[V8] Re: V8 Digest, Vol 6, Issue 4

[Jeremy Ward]

George,

Not sure what to say on the starter grinding...  Could be that the
solenoid isn't pushing the gear all the way into the flywheel teeth...
There is also a problem with our flywheel teeth getting eaten, which is
related to a failed Fuel Pressure Regulator ($50 part); one or more
cylinders fill up with fuel (with the car sitting in the garage) and
when you go to start it, it is unable to compress all that liquid and it
strips your flywheel teeth.  If this was the case, you would most likely
be getting an 'Engine Speed Sensor' fault code thrown (see below).

Automatic transmissions go into 'limp home mode' if they perceive a
problem.  It puts it in 3rd gear and keeps it there.  When this happen
it will usually light up all the letters on the dash (PRND321) but not
always.  When I was having problems with my idle switch, I got the limp
mode, but no lights.  Apparently there are some codes that turn the
lights on and others that do not.  You can pull the transmission codes
as well, same as the engine codes (again, see below).

Sounds like the issue with it dying might be the idle stabilizer valve.
You might need to clean the ISV with throttle body cleaner, or perhaps
you have a vacuum leak.  Vacuum hoses and hose clamps are very
inexpensive from the auto parts store.

First thing you will want to do is pull the codes (very easy to do).
Instructions can be found here:
http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/TROUBLE_SHOOTING/ecufv8.html  

If you have a California car (like I do), the check engine light is
already hooked up, so you won't need to build a resistor / LED test
lamp; just a jumper wire and watch the blinking Check Engine Light (and
blinking PRND321 lights).

Good luck,

- Jeremy

-----Original Message-----
From: v8-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:v8-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf
Of VERBRYCKJACK at aol.com
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2004 8:11 AM
To: v8 at audifans.com
Subject: [V8] Re: V8 Digest, Vol 6, Issue 4

My car is misbehaving after almost two years of flawless service. Here
are 
the symptoms for about a week sometimes when I go to start it the
flywhell 
starter grinds unless the car is jiggled. Next sometimes the car starts
great no 
problem then other times I must give extra gas to get it up and running.
After 
it is running no problem but yesterday I was driving and the car flet as
if it 
were in third gear only and even if I manually changed the gear no dice
. I 
went to the website to find the name of a mechanic I have talked to out
in the 
San Fernando valley and that part of the site is down. I guess I would
like 
help if this sounds like something common an I can do something or I
live in Long 
Beach California and would like to get in touch with a machanic locally,

since I have never had a problem and I change my own oil I have not had
to go to a 
mechanic since I bought the car almost two years ago! I bought my car
becuase 
while visiting my friends cousin in Austria we made some autobahn trips
to 
munich for oktoberfest in his V8 five speed . The car fully loaded up
and such 
we managed just under 170mph. I new I would have to get a V8 on my
return to 
the US, of course I wanted the 5sp but it soon became apparent that it
would 
probably not be possible I looked for about 6 months and then bought the
1990 V8 
auto that I have now. Funny thing is my friend Brend wanted an automatic
when 
he bought his V8 but according to him it is rare and he could only find
5sp's 
when he bought his car! In any case it would be greatly appreciated to
get 
either advice on how to proceed myself or if someone knows a mechanic in
the 
southren California area.Cheers George
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