padgett

If you look in the back postings you will find many reponses to the same question.<P>Buick issued a TSB on the CRTs but basically some have bad wiring. A few people have successfully disassembeled & resoldered the units.<P>Think the $500 is way high - more like $150 exchange for a repaired unit. Several posts have listed where to get it done.

Does sound like a calibration error but not mph/kph - 158 kph would just be around 98 mph and we know the fuel cut of is at 125. (210 kph). So if the ECM thought you were going 150+, the fuel would shut off.<P>First question - when it does come up, is it linear ?<P>I suspect the problem may be the 89 ECM and 90 BCM. The MPH reading is developed in the ECM but is picked out of the ALDL serial stream by the BCM and converted to the IPX reading.<P>If the 89 and 90 ECM data streams are in a different order then the BCM may be picking up oil pressure and interpreting it as mph. Have you tried a 90 ECM prom in the ECM ? (I may have one around here you could borrow - would need to check). Does it read zero when the car is stopped ?<P>Way to find out is to use something like the DIACOM (www.rinda.com) software/cable and extract the two serial data streams. Another way is to connect a good scan tool and see if the MPH is different if you tell it the car is first an 89 and then a 90.<P>Too bad you are not closer to Orlando: have all the tools and now the back garage is cleaned out.

Understand, am somewhat shorter( 29" inseam) but need to lower seat was to keep my hair (and keep discovering new places to sunburn) from touching the headliner. I also recline the seat considerably more than my 5"5" wife who also complained.<P>Also suspect that the lack of "down" means the seat is flatter than I like - had to trade "tilt" for "down". As a result, the Reatta has never felt quite right and the passenger seat (no 16 way) is worse. - not really uncomfortable, just not "right" and I drive A Lot of rentals every year.<P>Does the sunroof take away a lot of headroom ? I may also have a headliner that was poorly replaced.<P>Keep in mind that I never had this problem in my Fiero which is very comfortable once you put it on (have driven to Atlanta which is about 450 miles in a Fiero before) and which also has a Sunroof (manual).<P>However in the stock seating, I felt like I was looking out of the top of the windscreen instead of the middle.<P>Personally think the problem relates to the power seat platform which was taken straight from the Riviera - I cannot imagine anyone who would ride with it full up. <P>Trouble is that the amount of "up" possible requires deep screw tunnels on the top platform that dramatically limits how low it can go - and if you replace the rear mounts with flat plate (lowers rear of seat about 3/4"), the tunnel hits the rear mount studs (why my seat does not go back as far any more).<P>I *suspect* that the seat mounts are to a standard pattern and that there are other GM platforms (Corvette ?) that are lower, it has been just too long since I have had a day to just wander in a junk yard (and did not get one this holiday period as had hoped).<P>I think that if the whole seat were just one inch lower (2 inches lower than stock but already got it down one), it would be much more comfortable.<P>Suggestions welcome.<p>[ 12-31-2001: Message edited by: padgett ]

Wothy of note is that there are now at least three paper parts books available. Am not sure exactly what the '89 book covers, may be just the one year but most cover Rivera/Reatta (E) from 1986 to whatever.<P>Probably the most usefull is the 1986-1993 version which is that last hardcopy produced by GM.<P>When purchasing is good to make sure that both parts (white paper) and illustration (green paper) volumes are included (occasionally see one without the other)

Wasn't the diesel 350 common in '79 ?

Lo miles and if like many of that ilk, 20k in the first 2-4 years and 15k over the next 8-10 so sat more than not. This can lead to gum/sediment/water in the fuel system.<P>Add in the natural aging of the ignition system and things can get marginal.<P>Than again you might check Dealer Service Bulletin 90-6E-8 dated Feb '90. This is for "Some 1989 through early built 1990"...Reattas with 3800 engine.<P>Condition - long cold engine crank but if ingnition key is cycled (off-start) the engine will start.<P>Solution is new MemCal (PROM). Replacement part number for Reatta is 14148013 (will display 8064) for Federal and 16148015 (will display 8074) for California cars.<P>This was a running change in Feb. '90

I have the 16way but my wife drives occasionally and found the passenger seat need the front raised and the bottom is a bit too short for me (keep the thigh on the drivers seat out a bit).<P>Are we talking about a car with the standard seat ?

