Some problems

Hi,

I just bought my Trans sport V6 3,8 and i have a few problems with it.

1. Cruise control doesnt work.
2. ingine light goes on afther a a few kilometers driving.
3. Backdoor wont open.

The car runs fine and am verry glad with it. Can somebody give me a direction where to look for these problems i have?

Are there some "how to ..." topics in this forum?
Or does somebody knows where to find them on the net?
Im also looking for a repair manual but they are hard to get here. (Netherlands).

Thanks..

Hi,
Best sorce for service manual is ebay.com. Look for a used GM U-van Factory Service Manual for 1995. This manual covers the US models 3.1 and 3.8. The export model with the 3.8 engine I guess you have is very simular to the US 3.8 model, only the front end is a little different, and some lights works a little different. The Factory manual covers everything about the car, about 2000 pages in two books. There are also service manuals from Chilton and Haynes available, but they are more or less crap compare the the Factory manual. There use to be Factory manuals for sell on US Ebay for 20$, and shipping is about 30-40$ to Europe. I did find one Factory manual for sale (but only available for shipping to US, ask if shipping to Europe is possible)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-LUMINA-SILHOUETTE-TRANSPORT-FACTORY-SERVICE-MANUAL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6760QQitemZ80147 31073QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

If the CEL (Check engine light) comes on, there is one or more faulty codes stored in the ECM. To read out the faulty codes, you have to have a scanner or an interface and suitable software to hook up a laptop to the EMC. Up to 1993, it was possible to read out the codes by counting flashes in the CEL (after terminating pin A and B in the ALDL connector.) If you are interested in getting an interface cable and software, please send an email to me. ( address in my profile)

A wild guessing of the cause for the CEL going on is a defect EGR valve. Is the car running well? is the idling smooth?

Back door locker often brakes on the TS. It seems to be a very poor design. To change it, you have to open the door to be able to take the trim panel away. Am not sure how to do this in your situation.

Cruise control, as well as other, you really need the Factory manual, there are very good trouble shooting charts for everyting in the manual.

Hi,
Best sorce for service manual is ebay.com. Look for a used GM U-van Factory Service Manual for 1995. This manual covers the US models 3.1 and 3.8. The export model with the 3.8 engine I guess you have is very simular to the US 3.8 model, only the front end is a little different, and some lights works a little different. The Factory manual covers everything about the car, about 2000 pages in two books. There are also service manuals from Chilton and Haynes available, but they are more or less crap compare the the Factory manual. There use to be Factory manuals for sell on US Ebay for 20$, and shipping is about 30-40$ to Europe. I did find one Factory manual for sale (but only available for shipping to US, ask if shipping to Europe is possible)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-LUMINA-SILHOUETTE-TRANSPORT-FACTORY-SERVICE-MANUAL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6760QQitemZ80147 31073QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

If the CEL (Check engine light) comes on, there is one or more faulty codes stored in the ECM. To read out the faulty codes, you have to have a scanner or an interface and suitable software to hook up a laptop to the EMC. Up to 1993, it was possible to read out the codes by counting flashes in the CEL (after terminating pin A and B in the ALDL connector.) If you are interested in getting an interface cable and software, please send an email to me. ( address in my profile)

A wild guessing of the cause for the CEL going on is a defect EGR valve. Is the car running well? is the idling smooth?

Back door locker often brakes on the TS. It seems to be a very poor design. To change it, you have to open the door to be able to take the trim panel away. Am not sure how to do this in your situation.

Cruise control, as well as other, you really need the Factory manual, there are very good trouble shooting charts for everyting in the manual.
Thanks for your answer.

Im going to look for a Factory Service Manual.
The backdoor problem is half solved now. I got it open yesterday with verry mutch power at the handele. Fortunely it didnt break. I put a lot of oil in it and now it opens easely. But i do have to use the key. I cant get it open with the powerlock. But i can live with that. (for now atleast)

To look for the reason why the cruisecontrol doesnt work i just have to wait to fin a Factory Service Manual first.

