[V8] WOT - the return! Other minor problems 4.2 V8Q

[Buchholz, Steven]

... responses interspersed with excerpts of original post ... 

> the deal?  Again, now the car seems to have no
> problem.  Is it likely that the cruise control rod is
> sticking somewhere?  The cruise doesn't function as of
> now. 

... at this point my recommendation would be to remove the linkage
completely just to remove it from consideration.  As the CC does not
appear to be working it doesn't sound like it will be that much of a
loss.  Disconnect the rod at the bell crank ... and to be sure you can
remove the rod and vacuum motor.  
> 
> works.  The climate system does work, but no air at
> all comes out of the top of the dash.  This could get
> tricky in the winter (already has on Friday, when it

I'd suspect the brushes on the blower motor for the lack of airflow into
the cabin ... check the archives for more info ... there's a pretty
simple procedure that will likely get the blower going on a short to
mid-term basis.  

> was humid and rainy here!).  Cruise doesn't work, and
> the locks don't work - I can lock the car up from
> inside, or I can lock the driver's door from outside,
> but the other locks won't function with the key.  They
> do lock from inside though.  Strange.  Still has a

... it is a bit hard for me to determine what is and isn't working from
your description ... the older cars had a problem where a piece inside
the lock mechanism would break, but I thought that was fixed by the
4.2s.  You should be able to lock and unlock the entire car from the key
locks on the driver's and front passenger's doors ... and I suspect that
the 4.2 V8s have the same switch on the driver's door panel that my 1991
3.6 has.  If you have this, the manual lock knob on the doors will only
lock and unlock the one door, there is no mechanism to activate the
pneumatic system (as there was on the old 5000s).  Do you ever hear the
bi-pressure pump running?  If so, does it run for a long time without
doing anything?  If that's the case you've got a leak somewhere.  

> one member suggested oxygen sensor?  ABS OFF light is
> on.  I'd like to have the ABS operational, if
> possible.  Ideas?  When I was under the car yesterday,

ABS troubleshooting takes a bit of work ... there are a couple simple
things to verify ... the ABS depends on getting the field signal from
the alternator, and there is a power relay in the relay box ... if it
isn't one of them you may well be looking at a new ABS controller ...
and perhaps a wheel sensor based on your reported fire ...

> there is a bracket under the caliper which has a plug
> on it, and two wires coming out.  The wires on both
> sides are cut - are these the ABS sensors?   

... nope!  This is the wiring for the wear sensors ... this has nothing
to do with the ABS off light, but it should mean that you are getting a
wear sensor alarm on the diagnostic display in the instrument cluster.
You can make this go away by attaching the two wires together.  

Good luck!
Steve B
San Jose, CA (USA)