Grand Am Off Topic Thread

At 5 this morning I had -6, I dont know what it was with the wind but it was freezing !
My truck almost didnt want to start, injectors froze :eek:
I have a heat lamp on the intake tonight, hopefully that'll take care of it.
Though its -16 right now, 18mph wind makes it -34F!
At least tomorrows Friday !! :D

Heat wave tomorrow, it is going to be 7 above zero.

:lol:
Yeah I'll be happy with anything above zero. :grinyes:

Saturday is going to be even warmer, it is going to be in the 20's.

I hope it gets in the 20's that will be a heat wave. lol

I think we're going to get more snow first of the week. Hard telling though, I think these weather guys are guessing 99% of the time. :dunno:

The weather people get it right maybe 10% of the time.

I think I can predict it better then that by just opening my front door. :lol:

It was damn cold this morning, -22(thats about -40 with the wind) now its a balmy -17(-38 WC).

My inferred heat lamp dont the trick over night!
Though I had to go pick up my kids cause my sons Sunfire died on the way to school. Think the fuel was contaminated with water and clogged the injector(s) with ice. :screwy:
Seems to be running fine now that its here in the garage.

TGIF !!!

It is -17 here now. The heat wave is coming. I guess I have been very lucky I have yet to have any issues with contaminated gas or frozen injectors. Never had to put a heat lamp on them. I do remember a old Rambler with the push button transmission. My parents had the car and one winter had to use a hair dryer on the buttons, they had froze and the car would not shift in to gear.

Did you see the plane crash in to the Hudson River in NY. All the passengers and crew survived.

Yea the heat wave is hear. lol
ok, its only 16 but thats much better then the negative temps.

Yeah I heard about the plane crash, they were all lucky! Pilot had to be damn good to land with no engine power. I cant see that plane being a very good glider.
I alos cant believe that new of a plane just crapped out from a few birds sucked into the engines. Wont be riding any of these planes any time soon. :grinno:

I see that Alabama is colder than Alaska. It is 18 degrees now.

Yeah when it was subzero here it was warmer then Alaska.
My sister called me the other day, she lives in Alabama, thier water pipes froze.
She wanted to know if a blow torch would work to thaw them out. :grinno: I told her a heat gun or hair dryer would be safer.

Got a little snow yesterday/lastnight, nothing to write home about.

I've been watching how cold it was in the northest. My mother-in-laws pipes froze at her house. I'm sure you've been busy with cars at your shop XI. Probably a lot of dead batteries going around. My father has been battling with his Vue. he got a new battery in since his died and now he can't get the radio unlocked. He's trying to avoid bringing it to the stealership if he can.

Unfreeze the pipes and burn down the house. The supply line to my dishwasher froze here also. The warm up here now the pipe is unfrozen. I am going to have to pull the dishwasher and the corner cabinet to fix the pipe from freezing anymore.

I've had the typical winter work, but this time around I have twice the customers.
A lot of its been car heaters not working. Like 8-10 yr old cars thats never had the coolant changed or the system flushed.

Yeah I hate pipes that are burried and need worked on or replaced from freezin. :(


Speaking of cooling systems, a guy brought in his 2000 stang(3.8) last firday and it had no heat. Asked me if I thought it was the thermostat, I told him hard to say. So he left then came back yesterday saying he changed the thermo and still no heat so he dropped it off. Well I pull it into the shop and let it cool down.

Pop open the radiator and thier was ZERO coolant or anything in there. :lol: So I pressurised the system and found the thermo had fallen a little and the thermo housing didnt seal, leaking. After piddling around I find it does have some coolant(about 1/2 gal) in the block.
So I went ahead and flushed the system.... you wont believe what I found , thier was a dead mouse in the upper radiator hose. :eek:
After a couple hours of work, it had heat. Then when the guy comes to pick it up, I hand him the bill and he flips out! It wasnt that high but obviously he thought so. :lol: I just told him thats what happens when you dont maintain your automobile, he agreed he hadnt done anything to it since it was new, then paid me. :smokin:

Its supposed to be a sultry 35 deg today. :iceslolan
Have a great weekend everyone!

No heat in a car does suck, especially in the dead of winter...... I can't believe you found a dead mouse! :eek7: Wow and in the radiator hose to top it off... i don't want to know how it got all the way in there.... that's crazy! Well we finally got our tire taken car of... no more air in the tire every other day... or so we hope.

My question is how did the mouse get into the system. I had a tire like that finally made PEP Boys replace the tire and no more problems. Speaking of PEP BOYS, Forbes is saying that will be closing more stores. Forbes thinks that they not make it to the end of the year.

It was only a nail in our tire that caused the leak... it's been their awhile but once we got the tires rotated and that one made it to the front it went down 10x faster. Damn engine weight.