But whats a EGR valve? Sorry im a real newbie around US cars. I know my way round a motorbike but im not used to work on US cars.

The Trans sport runs normal. When i start driving the CEL is not on. Afther a little while it goes on. But i cant seem to find a differents in the cars handeling. If i dont look at the dashboard i would never know if its on or not. The ideling is just perfect. I dont hear or feel the car running while im inside.

I have one more question. I engine doesnt seems to get hotter then the first line on the temp. meter. The needle comes just lose from the bottom. Is this normal? Or could there be something wrong with the meter or the sensor or coolsystem?

Your thermostat may be stuck open, never allowing your engine to heat up. Or your temp sensor may also be malfunctioning. Your service manual (or Haynes manual) will cover both.

The EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve is an emissions component used to reduced emissions. It allows a small amount of exhaust gasses to be "reburned". If that valve is stuck closed (or open), the computer may think it's allowing (or not allowing) gasses to be recirculated when in reality it's not (or is).

I can't say for the 3800 exactly where it's at, but on the 3400 it's just behind the throttlebody. It's about the size of a small can of soup and will have a electrical connector plugged into it.

Your thermostat may be stuck open, never allowing your engine to heat up. Or your temp sensor may also be malfunctioning. Your service manual (or Haynes manual) will cover both.

The EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve is an emissions component used to reduced emissions. It allows a small amount of exhaust gasses to be "reburned". If that valve is stuck closed (or open), the computer may think it's allowing (or not allowing) gasses to be recirculated when in reality it's not (or is).

I can't say for the 3800 exactly where it's at, but on the 3400 it's just behind the throttlebody. It's about the size of a small can of soup and will have a electrical connector plugged into it.

Thanks!

When i have my factory manual i wil check this out.

Could this problem couses the CEL ligt to lit?

Severl conditions will prevent cruise control from pperating. As mentioned, temperature must be up to a certain level. But problem with the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) -
DTC21 (www.avigex.ca/xport/dtc21.jpg)
DTC22 (www.avigex.ca/xport/dtc22.jpg)
and this will light up the CEL - prevent cruise, as well as 4th gear and Torque COnverter CLutch (TCC) from applying, so pay attention to those details, they may point to the clue.
EGR valve (linear type I thnk in '95) looks like this
http://www.avigex.ca/xport/linearegr.jpg
http://www.avigex.ca/xport/egrlin.jpg

You can browse at will through THIS (www.avigex.ca/xport) until you have your manual

Severl conditions will prevent cruise control from pperating. As mentioned, temperature must be up to a certain level. But problem with the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) -
DTC21 (www.avigex.ca/xport/dtc21.jpg)
DTC22 (www.avigex.ca/xport/dtc22.jpg)
and this will light up the CEL - prevent cruise, as well as 4th gear and Torque COnverter CLutch (TCC) from applying, so pay attention to those details, they may point to the clue.
EGR valve (linear type I thnk in '95) looks like this
http://www.avigex.ca/xport/linearegr.jpg
http://www.avigex.ca/xport/egrlin.jpg

You can browse at will through THIS (www.avigex.ca/xport) until you have your manual
Wow your all great guy's!

I had little hope when i posted my problems here. But it looks like everyone is willing to help. I wil use those images and try to figure out whats wrong.

Sorry guy's i have to give a update here.

The car isnt idleing smooth.
Im used to Japanese and europe's cars.
They shake a bit and you hear them well while running in idle.

The pontiac does not. I dont hear the engine en the cars does not shake at all. So i thought it was running smooth.

But i had a look onder the hood today and found out that the rmp differents now and then. I looked at the rpm meter and saw that most of the time it was about 800 rpm but suddenly it dropped to 500 and then back to 1000 and after 2 sec it was stable again at 800 rpm.

