DIY problems, '90 APV, help?

[mopar_or_no_car]

Hi, I own a 1990 Lumina APV 3.1L with 23X,XXX miles on it. Since I acquired the van it leaked oil, but recently it has lost about a quart every two days. I'm thinking there's a gasket blown someplace, but could it be something else? The engine looks like it has oil spilled all over it, and I don't want to give up on this thing - it's my first vehicle and a great party car! Anybody have any idea whats wrong?

Also, on a minor note, the rear window wiper hasnt worked since I've had it. I'm going to take apart the dash to repair a broken wire for my cruise control today and I was wondering if there was a relay or connection to look for. Lastly, my horn blows fuzes faster than I can replace them, any info on that?

And how do you adjust the idle? She idles at like 1200 RPM.

Thanks so much for taking the time to help this ameture do-it-yourselfer!

and proud of it!!

[jeffcoslacker]

My guess on the oil loss is the plug in the top of the motor where the distributor dropped in before the DIS came out. (I assume yours is distributorless, bit I don't know.) When that o-ring on the plug went bad, they throw lots of oil around.

Could be a bad oil pressure sensor, they blow all kinds of oil, could have blown an end seal on the intake manifold too. Probably have to take it to the car wash and clean it up, then see where it starts leaking from.

Kind of mileage you got, it probably needs a timing chain real soon, it'd be nice if your leak was the timing cover, then you could fix two things at the same time.

After you clean it up, use a mirror to look all around it and try to spot the leak.

Can't really help you with the electrical issues, too many variables and can't remember how the systems were on those.

Idle is ECM controlled, if it's too high, you have to find out why the computer thinks it needs to be. Idle air control stuck or faulty temp sensor are common.

[mopar_or_no_car]

Hmm...I wondered why that plug...sensor...thingy was loose, I can pull the thing out with one hand!

What did you mean about the distributor?

What side of the engine is the timing cover located?
On the passenger side is the accessory belt, the drivers side is kind of bare...and there's no oil on the belt side, just on the front and drivers side (possibly rear, I can't see back there very good, but there is a semi-loose hose on that side last I checked) The oil pressure sensor does sound right, and since I just double checked and saw a large oil spot circling the sensor - which leads down the front - I know that's the problem!




Won't a pressure washer mess with any electrical connections? I'm a bit leery on that one, but it seems safe enough. (or did you mean an automatic car wash?)

Thanks a million Jeff! I totally forgot about loose connections. Oh, one more thing. There is a hose missing that goes from the intake to a pipe jacketting another pipe that wraps around the engine, does that have anything to do with cooling? I should probably get that connected before I go spraying hot, soapy water in there.

Now to go get a FSM for the other stuff, anybody know where to download one?

Again, thanks so much for the help!