Pepboys is doing that bad? I never liked going to them since i never can seem to get help from the parts department. they all seem to flee like cockroaches when someones walks in. Anything else ( on the shelf items) i normally got without an issue. I normally prefered Napa or Strauss for any ordered parts. I never EVER brought my cars in their for service. Only once and i hated how i they treated me. Strauss wouldn't do the work and pepboys gave me an attitude... and some companies wonder why they do so bad.

On my tire that was something wrong with the bead. It was bent and would not seal properly to the rim.

I hav eno clue how a mouse would get into the cooling system. Only way is when he changed the thermostat if he left the hose off overnight, could have crawled in there. :dunno: It wasnt decomposed(or smelly) so it hadnt been there long, it probly drank some antifreeze and got intoxicated then lost in the hose. :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NZ9X9A2efA&NR=1

:screwy:

hey XI, would you know off the top of your head the idle vac pressure for our 3400?

lately Ive been noticing that I reach to 0.0 vac fairly easy these days according to my aeroforce gauge...

tomorrow Ill post up my new DTC codes, SES light came on.

from what I can tell... crank position sensor is acting up :( and I have a running too rich code as well... my guess would be because of the CPS acting up?

theres some others also, prob BCM junk cause my security light still comes on randomly

Ill. governor's own words to haunt him at trial. He had secret recordings. On Monday he was on the View. What he is doing is to try his impeachment trial in the media. He thinks it will get him off and not serve any prison time and continue to serve as ILL governor. FAT CHANCE:loser:

Ill. governor's own words to haunt him at trial. He had secret recordings. On Monday he was on the View. What he is doing is to try his impeachment trial in the media. He thinks it will get him off and not serve any prison time and continue to serve as ILL governor. FAT CHANCE:loser:

that guy looks goofy :iceslolan hair looks like a man's wig :rofl:

idk about going around in the media about the situation while his case is being taken care of in court :screwy:

hey XI, would you know off the top of your head the idle vac pressure for our 3400?

lately Ive been noticing that I reach to 0.0 vac fairly easy these days according to my aeroforce gauge...

tomorrow Ill post up my new DTC codes, SES light came on.

from what I can tell... crank position sensor is acting up :( and I have a running too rich code as well... my guess would be because of the CPS acting up?

theres some others also, prob BCM junk cause my security light still comes on randomly

WIth the engine warm it should be between 7-22 in hg. the reading should also be steady, not bouncing all around.
If you dont have drivability issues and its reading 0 you could have a small vac. leak.

Yeah the Ex. Gov of Ill is going to loose this one. :loser: :iceslolan

Looks like south of me is getting a punding of snow and freezing rain!

.. I think I see some of that coming my way. :cool: :evillol:

http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=ind&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=yes

Not getting any snow here yet, but it looks like it is on the way. The governor is dumb as dirt. The hair dew is call a pompadour.

WOW did we get lucky on the weather, just got a couple of inches of snow. No sleet, no rain, and no freezing rain.

The good old Gov is trying every trick he can think of(which is not much) to stop the impeachment process. He is acting like a little kid, pointing his finger at every one else and saying you're no playing fair.:uhoh: :crying:

I got about 4-5in of snow, with a little wind. Had some nice drifts down the road. Southern Indiana got pounded with snow, and Ice. Over 100000 peoples without power down south. That realy sucks in the winter, usualy means no heat also.

so my crank position sensor needs to be replaced.... and so does the fuel take pressure sensor... the one that goes on top near the fuel pump.. it gave a high AND low voltage reading... along with running rich lol

well at least its just some sensors... Ive been wondering why since I had my fuel issue... and got the new pump... Ive since then always had to prime the fuel before I could start *shrug*

Blagojevich 'begs' senators at impeachment trial (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/csp/sbc/hp/pcm/blagojevich_begs_senators_at_impeachment_trial/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/illinois_governor_impeachment):loser: :loser: :loser: .

He has done nothing wrong, and he will furnish witnesses that will testify to that. How much will they be paid to lie for the Governor.

It is done, good riddance to bad rubbish, and don't let the door HIT YOU IN YOUR ASS. :rofl: :iceslolan :lol2:

Blagojevich is a douchebag!!! Im sure we havnt heard the last of him. :rofl:

BTW the N body sections are going bye bye very soon. :wave:

Did not know that, he can not hold any type of politcal office in IL.

I doubt he'll be running for any office state or federal. :lol:

He will probably become a political analyst.

I bet he gets hooked on crack and shots someone. :dunno:

You are probably right. It will definitely be a soap opera. It will be very fun to stand back and watch.

