Help me fix up a good car.

[tommy_boy]

Hello all,

I am new to AF, but have searched the Lumina forums high and low, and must say that the peeps on this forum know what they are talking about. But, enough with the brown-nosing.

I own a 1997 Lumina LS, and want to restore it. There are some internal issues, but nothing that I cannot fix. I think.

1. Bucking on acceleration.--Upon acceleration from a dead stop, it buck horribly. If I put my floor through the floorboard, I could get enough power to get up in the range, and at about 35 mph it would stop and ride smooth. Reading several other posts, my conclusion is that it is the TCC. Sound about right? I have replaced the plugs with 100,000 mile plugs, replaced the wires, the throttle control. I took it to the dealership, and they said that is was the main computer. Dealer estimante: 600.00

2. Shortly after the bucking started, I lost my gas gauge, and the needle doesn't bounce, but if you turn the key on to ACC, it will give you a pretty accurate reading, but when you turn the car on, it goes up to full tank. I think I just need to drop the tank, and replace the reader. Any suggestions? Dealer estimate 800.00

3. The lights behind the gauge cluster seem to be going out. The one behind the Tach. is burnt out I believe. Any thoughts on if I should just replace it original, or if there is something more....interesting I can put in there?

Well, that is all, everything else, I think I can do myself and is pretty self explanitory.

Thanks

[gw84]

As far as the driveability problems go, that's up to you: if you think it's fixable and worth the money, then it may be worthwhile to fix. The bulbs are a relatively simple fix and there are different alternatives to that stock cluster; I saw a Lumina LTZ on the net, that had some insert that made the area behind the guages light up like flames, pretty cool; you might look into that.

[tommy_boy]

Thanks for your reply. I have finally decided what I am going to do, and I am going with the indiglo blue cluster for the gauges. Think I am going to leave the climate controls stock, or put in blue bulbs. I am going to completely fix the car up, as it is one of the best cars I have ever had, will put it up on Cardomain.com and keep you guys posted. Thanks again.

[ricebike]

Originally Posted by tommy_boy

... I took it to the dealership, and they said that is was the main computer. Dealer estimante: 600.00

goto a u-pull-it salvage yard & replace the unit... much cheaper that way...

OBD II? have autozone do a free trouble code scan... Or lookie here to verify it yourself!

post your findings/ curious to C if the dealer was correct

[tommy_boy]

Thanks for your help. The code was P0300 which is misfire on multiple cylinders. Had that code pulled when I went in for my emissions test. Reading through the forums from 2003 (when this problem started), I found several other people who had the same type of problem as me, and thier problem was the Cat. Converter. I am going to replace it this weekend, and will keep you apprised of my results. And yes, my car is an OBDII.