problems all of the sudden

[quinnjere]

wow it seems like everything is going wrong with my now, just today i noticed the abs like coming on and staying on, my car is runny rough (last time the same thing it was the fuel injector) probably another one out, and im leaking oil like crazy, and my alternator i just noticed makes loud noises hopefully just the belt. It is a 95 cutlass with 103,000 miles. and my tranny has bubbles on the stick and slips sometimes. what should i do with this car im 16 and this car just all of the sudden turned into a peice of crap, im trying to keep it running good. i check the oil everyday cause the leak. keep it or get rid of it?

ps i have to pay for everything myself and i can do most work myself with the help of my cousin

[95cutty]

yeah the abs light in mine wont go off either. havent had it checked and am not really worried about it. your car will still stop. the oil leak could be coming from many places. see if you can find it. try checking around the intake manifold. follow the edges of the gasket and see if there is any oil runs. also check your pcv valve. if it went out it can force oil out of the intake somewhere. its about 3 bucks at autozone. if not any of these find the tube on the top of your air filter tube. follow it to the back of the motor and make sure its sealed up. run your finger around it to see if there is oil. mine was coming out just enough to leak when i would drive it. it created a nasty drip though.

[quinnjere]

actually the first thing i changed was the pcv valve, i know the leak is coming from the lower intake manifold gasket. also this weekend i slid on black ice for about a block and hit a rock, i was going about 5 when i hit. i messed up my rim, ball joint, an dlower control arm.

[maxtone_witherball]

I also have a 95 cutlass 3.1L (133,000 miles)

1. ABS light comes on. Braking system requires parking brake to be set periodically for proper operation. Try setting and releasing the parking brake once a day and see if light goes out.

2. Fuel Injectors. Oh yeah. These are well known to get clogged in GM cars from mid 90's. Generic fuel injector cleaner has worked good for me though when one starts to misfire.

3. Leaking oil. I had same problem. It was the intake manifold. I would not get it fixed yet. Wait til your head gaskets blow, then do all at same time. Yes that's right, your head gaskets will fail soon - GUARANTEED. I made a post on this board about a year ago. Look it up. About $1000 to get replaced if you don't do it yourself.

[djnoname]

Lower ball joint replacement is as follows... grind off poprivets, undo bolt holding pitman arm in steering knuckle (15mm both sides) take fork (about $10) and place in between steering knuckle and ball joint pitman arm. Hit hard and seperate ball joint from lower control arm.

Never replaced a lower control arm but it looks like a couple of bolts, your gonna have to take off front sway bar and need a big ass socket. Doesnt look to fun.

maybe tighten down intake man bolts back to spec to try to gain a little time b4 your gaskets blow.

[quinnjere]

well i found out the part where the control arm goes on is cracked, totally sucks i cant fix that myself. I am going to take it to the shop and just have them fix it. im to depressed to work on it. Can i replace my head gaskets or whatever before they blow?

[pacmmk1]

quinnjere

i did the same thing to my 91 cutlass. broke the wheel, bent the lower control arm, tie rod, and subframe. i whacked the curb good! it was easier to replace the whole subframe unit (obtained at a junk yard for $60 with rack & pinion still in place). the hardest thing was reconnecting the power steering lines to the r & p unit. it was definately a whole lot cheaper that having some one try to repair it.

[quinnjere]

would it be possible to weld the spot that cracked, my cousin is incredible with cars and a welder. i took another look at my car i dont thing the control arm is even bent, kinda wish it was lol it would be easier to put new parts on, how much do you think i could get the sub frame off the internet, i m pretty sure they wouldnt have it at my junk yard unless it came off the 96 2 door cutlass. would that be the same one?

[pacmmk1]

i'm just guessing here, but i think most w-body cars would work. i got mine from a 93 lumina. everything was the same, except the power steering lines were bent different, but they still hooked up in the same place. but check first, and see if all the engine mount locations are the same. if you stay close to the same year as your car, you should find something. they are very plentiful..... if you buy on the net, shipping would be killer. that thing is heavy! junk yard is your best deal.

[quinnjere]

i went to the junk yard and they had the part, it was basically the hole front with all the arms already attached, it cost me 150. and 300 to have it put on. they also told me that there was a recall on the motor mounts or something and they are fixing that too. on a side note i blew out my spare and didnt have another that was fun. thank you all for your input ill be driving my car soon

[94cutsupreme]

I'm in the same situation...Only I have MORE things wrong with mine...I can't afford a new car right now so I'm just getting one after I earn money over the summer. I wouldn't suggest wasting your money...Once you fix one thing, another will break...That's how my car is anyway and it's a 94 Cut Supreme...