Now it is going to cost 14k to fix the Toll Road Plaza signs that have his name on them. What a pompous ass.

$14k ?! A can of spray paint is $2. lol

I just seen where kentucky and the east are hurtin from all the ice. Still no power and they say they might not get any for up to 6 weeks. Hypothermia isnt good!! :grinno:

I saw that too, with the high price for electricity it should not take that long. At least at my house I have two fire places that I can put into service I would not be cold. But since we have a well and septic would have to go to a hotel. When is the n-body forum closing.

Why are the N-body sections going byebye?

You got to be fucking kidding me. He is whining that he has to sell his big house and get one that he can

afford.http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_orkXxp0bhEA/SUO22eQX7LI/AAAAAAAAOX0/fWKOM6dncU4/s400/081214-free-blago2s.jpg

How could a Gov. be broke :confused:

On the N body, its closed for posting and it'll be gone as soon as Admin. deletes the pages/links above in GA.

I will start posting in the GP off topic forum. Here is a good one. Daschle apologizes for failing to pay taxes, he owed over $120k in taxes. Just like former Chicago Mayor Washington. Forgot to pay taxes for 5 years. It was just a small oversite. You know how it is just don't sweat the small details. If it was any one else they would be in jail.

save your how to tutorials XI!!!

Yeah I heard about those jokers owing back taxes. If it was me they'd want it all paid back pronto. :disappoin

Yeah Ive saved everything from the N body section and moved it to the Tips & maintenance section. That stuff took quiet some time to put it all together. :grinyes:

It just makes it easier to go thru everything . And less complicated for those posting who dont have a clue what body style thier cars are.

Yea more snow on the way.

P0172 - System Adaptive fuel too rich - Fuel Trim System Rich Bank 1
P0341 - Camshaft Position sensor circuit - Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Performance
P0452 - Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Circuit Low Voltage - EVAP fuel tank pressure sensor low input
P0453 - Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Circuit High Voltage - EVAP fuel tank pressure sensor high input
P1610 - Loss of PZM Serial Data
P1626 - Theft Deterrent Fuel Enable Signal Not Received

Ok, any idea of what I should do? lol

or what might be pissing off the other? lol ... My guess would be the CP Sensor is slipping or has a bad circuit, and the system is dumping more fuel in so that it doesnt run lean... and my fuel take pressure sensor is just crazy and needs to be replaced (might explain why I need to prime the key 2-3 times before I get on my way to anywhere) I can hear the fuel pump prime up to where I know it'll be cooperative and run the car at start lol.

loss of PZM data... ehhh BCM related XI you think? The only thing the last 2 codes do is throw my security light on and disables my cruise control !

it seems like it's time to trade up gir. :rofl: I think your ideas of what maybe pissing off the other sounds reasonable. good luck with all the repairs.

$168 later, knocked out two codes...

P0452 - Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Circuit Low Voltage - EVAP fuel tank pressure sensor low input
P0453 - Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Circuit High Voltage - EVAP fuel tank pressure sensor high input
P1610 - Loss of PZM Serial Data
P1626 - Theft Deterrent Fuel Enable Signal Not Received

is now whats left after doing a code reset.... the first one to show was the 0453 .. then 452 .. and then my security light came on for the other two...

wonder if that sensor may be linked with my security light coming on... my old crank position sensor was cracked! and had oil in it lol... I opened it with a hammer, just a magnet?

getting to it wasnt really difficult at all, 3 bolts to the power steering all hidden in the pulley, mount the motor on some rubber and 2x4 so it'll stay up... took the motor mount off and wala.. its right there being held by 1 bolt... came out sorta easy, after a chunk broke off lol

I also replaced my pcv vac line... connects to pcv valve, uim, then the little box in the back... I noticed a little difference, vac leaks are no fun.

Edit: here is a helpful tip I just found... since my gauge can display both!

If you have a scan tool, look at the Short Term Fuel Trim (STFT) and Long Term Fuel Trim (LTFT) values. Normal range is plus or minus 8. If the numbers are +10 or higher for STFT and LTFT, the engine is running LEAN. If you rev the engine to 1500 to 2000 rpm and hold it for a minute or so, and the STFT value drops back down to a more normal reading, it confirms the engine has a vacuum leak at idle. If the STFT value does not change much, the lean fuel condition is more likely a fuel delivery problem (weak fuel pump, restricted fuel filter, dirty fuel injectors or a leaky fuel pressure regulator) than a vacuum leak

yeah Gir the 1610 and 1626 cuold have been set by the FTP sensor being bad. Thats what you replaced wasnt it ?

grfnkl is right too, its a buyers market right now on cars and housing.

