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Car Forum / Pontiac / Pontiac Fiero / May 2008

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Couple of issues with and 86

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Just reading from the sidelines - 13 May 2008 15:53 GMT
Hi all,

Having some small problems with an 86 GT.  Live in NY and decided to take a
"Spring Drive" to NC for the weekend (about 1500 miles round trip)....  On
trip the Pass. headlight motor was first problem...it was working fine but
when I stopped for gas I heard it "running"...now it won't stop spinning in
either direction (up or down) unless park lights are turned on and
headlights off.  Otherwise it continues to spin so obviously I unplugged
relay and just left it UP.  Question: Is this just the relay or do I need to
replace the motor?....if I grab the knob and stop it from spinning and push
down on it , the motor stays off for about 10 seconds, but then starts
again.... (and I remember hearing about rebuilding them somewhere instead of
buying another, can't remember?).  Had this happen back in the 80's with my
first Fiero but was fixed under warranty so I don't know which they changed
.....I also know it is a very common problem but I have been lucky until now
with all of them that I have owned, until now.

Second, we pulled of at rest stop and noticed that with car just idling the
temp. was rising....I check fan and it was no longer coming as car got
hot.......for kicks I turn on the A/C to see if the fan would come on that
way and it does.... so we were "cool" and could continue trip just leaving
A/C on the whole time.....question: would this be a relay for temp sensor OR
temp sensor itself (the temp. gage is working fine)....and if it is a relay
(or sensor) could someone tell me where it is?

Finally, my brakes SUCK, period......prior to trip I changed the...but they
still suck, bled them, did the rotors, etc.  I gave up and took to a local
repair shop.  They redid them again and claim the are fine...on the lift if
you press brake all 4 wheels can not be turned..so off we went, but on the
road it seems like just my front brakes are working....It is like trying to
stop a freight train....DEFINITELY kept our distance from anyone ahead of
us.  This is my 6th Fiero, I know everyone says they don't have the greatest
brakes in the world, but I never had a problem like this with any of them
something def. wrong here.....I currently have this 86, and 85 and an
88...all are GT's....the only one doing this is this 86 so I know the
mechanic at our local repair shop who is telling me "that's just the way
they are" is talking out the wrong end of his digestive track.  Anyway,
even on a loose gravel road, if I slam them,  I can't even get them to lock
up until I am almost to a stop and then only the fronts skid.  Emergency
brake ALMOST works....it needs just a little more but I ran out of
adjustment...but if I pull it full you can feel it slowly stopping car
(again, on lift it locks them up tight, but I realize turning by hand, and
stopping car big difference).  Is there a proportioning valve somewhere?  OR
any insight?

I am glad to see the "group" is still here....I thought it went the way of
most news groups (porn or diet pills) because I didn't see many posts back a
few months ago...I only posted once before but I have gotten TONS of info.
from others by reading old post that basically always had my questions
answered before I had to ask.

MANY THANKS, and hope everyone is dusting them off for spring...
Paul
R W Hughes - 13 May 2008 21:23 GMT
> Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 49 lines]
> MANY THANKS, and hope everyone is dusting them off for spring...
> Paul

It is quite common for the fan switch to die, it is separate from both
the gauge sensor and the ECM temp sensor.

Are you sure your brake booster is working and getting vacuum? When the
brake booster on my truck, C10, failed the brakes seemed to work
normally on a normal easy stop but a hard stop was impossible. I could
stand on the pedal with both feet and not come close to locking up the
brakes. Of course I discovered this problem when I needed to stop
quickly, but a shoulder saved me.
B Fuhrmann - 14 May 2008 00:10 GMT
> trip the Pass. headlight motor was first problem...it was working fine but
> when I stopped for gas I heard it "running"...now it won't stop spinning
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> which they changed .....I also know it is a very common problem but I have
> been lucky until now with all of them that I have owned, until now.

The relay can stop the motors from running too long but not cause it to.

The problem can be a couple of things in the motor.  The gear could have
lost a few teeth or the switch inside it that senses the end of travel could
be bad.

Rodney Dickman sells some of the repair parts www.rodneydickman.com/n22.html

If you are interested in a used motor, check with Ed Parks at The Fiero
Factory (www.thefierofactory.com/).

There is also a much more active group supporting the Fiero at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FIERO/.

> Finally, my brakes SUCK, period......prior to trip I changed the...but
> they still suck, bled them, did the rotors, etc.  I gave up and took to a
> local repair shop.  They redid them again and claim the are fine...on the
> lift if you press brake all 4 wheels can not be turned..

NEVER go to that shop again.  It takes almost nothing to get them to that
level.  Tell everyone you know that the shop doesn't have a clue.

> brake ALMOST works....it needs just a little more but I ran out of
> adjustment...but if I pull it full you can feel it slowly stopping car
> (again, on lift it locks them up tight, but I realize turning by hand, and
> stopping car big difference).  Is there a proportioning valve somewhere?
> OR any insight?

Do you have any competent brake shops in your area?
Maybe one that Road Racers, Rallyists, or Autocrossers can point you to.

The proportioning valve is in the block next to the master cylinder.

> I am glad to see the "group" is still here....I thought it went the way of
> most news groups (porn or diet pills) because I didn't see many posts back
> a few months ago...I only posted once before but I have gotten TONS of
> info.

The usenet is on life support.  Things like Yahoo groups are much more
lively and useful.
The buggy whip makers of Usenet will eventually go out of business.

> MANY THANKS, and hope everyone is dusting them off for spring...

Some of us never put them away.  375K fiero miles since I bought my first
one in late 88.  I just bought my third Formula.
wwY - Two white, one yellow
TPT- Two w/T-tops, one plain roof
GTG -Two gray interior, one tan
NUU - Two used, one new
55A - Two 5 speeds, 1 auto
CNC - Two cruise control, one not.

Signature

Bill Fuhrmann

Mr Potatohead - 17 May 2008 21:14 GMT
> I am glad to see the "group" is still here....I thought it went the way of
> most news groups (porn or diet pills) because I didn't see many posts back a
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> MANY THANKS, and hope everyone is dusting them off for spring...
> Paul

Still here, Paul. We just lurk a lot. :-)
Just reading from the sidelines - 22 May 2008 18:01 GMT
>> I am glad to see the "group" is still here....I thought it went the way
>> of most news groups (porn or diet pills) because I didn't see many posts
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Still here, Paul. We just lurk a lot. :-)

I resemble that remark, too :)

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