.
 
I would say fast knock. We'll see. My husband thinks it's the SC. I don't. When I go get it tomorrow, I'm gonna go ahead and replace the #3 plug and wire.
 


Could be the S/C coupler, pull the S/C belt and see if the noise disappears.

Could be a rod knock too but if I remember correctly (from motors I heard w/ a rod knock in the past) the noise will get louder w/ increase RPMs, been awhile since I heard that noise and I hope I never do honestly.

The noise could be a number of things.

Sounds like the mechanic at the dealer was pretty lousy, can't even tighten a ****ing battery cable, that don't surprise me though. I'd send them the tow bill, not the cars fault a dumbass worked on it. As for the wire and the plug, i'd bet the wire but the plug could be cracked too. Look over it like mentioned above. Hell, i'd throw a fresh set of plugs and wires on the car if I were you, there cheap enough. Lifetime wires FTW!
 
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Jesus I would seriously put in a call to the Better Business Bureau about that Dealership. Talk about rtards at their finest! They should be ashamed. I would going to the General Manager of the entire dealership and tell him his guys F'ed up your car! You can say it was running fine before it came to the dealership and now its junked.

Frankly that is how I would handle such incompetence!

Sorry to hear all this happened hun :( *hugs*

It will all work out in the end!
 
Ok. Just changed Plug and wire. It sputtered for a min then kinda cleared up. There is a whining noise. Like a belt. I'm thinkin maybe I got the SC belt wet when it was warm. But, the belts are fairly new. I don't know how to take the belt off. I'm gonna need a special tool huh?? Any suggestions? (be specific, I AM a girl)
 
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