The new life of the formula fastback

[Fierofool]

What was the cause and solution to the fuel tank vacuum? 

Pull the cover off the heater core, underneath the right side dash and see if there's coolant in there.  Have you cleaned out the heater blower and ballast resistor area, yet? 

BTW, I left a tach filter with Mike, also.  If it doesn't do the job for you, just return it and I'll put it back in stock. 

[GTRS Fiero]

For the fuel issue, is reads as if the pipe to the expansion tank/vapor canister is OK, but the vent on the filler tube is not.

When the alignment is done, they are supposed to check the ball joints and tie rods.  The alignment cannot be done properly if both aren't tight.  If the Fiero wanters while driving, that is the tires or the alignment; if it's play in the wheel, that's the rack or something in the steering shaft.

[GTRS Fiero]

Oh.  The alignment should also find bent suspension and issues with the control arms/bushings.

[Fierofool]

You might also be experiencing Berm Climb.  Both my cars try to climb the berms in the roadway where heavy trucks have made ruts.  The Fiero, being a narrower track, doesn't fit into the depressions where the big trucks run.  I find the problem almost entirely goes away when out in the two left lanes or on local roads.

[GTRS Fiero]

Are the left lanes concrete, and the other lanes asphalt?

We had the pulling issue with my wife's truck when the Cooper tires were rotated.  Just in certain places.  We couldn't find anything wrong with the alignment.  Rotated the tires back, all good.  Ended up replacing the tires with a different brand.

[Fierofool]

Trucks are prohibited from the two left lanes when there are four lanes or more going in one direction.  Asphalt compresses with constant heavy travel creating ruts so to speak.

[GTRS Fiero]

The logic of this escapes me.  Asphalt is in the right lanes of roads.  Big rigs destroy asphalt.  Cars drive on ashpalt.  Destroyed asphalt is dangerous for cars and must be fixed.  Fixing roads costs big money.  Pass laws to keep big rigs in right lanes.

[NoMad]

The fuel vacuum was the short line from the canister to the sender unit. A longer run of hose to change the angle and routing was enough to fix that.

I am planning to pull the filler neck and see if I can find any obvious kink or obstruction that might be causing the filling issue.

Ya, planning to look at the heater core and check for the usual leaks or inlet/outlet cracks that are common in GM of the era. That is hopefully going to happen this afternoon if I can find a few free moments.

The alignment should find stuff, but only if it is obvious. Minor tweaks or slight looseness doesn't always show up on the rack. Having helped with the alignment there were not any glowing errors that indicate a specific component, but this wouldn't be the first time that a vehicle looked fine on the rack and I found tierods shifting at highway speeds.

I mostly end up in the left most lanes and the wander is still present there. Will be trying a few more things before dumping lots of money into new steering or suspension parts. Just looking for that rock solid planted feel I am getting from the suspension to also be present in the steering.

Thank you again Charlie, your help is greatly appreciated.

Also, is anyone rear trunk seal better than the others? This one is letting water by when it rains on one side or the other. Looks to be about a 1/4" to 3/8" too narrow left to right to actually seal the trunk.

[GTRS Fiero]

Get the TFS trunk seal.  Are you sure your trunk seal is leaking?  It may be the spoiler gaskets.

[Fierofool]

Zack, I seem to recall that when we first brought the car down to my house, I found that the leak was coming from the rear spoiler studs.  If you try to loosen them, please be very aware that if the nuts are frozen and the studs rotate, you can break the stands.  If they rotate, you must slowly and equally loosen each one so that the spoiler raises equally at all 4 points.  Experience speaking.

If you slightly lift the seal surfaces on each end, you can clean out any debris with a trigger air nozzle with a long tip and I'm sure there's debris in that drain area.  That's the original seal and is in surprisingly good condition. 

Should you decide that it best to just replace the rack, Check with CV Source in Buford, Ga.  I know he had about a half dozen of the early racks in stock, and I think he also rebuilds the 88 racks.  I made him aware of Rodney's bushings for the racks.  Something he didn't know about. 

[NoMad]

Thanks for the heads up on the spoiler studs and and them being the possible leak. Will look into that soon.

Got a better look and found the heater core is leaking. I pulled it and the corrosion was terrible. One of the in/out ends snapped off in the hose when I went to remove it. Thought I might braze it if I could find the leak but it appears the inside was plugged up pretty solid and the outflow of contaminants tells me to just replace it. So I am on my way to the parts store with Catherine now to pick up a new one. Worth the extra $20 over on-line prices to have the car for work tomorrow.

All part of the adventure I guess.

Also installed lots of LEDs to replace bulbs in the interior and it made a big difference.

[GTRS Fiero]

You're getting a Harrison heater core locally?  I donxt remember the exact brand.

[NoMad]

Getting an AutoZone branded replacement with a limited lifetime warranty. Not a true Harrison but should do the job just fine.

[GTRS Fiero]

Most of the aftermarket heater cores do not fit properly.

[NoMad]

Will give it a shot at update in the morning if it worked.