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A few decent questions-the burn victim.

Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: Technical Topics Forum
Forum Name: Technical Questions and Discussions
Forum Description: Got a technical question about your fiero? ask it here.
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1339
Printed Date: 24 November 2024 at 8:04am
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Topic: A few decent questions-the burn victim.
Posted By: Guests
Subject: A few decent questions-the burn victim.
Date Posted: 26 May 2009 at 4:39pm
here are the questions that have been a-rising as i get more familiar with my new fiero.

are the factory tachs very accurate? it shows that i am idling at like 1700 usually, but it sounds more like 700, and looks like im shifting at about 5 grand all the time, which im not....usually.

im getting some 100rpm or so idle hunting, is it usually caused by vacc leaks and faulty iac valves in fieros?

my trunk release switch doesn't work, is that common, is there a strange probable cause or just connections? also same with my power mirrors, some directions work, some dont.

have to do my rear brake pads, is there anything odd or different than normal to do?

does anybody have any tips for getting at the plugs closest to the firewall? looks a bit difficult.


as i search deeper into the car im bound to find more little quirks, so this will be ongoing.

thanks in advance!



Replies:
Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 26 May 2009 at 5:44pm

Ok Tach sounds like someone shoved a 4cyl tach in there, if not, it needs to be replaced regardless.

9 times out of 10 hunting idle is exactly what you guessed, Vac leak, dirty or bad IAC.

Trunk release could be simply un-plugged. So owners don't like the fact that it is always HOT, and if your windows are down, someone can reach in and press the button to open the trunk without needing the key.

Rear Brakes, they are a pain in the A$$ plan on replacing the rear calipers, or take it to a shop and let them deal with it.  Unless you have a proper caliper turn in tool and patience.  Cheap 4 sided tool is useless.

Fire wall plugs are actually easy if you have long arms.  You can't see them, but you can feel for them and it gets easier over the years once you are use to it.

If you bring the car to the Tech Session the scan tool is available to members to use for a one time $5 fee.



-------------
Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.


Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 26 May 2009 at 8:23pm

Originally posted by 92rsrskyline 92rsrskyline wrote:

also same with my power mirrors, some directions work, some dont.

Probably worn and/or dirty contacts inside of the switch itself. It all comes apart. Makes for a fun afternoon.

Originally posted by 92rsrskyline 92rsrskyline wrote:

does anybody have any tips for getting at the plugs closest to the firewall? looks a bit difficult.

The first time I did it I thought the same thing.  It isn't difficult reaching them, honest. *

If you still think you need more room, you can always take off the decklid. (Unbolt it from the hinges.)

* Make sure you clean out all the crap (leaves, dirt, pieces of the neighbor's cat) from around the three forward spark plugs and then soak them down with PB Blaster at least overnight BEFORE you try and take them out. If the spark plugs haven't been removed for awhile, they're liable to be rusted solid in there. When re-installing plugs, make the job easier for the next poor sod (it might be you) and put anti-sieze compound on the plugs prior to installation.

 



Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 26 May 2009 at 8:23pm
wow! thanks so much for the great reply, very useful!

but rear brakes are really that bad?

and yes i am definitely coming to the tech session.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 26 May 2009 at 10:39pm
notha question, until what year will stock delco headunits just plug in?
thanks


Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 26 May 2009 at 11:16pm

 

        Head units I don't know the exact year change up, buy I know a lot of people have used the Trans Am GM CD Player as it lights up Orange like the stock Fiero deck.   I have a 99 Chevy Venture Van CD / Tape Deck combo that I'll be putting in my 88 some day.  Just sitting here in a box.  It does use different plugs and I was just going to go to the wrecker grab the stock plugs, then go find an Fiero Adapter harness and mod the 2 together.   That or just say to hell with the Stereo all together and go fully digital.  The wifes new Cell Phone has a nice digital FM Tuner and 4gb on-board music storage, all touch screen interface.  All in something the size of a credit card.  Kinda makes stereos almost seem useless.   (Yes I know I would have to then install amps into all the speaker channels in the car.

 

Now as to the rear brakes, lets see I have tried 3 seats of rear brakes, and 2 out of 3 ended up with the piston seal going south and leaking.  It primary cause is the 84-87 E-Brake systems are horrid.  Which leads to cables going bad and then people stop using the E-Brake.  if the E-Brake is not used, the mechanism inside the caliper that turns in and out sizes up.  You have to rotate the piston IN as you compress it, or remove the E-Brake arm from the caliper and hope the mechanism rotates as you press the piston in.  Unfortunately, it rarely ever works.   I won't even take the job on as a paid job.  Shops have a much better caliper turn in tool that actually loads the piston as it is turned in.     All of our personal 84-87 Fiero's have the rear grand am brake upgrade, which deletes the parking brake and hence no more problems.  My 88 does have a working parking brake, and it is to this day the Only Fiero that I was able to save the rear calipers.



