Messages

16

IHADAV8 Playground / Re: old equipment still in use

« on: June 05 2015, 12:39:40 AM »

And here I thought you were going to go on and on about your viagra habit.

No, I was going to start an "old equipment restoration" thread for that! 

17

General Buick Tech / Re: Newbie w. New GN

« on: June 04 2015, 10:28:02 PM »

I started car up a couple more times and no ses. Then I swapped in the following sequence. starting the car up to see if the see illuminates.

old      on
new.   On, restarted off
old.    On
new.   Off
old.    on
new.  off

Don't know what it all means but I'm working my way up to guru level at swapping ecms and ignition modules alike 

18

IHADAV8 Playground / old equipment still in use

« on: June 04 2015, 01:41:42 PM »

Here is my wheel balancer from the fifties I think

19

General Buick Tech / Re: Newbie w. New GN

« on: June 04 2015, 01:01:13 PM »

I moved the car again an

d the light was off.  I'll try swapping back to the old ecm to Ser what happens.

20

General Buick Tech / Re: Newbie w. New GN

« on: June 04 2015, 08:51:06 AM »

The "A" Connector in my ignition terminal  is a little suspect. It was recessed a little more than the adjacent connectors but I was able to adjust it back in line. I'm not sure how to decide it, but that blade that makes contact with the ignition module "A" male part, is a little mashed down.   I can't find a way to bend it back.

It always seemed to make contact when I worked through the dagnostic chart. and the see light was constant, so I didn't think it was the problem. Another development last night was when I moved the car the see light was out.. so maybe I need to eliminate that terminal as a possibility. Does caspers sell that part?

The problem predates the powerlogger.

21

General Buick Tech / Re: Newbie w. New GN

« on: June 03 2015, 04:06:29 PM »

I installed aother ecm over the weekend with the powerlogger too and the code 42 went away.   I drove the car a few miles and found the ignition breaking up some under boost which is a new development.

I pulled into the garage and the car stalled, restarted again, and that stupid check engine light came back on!!! Same code 42.
.
So in review, since installing the motor  I've been through 3 ecms and 2 ignition modules and am still getting a code 42 . Both  times when the ecm is replaced the code is temporarily fixed.

Anyone have any ideas?

22

Paint and Body / Re: 78 Malibu Paint

« on: May 29 2015, 11:00:54 PM »

For the rhs side post we cut out a section from an 87 regal first pic. Not sure why but the fit was off in second pic so I had to cut it down center and weld it up in third pic. Finished in fourth.

were done with rust repair now! Here's the door with filler being worked out.

23

General Buick Tech / Re: Newbie w. New GN

« on: May 27 2015, 11:58:04 AM »

I made a mistake in my previous post. When I probed the b4 terminal I had the key off when it should have been on. When I turned the key on the resistance dropped below 200ohms. So as it turns out my ignition module might be good. I ordered a new standard l.m. off the internet and it sfill didnt. fix the problem.

So here is the deal, the diagnostic flow chart states that a test light connected to 12 v should not illuminate when connected to the ecm d5 terminal. With either of my ignition modules hooked up my light illuminates, maybe not too bright though. The light goes out when I disconnect the module, so the circuit isn't grounded. I've tested the wiring other ways. and so I'm convinced the wiring is good.

So I think that either both modules have failed exactly the same or the ecm went bad again and my test light is too touchy. It will illuminate a little if I touch the probe with one hand and ground my other hand . Any ideas?

24

Paint and Body / Re: 78 Malibu Paint

« on: May 23 2015, 10:56:20 PM »

The rust repair is finally almost done. Only the rhs window post to go in the first picture. It's worse than the rhs that I repaired in the second pict. I noticed my gn has some rust in the same area,, too bad gm stuffs that area with foam or whatever causing the issue I think.

Since rain is forecasted for the next few days, we scrambled to get epoxy on the areas that need filler.. I sandblasted all the lap welds and a few rust spots today and sprayed the epoxy primer, making  sure to get the weld well coated. The last three pictures show the major areas that were primed, the quarters and doors. I used fiberglass filler to seal the welds for the unlikely event that some of my asked might have some porosity. 

I'm actually glad my phone is crappy because it hides some of my crappy welding and the fish eyes in the primer. We need to get the water out of the air lines.._

25

Paint and Body / Re: 78 Malibu Paint

« on: May 16 2015, 11:07:50 PM »

I'm really no body man either but I do enjoy it.  I've fabbed all the panels so far but I cheated because I have a sheet metal brake and shear. I have made panels without the machines but it's harder of course.  I match the gauge of sheet metal to match the car. I've been using 22 gauge which is about .028".

I struggle with the welding, but stitch it in like you said. I'm using 75/25 with .030"wire and a Miller multimatic 200 welder.  Id try .023 wire if I had some because I've still been getting some warpage with my current method. If I had to do it over I might have soldered in the doors at least, so that is something to think about too, I've had good luck not warping with solder. This one will have some filler needed to smooth it all out.

26

General Buick Tech / Re: Newbie w. New GN

« on: May 16 2015, 10:22:51 PM »

Steve, once again your site proves invaluable,so thanks again for all your expertise.  I got through the first position in the flow chart and I think I determined that, my ignition module was indeed bad. I probed the b4 terminal and found the resistance to ground to be 10,000 ohms. Then a checked the resistance to the I.M. wiring harness under the hood and it was two tenths of an ohm. Finally I measured resistance at the I.M. "A" terminal and it was off the meter high. So I'll be ordering a standard module ASAP. Once again thanks.

Tomorrow I may put in the PL if I get time.

27

Paint and Body / Re: 78 Malibu Paint

« on: May 15 2015, 09:43:34 PM »

Thanks!

Here is the quarter cutout, the repair  panel and it welded in place. I think the front side posts. are the final areas that need rust repair so well get to those soon.

28

General Buick Tech / Another Setback

« on: May 13 2015, 09:08:41 PM »

Because the general consensus was slightly  in favor of me installing the pl  I've had it since fall and kind of forgot, I fired up the car to back it outside and the stupid ses light was on!

So now I'm looking at a code 42 which as I remember was one of the codes I had before and solved with a new ecm awhile back.. I'm not sure what the best way to proceed is but I'm considering trying an ignition module. Id. have to get one from a part store and have heard they're hit or miss.

I've restarted it acouple times and it will fire and the ses light will go out when it does. Then the light will go on again after afew seconds.  Haven't driven since the light illuminated but the final time the ignition did seem to cut out for a second once.

29

General Buick Tech / Re: Newbie w. New GN

« on: May 11 2015, 10:26:21 AM »

I checked afs at cold startup today and I saw a 14 then it held at 15 and then worked its way down from there.

I bought an iac and snapped it while installing. Not sure it even bottomed before snapping.
Had to remove the snapped bit with an easy out.  In the mean time Icleaned the OEM iac and for now my starting issues have been solved.I haven't driven it that much so probably not really fixed.

I've driven the car some more to test it, keeping it under the speed where I saw the kr and low o2s and haven't seen any issues since. o2s are always more than 780 at wot and no retard. I haven't gone wot at highway speed which produced the kr before,, but I'm working up there gradually and making sure my o2s aren't lower than 780.Does this seem like a good strategy ? Also Ishould add that my fp is always solid .If I get time I'm installing the powerlogger..

30

Paint and Body / Re: 78 Malibu Paint

« on: May 08 2015, 09:57:43 PM »

Here is the half of the door bottom I made. It's welded in now but I'll have to post pics later.. Also the roof cut out and welded back in, I spent most of today on it and the rest grinding.  Quarter repair tomorrow.