Airbrush Online

I'm going nuts with this van. Here's the story.

1991 Chevy G-20 350 engine 4 spd OD tranny.

See my post about checking the oil.... I spun a bearing or 3 because the oil cooler lines in the radiator were leaking and I didn't notice it. Even with the spun bearings, the engine had plenty of power and had none of the problems listed below.

Here goes:

I keep getting computer codes 13 and 22. Code 13 is the oxygen sensor and code 22 is the TPS. The TPS has been changed. It went from a code 21 to a code 22 at that point. The code 13 comes after 2 minutes of highway driving. The oxygen sensor seems to be working, it's something else that is setting the code.

I can drive all day long without the engine light coming on if I drive on local streets. Once I get on the highway or even drive a long stretch with no stop signs or traffic lights, the light comes on after 2 minutes.

Also, there's no power when it warms up. When cold, it seems to have nearly full power. Also, when cold, the tranny does not shift out of low until it revs to about 9,000 RPMs. After the first shift, it gets better. When it warms up, there's no kickdown. The TV cable has been adjusted several times. I got it alot better than it was at first, but it's still not right. The tranny is full and the fluid is red, not brown.

At highway speeds, no matter how hard I step on the gas, it will not downshift and will not go any faster for awhile.

Well, the tranny problem eventually resolved itself. The tranny exploded...... I never did solve the engine code issue. I just pulled the bulb instead. It's been driving fine for 2 years, without once stalling or any other problem becoming evident..... Just one mnore reason I believe computrers have no place in a moving vehicle.

TRhe computer finally fixed itself, it melted...... It took part of the wiring harness with it. I replaced the ECM and about a foot of the harness. The van runs.... This problem started when the van just shut off like I turned the key.... I had no fuel, so I replaced the filter. That got me fuel, but still no start... I checked for spark, there was none. It had spark when it had no fuel.... I pulled the distributor cap. The rotor caw in pieces and the cap was cracked inside. The center contact post was bent like I pried it with pliers..... Changed the cap and rotor, got a half-hearted start.... Checked the plugs, 5 of 8 were fouled, but that wasn't the worst part. The spark plug wires were all burnt. Not from exhaust heat, they were burnt internally. These were less than a year old, as were the plugs. I replaced all the plugs and wires, still no go. It started, but not really..... I then checked under the seat and found the computer had melted. No outward signs, I just couldn't pull the plug out of it. When I managed to get the plug out, that's when I found the damage. The plug had melted to the computer. I'm guessing the ground came loose, as the mounting bracket was removed by the previous owner to fit a cd changed under the seat. The computer used to get its ground though the mounting bracket. I found this issue a long time ago and ran a 10 gauge ground wire from the computer to the seat mounting bracket, but I think it may have come off. Hard to tell as it was melted also.

Now, the van runs, but it will not idle normally and it has a major misfire under hard acceleration. If I hold the gas pedal down slightly at idle, it idles fine. The misfire also goes away if I don't let it idle on its own. I've been told (and thought so myself, but didn't think to check it yet) the air control module might be bad. I did replace this once before, but I suspect everything connected to the computer at this point.

Bad luck. Damm

Bad luck should be my name......

Wow. No words.

Bad luck. I should have that tattooed on my forehead.

Definitely