-------------
Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.


Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 27 May 2009 at 6:45am
Originally posted by 92rsrskyline 92rsrskyline wrote:

notha question, until what year will stock delco headunits just plug in?


Pretty sure 'the change' happened in 92.

But either way, you can put any din and a half (1.5 DIN) Delco deck in there with a http://www.installer-parts.com/by_item.php?it=70-1862 - Metra adapter for the main harness , PLUS the antenna adapter (it got way skinnier).



Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 27 May 2009 at 8:01am
alright, i'll take the brakes into the shop.

and thanks for the link, that will be totally useful!


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 27 May 2009 at 5:53pm
Originally posted by Capt Fiero Capt Fiero wrote:

Now as to the rear brakes, lets see I have tried 3 seats of rear brakes, and 2 out of 3 ended up with the piston seal going south and leaking.  It primary cause is the 84-87 E-Brake systems are horrid.  Which leads to cables going bad and then people stop using the E-Brake.  if the E-Brake is not used, the mechanism inside the caliper that turns in and out sizes up.  You have to rotate the piston IN as you compress it, or remove the E-Brake arm from the caliper and hope the mechanism rotates as you press the piston in.  Unfortunately, it rarely ever works.   I won't even take the job on as a paid job.  Shops have a much better caliper turn in tool that actually loads the piston as it is turned in.     All of our personal 84-87 Fiero's have the rear grand am brake upgrade, which deletes the parking brake and hence no more problems.  My 88 does have a working parking brake, and it is to this day the Only Fiero that I was able to save the rear calipers.



i was wondering, is there a shop you would recommend i go to for fiero related work? more precisely, a shop that will install parts i brought, like my brake pads.....


Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 27 May 2009 at 6:39pm
(cough)





Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 27 May 2009 at 7:35pm
The semi suttle hint from the Dr. is his way of saying ME ME ME ME ME ME.  (The Dr. is doing side line Fiero repairs again)  Use to be his full time gig.

-------------
Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 27 May 2009 at 8:06pm
ahh yes, gotcha mate.


Posted By: kawana
Date Posted: 27 May 2009 at 10:27pm
Hey, where exactly are you located? Are you local?  If so, i wouldn't mind stopping by and helping with the plugs and brakes.  Ive done rear calipers and brake pads by myself with no prior experience, its not that bad.  If needed, i still have my "custom" shim i used to shim my calipers :P

Quote
Rear Brakes, they are a pain in the A$$ plan on replacing the rear calipers, or take it to a shop and let them deal with it.  Unless you have a proper caliper turn in tool and patience.  Cheap 4 sided tool is useless.


what do you mean a P.I.T.A?  Only real problem i recall was with bleeding, thats what took the majority of my time. 

edit:  nvm i see what you mean by caliper turn in tool, i just removed the ebrake.  I 2nd the part about using your ebrake often.  I had my ebrake seize on me.  Ended up having to replace both rear calipers and ebrake cables.. that wasn't fun.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 30 May 2009 at 10:10am
damn, got to get around to getting gt trunk torsion bar, new tach and drivers seat reclining handle too.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 31 May 2009 at 8:36pm
today i rerouted the shift cable, installed new plug wires and i would have been putting in an msd coil as well, but lordco's best price for me was $75! is that accurate? i also found out, by ripping open my center console and looking inside the ecu i have a ads superchip installed already! how much power should i have with that?

since installing k&n and plug wires, my car has lost character, it used to rumble and backfire alot, sounded sweet. now it is soo smooth and normal....
but its not like it didn't gain power, which it did, it pulls all the way from idle like a freakin boss! my old plug wires were a mismatch of red, blue and grey wires, 8mm and 7mm. the dude at lordco advised me not to get msd superconductors, but 8mm ngk ones, like, he didn't give me a choice! 


Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 31 May 2009 at 8:54pm

Hit up these guys.    http://captfiero.com/ppc/ - http://captfiero.com/ppc/    Sounds like you got a real doof at the parts counter.    I run the MSD Superconductors on my 88GT V6, My 857 GT V8, my wifes and my mothers Fiero's both have the MSD Premium Wires.   I know of at least 8-10 others that run the Superconductor wires, there a really good wire, the only drawback if you have to make the wires yourself.  They come in a kit that you have to cut, strip, attach and build them by hand.  

