A New Formula In Our Stall

[GTRS Fiero]

I think someone suggested running it for a while, maybe with injector cleaner, to try to clean the injectors.  Of course, if the injector is bad...   I thought the plugs looked good.  If spark, but no fuel, I would expect the plug to show that.

[TopNotch]

I hadn't looked at the plugs since putting them in, so today I figured I'd try that. If you think changing the front plugs on a 2.8 (or 3.4) is hard, that's nothing compared to a 3800. The only way I can reach the plugs is from underneath, and there isn't much working room.
So I jacked up the rear and put it on jack stands and dove in. And there I found the problem. The wire to plug no. 3 was not on the plug, but hanging down. I don't know how that happened, except I may not have pushed the wire on enough. But I pulled that plug anyway. It looked new except a little wet as would be expected. I put in a new one anyway, and made sure all plug wires were on tight.
Then I fired it up. It runs smooth now. Still a little tap-tap (bad lifter?), but no missing.
I may just have to buy this thing (at a big discount due to all the parts and sweat equity I've put in it -- hint, hint), and tag it so I can take it on a decent test drive.
I don't know why, but I was under the impression that it was a Formula. I ran the VIN, and it's a base coupe. Quite an upgrade for a base coupe.

[scottb]

as a board member my vote is yes to Pat buying the car

[TopNotch]

I drove the car around the block this evening. The engine was quiet until I finished the drive, and backed into the driveway again. Then ti started making a very noticable tapping. Here's a recording.

[GTRS Fiero]

Nothing to do with the sound, but does it have a rear sway bar?

[GTRS Fiero]

Thie title for this topic will have to be changed.

[TopNotch]

Ran it briefly this morning and the tapping was quiet. I'll have to run it till it warms up this evening and see if it comes back. I put some Rislone in the oil to try to clean up the lifters.

[MikeMac]

I second Pat buying the car. Hopefully while its still running good

[TopNotch]

Here is an update on the car. First of all, i looked underneath, and there is a rear sway bar, so even though it started out as a base coupe, it has been Formula-ized.
I ran it until it got good and warm, and the loud tapping didn't come back, but there is tapping.
Now here's the weird thing. I bought a "new' toy on Ebay-- a used Snap-on MTG2500 scanner. It came with cartridges good for cars from 1980 to 2000. To test it, I tried it out on my duke coupe. I have been getting an occasional SES light while idling at a stop light. The MTG2500 said I have an idle air control problem. I started the car and watched it display RPM, throttle position, oxygen rich/lean, etc. So the MTG2500 works perfectly.
I connected it to the club car. It said "NO LINK". i used a meter to check the continuity of the wires between the PCM and the OBD connector. They're all good. I did a little research to make sure the wires go to the correct pins. They do. I tried dialing up different year models on the scanner. Always "NO LINK".
I would really like to know if the car is running properly, but I'm at a loss as to how to tell.
 

[GTRS Fiero]

Isn't the ECU OBD2?

[TopNotch]

Isn't the ECU OBD2?

OBD 1.5, the "Twilight Zone". The scanner is good for early OBD2, and just for the fun of it, I tried the 1996-2000 cartridges and programmed in a 1996  Park Avenue 3800. No luck.
To use the scanner, you insert the proper year range cartridges (one labeled "Primary", and one labeled "Troubleshooting"), program in a specific model, year, and engine, hook it up, and turn on the key. Then you can start the engine if you want to see "live" data.

[GTRS Fiero]

Hmmm.  I'm having a terrible time finding a scanner for an OBD whatever I have.

A 1996 is supposed to be OBD2.  What happens if you try 1995?

[Fierofool]

The 94 and 95 Park Avenue was the only years that didn't use the true OBD1 or OBD2.  That's why it's often referred to as the OBD 1.5.  Seems no one has a scanner to read the ECM.  Probably could only be found at a Buick or GM dealer.   That is, if they still have one around. 

[GTRS Fiero]

Supposedly, Oliver Scholz' reader will work.

Off and on, there is a scanner on abay.

[TopNotch]

Off and on, there is a scanner on abay.

That's where I got my MTG2500, and it's one of the best there is. Tomorrow i will put the original PCM back in (I still have the Ebay one in there), and see if it reads.