This goes on and on.

I also discovert two black thin plastc hoses witch where not connected.
If you are infront of the cars engine the are on the left en then they bend to to backsite of the engine. Where are these for?

I connected them and wil take the car for a test ride later.

About 1,5 hour ago i drove my wife to work. I just started her and saw the CEL Light was burning. I hit the acceleration padle a little and it went of.

I hope this information gives you more a cleu where i should look.

When im back from the testride i wil post if there is something changed with the plastic tubes connected.

FOr a quick check, I'd disconnect the EGR valve as nicke66 mentioned because it is often related to rough idle/stalling and lights up the cell. However if the valve is blocked partly open, you will still have rough idling because of unwanted exhaust gases recirculated when they should not. Best is to look for this one first before attempting other issues. Disconnecting it WILL light up the CEL too, but that will disappear once reconnected.
Disconnected hoses at the left most probably relate to fuel vapour return lines and open hoses there are not a good idea. I'll check for proper routing. Keep us informed of all findings.

FOr a quick check, I'd disconnect the EGR valve as nicke66 mentioned because it is often related to rough idle/stalling and lights up the cell. However if the valve is blocked partly open, you will still have rough idling because of unwanted exhaust gases recirculated when they should not. Best is to look for this one first before attempting other issues. Disconnecting it WILL light up the CEL too, but that will disappear once reconnected.
Disconnected hoses at the left most probably relate to fuel vapour return lines and open hoses there are not a good idea. I'll check for proper routing. Keep us informed of all findings.
ok im back from a hour testdrive.

Im as happy as a little child now....

Afther connecting those hoses, the first thing i notiched when i put the key in and turnt it to ON, was the wind in my hair.

I had not notiched it before but the fans in the dashboard havent been working all the time. Now when i put the fans at maximum the are blowing!

And the best part came on the highway. I swichted the cruise control to ON en pressed the SET button and ........... It worked!

I was as happy as i could be. I let it on for a half hour and then decided to turn around and to go back.

So thats one problem less. The CEL is stil on but right now i dont give a ..... Hahaha

When i have time i wil remove the ERG valvue and check that out.
But for now im a verry happy Pontiac Trans sport driver.

:lol:

Today i looked at the temp meter.

I started the car and let it run idle for a long time and watchted the temp meter. After 10 - 15 min it was on the second stripe. I had never seen it go behond the thirst til now.

At the seceond stripe i heard the fan turning on.
So i think now there nothing wrong with the thermostat.

I think the sensor is bad.
If the thermostat was bad then the fan would not go on on the second stripe. I think the enigne was hot enough to turn the fan on. So the sensor must be bad. And the temp meter should be mutch higer then just two stripes.

So i think i replace the sensor and that should solve that problem.

If you need any spare part, best sorce for parts for Trans Sport in Europe is www.cars-stripes.com/ in Germany. They have a parts catalouge in pdf, possible to download. They ship parts to any country, to resonable cost.

In addition to the air temperature sensor, there are 2 coolant temperature sensors: one for the computer (has 2 wires) and one for the meter (single wire). The one that feeds the computer is the very one the computer relies on to decide to turn the fan on (computer trigs the relay) , so obviously this one is OK. I would not care much about the needle.......and the meter itself might be at fault, rather than the sensor: these sensors are very sturdy; you can check with an ohmmeter if it reads proper value at running temperature: should be near 250-300 ohms....and by the way....my temp needle does not go very high either, I'd say 1/3 of the way up...
www.avigex.ca/xport/thermistor.jpg
www.avigex.ca/xport/coolantfan.jpg

Hmm seems i have to look again for a service manual.

I had the hihgest bed on Ebay but he wont ship the book to The Netherlands.
I specified U.S. only was his replay.

And thats true he did but i didnt seen it. :banghead:

So enybody else in here has a book for me for the 1995 V6 3.8 Trans Sport?