       As for the coil is should be around 50 bucks.  

If you want to get "raspy" sound, simply remove the cat and replace it with a straight pipe.  

                    The ADS Chip is actually costing you power.  They are horrid, the only chip that works well on a Fiero is a custom chip designed for your engine.   The only thing the ADS chips did was increase the timing, removed the Rev Limiter, and in some cases removed the EGR system.   If your car is stock, the stock chip is the best bet.       If you do continue to run the ADS chip, run 89oct gas as the minimum or retard your timing a bit. 



-------------
Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 31 May 2009 at 11:44pm
nice, thanks for the link, its exactly what i need! i cant believe that guy was gonna charge me $75 for that coil! but i've got new plug wires now, im just gonna stick with em.  if i new about this sooner i would have bought the msd coil, cap and rotor, and 8mm wires all together from PPC. are those superconductors worth almost double the price of other 8mm wires?

and i do have cat delete and egr delete already, also some kind of performance exhaust, im guessing the chip is tuned for use with egr delete because i get no check engine light, runs perfect.

after topping up clutch fluid and rerouting that shift cable stuck up in the hard vacuum line mounts, the shifts are so smooth!
Originally posted by Capt Fiero Capt Fiero wrote:

Hit up these guys.    http://captfiero.com/ppc/ - http://captfiero.com/ppc/    Sounds like you got a real doof at the parts counter.    I run the MSD Superconductors on my 88GT V6, My 857 GT V8, my wifes and my mothers Fiero's both have the MSD Premium Wires.   I know of at least 8-10 others that run the Superconductor wires, there a really good wire, the only drawback if you have to make the wires yourself.  They come in a kit that you have to cut, strip, attach and build them by hand.  

       As for the coil is should be around 50 bucks.  

If you want to get "raspy" sound, simply remove the cat and replace it with a straight pipe.  

                    The ADS Chip is actually costing you power.  They are horrid, the only chip that works well on a Fiero is a custom chip designed for your engine.   The only thing the ADS chips did was increase the timing, removed the Rev Limiter, and in some cases removed the EGR system.   If your car is stock, the stock chip is the best bet.       If you do continue to run the ADS chip, run 89oct gas as the minimum or retard your timing a bit. 



Posted By: Romeo
Date Posted: 02 June 2009 at 7:38pm
Well, someone may be able to offer more insight, but from what I know, electricity will always drop where resistence exists, so the less restrictive cables ensure that a high voltage ignition system stays high voltage, all the way to the spark plug. It's not unlike cranking open the valve on a garden hose, and squeezing the head full on, but then bending the hose itself. Even if every component is ready to go full on, the one weak point will restrict flow in the entirity of the circuit.

-------------
Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 06 June 2009 at 12:42pm
started my fiberglass work today!
 damn, before and after pics would have been cool...

also have a big list of stuff to get from the fiero store and rodney dickmans!


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 06 June 2009 at 8:18pm
went to performance parts center in langley and got the msd coil for $47, installed it too.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 06 June 2009 at 8:29pm
repair news, this was after the first layer of fiberglass:



added a couple of more layers in the cut out area now, but not worth showing. after a couple more layers tommorow i'll post a pic.


Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 06 June 2009 at 11:01pm
Are the brown areas where you've just glassed?

If so...  you're adding way too much catalyst to your resin.
Remember to use less when it's hot out/in direct sunlight.



Posted By: kawana
Date Posted: 06 June 2009 at 11:34pm
I think someone should mention, that the body panels are NOT fiberglass, they are reinforced composite plastic.  Ive heard of people having issues with cracking when putting fiberglass onto the plastic, not sure what you could do to prevent that. Just thought you should know before getting it painted.   Mind you, those panels dont really flex much, so it might not be an issue.


Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 06 June 2009 at 11:52pm

 

      Uhm unless I have been wrong for many years.  The hood, rear clip, trunk lid are all fiberglass, only the nose, rear bumper, door panels and side skirts are the plastic composite material.

 

 



-------------
Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 07 June 2009 at 12:23am
Originally posted by Dr.Fiero Dr.Fiero wrote:



Are the brown areas where you've just glassed?

If so...  you're adding way too much catalyst to your resin.
Remember to use less when it's hot out/in direct sunlight.



no, thats just the very edge of the fender where it still had a burnt colour. one thickness of fiberglass covers that 2 inches out on the body and underneath the fender.