I'd love to have a new vehicle :grinno:

yeah Gir the 1610 and 1626 cuold have been set by the FTP sensor being bad. Thats what you replaced wasnt it ?

grfnkl is right too, its a buyers market right now on cars and housing.

I'd love to have a new vehicle :grinno:

Nope, just the crank position sensor... just filed my W2s... ill use it to fix that sensor later... its not preventing me from driving at the moment, and it's not making the car chug gas lol...

After using that tip above... I have a vac leak still, and I'm running lean.. my long trim bank1 at idle goes to -14, and sometimes -22ish ... my short trim b1 goes up for a little bit then settles back down to 0 :uhoh: I get another hose on thursday to swap it out... the one that connects to the air duct to the rear valve cover...

yeah the crank sensor is barried in there pretty good. Pulling the crank pulley is a PITA too. If it comes loose it can catch the pulley and damage the reluctor rings. :2cents:

Both the pcv hoses are trouble spots IMO. If they dont seal on top of the TB and in the rear valve cover they'll suck air. since youre getting new ones they should fit tigher then the old worn out ones. Your FTs are a little shaky. lol

Hey anyone hear about those road signs getting hacked ?

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/bto/20090123/Zombies_Ahead_610x479.jpg

A couple weeks ago on 65 I saw one going south that said "watch your speed" . On the way back the one on the other side of the road said "watch for falling trees: I didnt think much about it till today. :lol:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10149229-52.html

Pretty easy to hack and reset the password if you cant gues it. http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/274/1/

:evillol:

yea, that picture you found happened here actually in our state first, then I saw a story in IL about it happening too lol something about raptors... that one in the pic I saw, it was when we had icey weather conditions and ice was forming on the road :) ppl here dont know how to drive in it.. I have 'some' experience but its better than most... I once had to drive 45mph all the way to work lol


I replaced the vac hose that goes from the air duct to the rear valve cover and it made a little more difference as well.. than the pcv hose one... my car idled high for about 3mins or so then dropped down to 700 or so...

I went thru a laser carwash the other day and now my car doesnt automatically unlock once the car is shut off lol, guess I got water somewhere bad... for a little bit it was freaking out locking/unlocking the car rapidly. I unhooked the wet switch on the passenger side and let it dry over night hanging up-right... I need to seal my right side mirror.. guess water is now getting through the crack :banghead:

2 more codes, TPS now.... I knew this would be a problem later if it shows up... and lucky me it showed up lol

P0122 - Throttle Position (TP) Sensor Circuit Low Voltage
P1122 - Throttle Position (TP) Sensor Circuit Intermittent Low Voltage

think they're like $34... not sure

Some one has been hacking the signs. I think that they are accessed by cell phone.

Some one has been hacking the signs. I think that they are accessed by cell phone.

:cwm27:

most of the boxes are usually left unlocked, Some have computer pads or keyboards built/installed inside ... on certain models by a certain company (they have the most units out there) have a default password that you can find easily online, along with the method of... If the workers were ever to change the password, theres a way to reset it back to the default password :evillol:

I did not know that. I know some of the signs used in IL have cell antennas on the top of the sign.

I did not know that. I know some of the signs used in IL have cell antennas on the top of the sign.

Never seen those before... those might have some wifi or cell stuff like you said then.

yeah the link above to ihack tells how most I see are hacked.
Its so easy a caveman could do it. lol

On the ice/snow driving around here, its nothing to drive 30mph for 20 miles because someone doesnt know how to drive. :headshake
Peoples realy freak out when you start passing them. The hardest part is getting over that center pile of snow without taking anyone out. :eek7:

It was in the 40s today, snows going to melt by next week. Probly still some snow mountains in the parking lots.

Have a great weekend everyone! :smokin:

I havent really seen it done yet BUT, what info does anyone know about aftermarket radiators for our grand ams? I was looking at one website... it was a ready-rad high performance radiator.. I really need to take care of a coolant flush and I was wondering if I should spend some of my tax money towards that... either way it needs to be car related to keep it running lol. I tend to find key points that'll ALSO improve performance lol. Like I did with the MSD coils heheheh

thier are several companies making radiators.
Ready-Rad is good, Be Cool is another.

Some (aluminum ones) might need some work to fit though. Usualy the rubber mounts need MODified to acept the thicker radiator.
Any ALL metal radiator is far superior to the stock ones. They have plastic end caps that over time swell and shrink till they crack open.
Remember these do come out via the bottom of the car.

Man its been warm as hell here ! Snows all melted, leaving behind lovely mud! :D
Was out in the woods earlier today and got me 250 Kaw. stuck for a minute or two. lol I had just told my kids to not get to muddy and I was coverd! :rofl: Then I had to spay everyone/thing off w/power wash! :evillol:

Yea for the weekend! :p