Hmm seems i have to look again for a service manual.

I had the hihgest bed on Ebay but he wont ship the book to The Netherlands.
I specified U.S. only was his replay.

And thats true he did but i didnt seen it. :banghead:

So enybody else in here has a book for me for the 1995 V6 3.8 Trans Sport?

I have one, but I need it myself, so I can´t sell it. In the time you find a manual, I can have a look in my manual, if you need to know anything.

Keep looking at ebay, there will be more manuals for sell. 2 thing to keep in mind however, First, be sure both of the 2 volumes is included, second, be sure the seller will ship to Europe, ask the seller this before bidding, and also ask how much the shipping cost will be. There are other manuals for sell on ebay, one isonly availably for US, but send an email and ask about shipping to Europe, and shipping cost (and also be sure it is both the volumes). Good Luck!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-Chevrolet-GM-Mini-van-Factory-Shop-Manual-Set_W0QQitemZ8015642563QQcategoryZ6760QQrdZ1QQcmdZ ViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-Lumina-Silhouette-Trans-Sport-Shop-Manual-Chevy_W0QQitemZ7986402110QQcategoryZ6760QQssPageNa meZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

So enybody else in here has a book for me for the 1995 V6 3.8 Trans Sport?
How about this :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=7969507090
It's for -94 but is that a problem? He ships worldwide, I asked him if he ships to Finland but then I found another set of three manuals. Shippigs cost to Finland was about $40, I guess it is about same to Netherlands

Antti

I have a problem now.

The one i tryed to sell the book from wants me to pay for the book becouse i have made a bed. But he wont ship outside the US or Canada.

Im a newbie on ebay. Can he make me pay?

If so, is there anyone who can help me with this? I would like to have the book but i dont know anyone in the US or Canada.

Ofcourse i pay all the shipping cost.

I have a problem now.

The one i tryed to sell the book from wants me to pay for the book becouse i have made a bed. But he wont ship outside the US or Canada.

Im a newbie on ebay. Can he make me pay?

If so, is there anyone who can help me with this? I would like to have the book but i dont know anyone in the US or Canada.

Ofcourse i pay all the shipping cost.

I think you have to pay. Sorry. I have relatives in Canada who are coming to Finland in couple of weeks. Maybe they can bring books to Finland and I can send books to you? Shipping from Finland to the Netherlands is about 30 Euros. Or then they can ship books from Canada but I think it's better to ship books from Finland. (less trouble to my relatives). if you are interested send me a private message

Antti

I have a problem now.

The one i tryed to sell the book from wants me to pay for the book becouse i have made a bed. But he wont ship outside the US or Canada.

Im a newbie on ebay. Can he make me pay?

If so, is there anyone who can help me with this? I would like to have the book but i dont know anyone in the US or Canada.

Ofcourse i pay all the shipping cost.

Problem solved.
He wil ship to The Nederlands now.

Antti thanks for willing to help me.

ok im back from a hour testdrive.

Im as happy as a little child now....

Afther connecting those hoses, the first thing i notiched when i put the key in and turnt it to ON, was the wind in my hair.

I had not notiched it before but the fans in the dashboard havent been working all the time. Now when i put the fans at maximum the are blowing!

And the best part came on the highway. I swichted the cruise control to ON en pressed the SET button and ........... It worked!

I was as happy as i could be. I let it on for a half hour and then decided to turn around and to go back.

So thats one problem less. The CEL is stil on but right now i dont give a ..... Hahaha

When i have time i wil remove the ERG valvue and check that out.
But for now im a verry happy Pontiac Trans sport driver.

:lol:i own a 94 trans sport just take paper clip put in the a and b of the obdi make sure nothing is on turn key to and read the flashes on the service engine soon first is 1 flash then 2 .it will do that 3 times so will the codes after that you know you are down when it goes back to the 1 flash then 2 shut car off pull out paperclip send me the codes and i will tell you whats wrong