Originally posted by Capt Fiero Capt Fiero wrote:


    Uhm unless I have been wrong for many years.  The hood, rear clip, trunk lid are all fiberglass, only the nose, rear bumper, door panels and side skirts are the plastic composite material.

 

exactly! if you saw the car in person at the last meet you would have seen all the loose fiberglass strands coming out.

thanks



Posted By: kawana
Date Posted: 07 June 2009 at 10:31am
Oh?  I stand corrected then :P


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 02 July 2009 at 11:18pm
not much has changed in the last while other than than periodical work on the fender i'll get some new pics up tomorrow as these ones are from about a week ago.

--ok this is strange, i am unable to copy and paste anything at the moment--

i just did a good proper exterior detail, nothing really major though, but 4 hours of work. the fender is also in primer now, but seeing how good the rest of car's paint is, i'm leaning towards getting this job finished right by an experienced professional. it would just be a shame to have my sub par bodywork job spoil the rest of the car.
any suggestions on what i should do?


Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 02 July 2009 at 11:44pm

Originally posted by 92rsrskyline 92rsrskyline wrote:

i'll get some new pics up tomorrow as these ones are from about a week ago.

--ok this is strange, i am unable to copy and paste anything at the moment--

I don't believe I've ever copied and pasted images here. Are you not using the "Image Upload" icon to post images? 

And make sure your images are no larger than 125kb (and preferably no wider than 800 pixels).

 



Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 11:20am
im just copying the photo with the img code from my photobucket and pasting it here. but i click copy and when i go to paste, its an old ass copy i did from like a few days ago??

ok, now it seems i just cant copy from photobucket for some reason.. thats how i always used to do it? why now?





Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 12:44pm





these are the pics from about a week ago.
still cant copy from photobucket properly even after restarting the computer.

but whatever, current pics will be up in about an hour.


Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 12:50pm

Originally posted by 92rsrskyline 92rsrskyline wrote:

ok, now it seems i just cant copy from photobucket for some reason.. thats how i always used to do it? why now?

Can't you put your Photobucket URL in the Image URL box within "Add Image"?

 



Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 3:23pm
i'll get this figured out somehow, but i dont know how else to explain. i'll right click, click copy, but then it pastes the last thing i copied, not from photobucket. 


Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 4:51pm
Hmmmm.....




Gonna have to say you're doing it wrong....
(as evidenced by the above two different pictures from photobucket!)

I hovered over the image, when the drop down auto-showed-up I clicked on the last line which highlighted it.  Hit Ctrl-C to copy it (not right clicking like you were doing) and pasted it in here.

I suspect they're using Java or something, and your right clicking is confusing it.



Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 5:55pm
aahh damn, sorry sorry, mistake. i dont right click and copy on photobucket, i just left click and it says "copied" and through the vast magical properties of science it worked for me, up until 2 days ago.

btw: i use a mac




Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 6:03pm

Originally posted by 92rsrskyline 92rsrskyline wrote:

btw: i use a mac

Well, there's the problem!

 



Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 6:35pm
Ok, well can't you command-C after it's highlighted itself?

You could also try flushing ALL your cache files.  Could just be a hickup somewhere.



Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 6:47pm
yep, ive tried ctrl+c, everything is normal except photobucket. everything else copies and pastes just fine.


Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 6:50pm
Clear cookies & cache.

(and after you've figured it out - I'm going to go delete happy on this thread just to make it readable again!)



Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 6:50pm

Why bother copying from Photobucket? Why can't you just upload images to the forum directly from your computer's hard drive like the rest of us?

 



Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 6:58pm


ive tried clearing all private data and still no luck though.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 7:12pm
isn't this a free country? haha!
but i use it for other forums too to be like everyone else there!
ive been on other forums where when you upload from hd, the pics just get put in a little box in your post where viewers have to click on them to see fullsize.

but sure i'll upload from hard drive here then.
       --then i found out the file has to be 125kb.

Originally posted by Patrick Patrick wrote:

Why bother copying from Photobucket? Why can't you just upload directly from your hard drive like the rest of us?

 



Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 7:16pm

fender doesn't look too bad now in primer, but still, i want to get it done professionally.


Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 7:23pm

Originally posted by 92rsrskyline 92rsrskyline wrote:

but sure i'll upload from hard drive here then.
       --then i found out the file has to be 125kb.

You mean no larger than 125kb.

Well yeah, I told you about that on page 1 of this thread.

 



Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 7:41pm
Aaaaaaand getting ready to invoke god like powers to delete at will.....


Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 03 July 2009 at 8:17pm

 




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