3800 should start immediately even below zero (think that's how my wife dropped the center cam bearings in Indiana three years ago). <P>Personally, I always turn the key on and "wait for the thump" before starting. Just needs a touch of the starter. Bonne, TranSport, and even Fiero are all the same. Is characteristic of a port FI in proper tune.<P>Of course we Floridians know what to do when the temperature drops clear into the 50's.<P>If tuning, I have found the 3800 seems to like Delco Rapidfires #3.

Was warm enough here but I had to get the garage cleaned out here. Gave away enough to a friend to put his pickup on the bump stops and still have about 20 feet by 5 feet of pre-1970 stuff. <P>Two 400s and a 428 still here but the engine in the Judge now is pleanty healthy. At this rate am good through 2090.<P>Trouble is am into computer cars these days and modern stuff measured in ccs and not ci. Only reason this stuff has 16 valves is because are V-8s.<P>Happy New Year all.

That does sound interesting - and the '88 STE AWD was available with the Teves and transverse leaf spring - night not be that bad. <P>Three possible drawbacks but might not be that bad:<BR>- Reatta's wheel base is 6" shorter than STE<BR>- engine was a 3.1 not 3.8 (doubt that is a problem)<BR>- AWD transmission is listed as 3-spd not 4 - 3T40 varient ?)

Most of the trouble with FWD is the weight transfer on launch, if you can keep from going up in smoke for the first 15 feet, you will be OK (for any reasonable power).<P>Know LSD for the Fieros exist so suspect something may be avalable for the 4T.<P>Was thinking about an active suspention, something that pulls the front end down on the line, then expands the strut on launch for some artificial loading or is that illegal (must admit that I kind of lost interest in drag racing a long time ago - the entire concept of "breaking out" just seems silly in any form of competition).<P>Of course at one time I designed flight controls for fighter aircraft - did get into conflict a few times about letting the pilot command more than the aircraft (or the pilot) was designed to take (with warning but not denial). Question was "What are these things for ?". Of course after the Iranean disaster, things changed a bit.

If you go to each module in turn (ECM, BCM,...) and cycle through the selections, there will be one for each that says "clear history...". Push "yes".<P>You <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">really</span></span> need a service manual.

Are windshields available ? Am considering a second Reatta that has a crack.

EO26 is "Quad driver and can be a number of things (EGR, TCC, fans, purge)<P>B420 is related to various relays, such as couresy power, retained (key off) power, hi/lo beam headlight relay.<P>B552 is ECM "keep alive" power - this is set if you R&R the battery.<P>All can be caused by intermittant wiring problems but none directly relate to the IPX. I would clear all of them and see what comes back.<P>Have not seen this type of thing since moving to Florida but is apparently common in the north, particularly where salt is used on the roads.

Is the shifter from a '70 era SS-396 ? Looks professional - you have a nice fab facility there but after seeing that engine am not real surprised.

Having everything at hand, here it is:<BR><a href="http://www2.gdi.net/~padgett/tevesc2.jpg">Schematic from TEVES Training Manual</a> - is about 70k - was as small as I could get it and still be legible.

Sounds like the first thing to troubleshoot is the pressure problem since without pressure, the ABS is turned off.<P>The circuit is non-trivial, the low pressure switch actually has three elements in it, one to turn the motor on and two to trigger "low pressure" warnings (one turns the red light on, the other sets the BCM warning). It is possible for one section to fail and not others.<P>If it were me and my car, I would probably make sure all pressure was released and then jumper 12v directly to the pump motor for a very few seconds to see if it comes on at all. Need to be careful to get the polarity right.<P>At a minimum, someone who understands how to troubleshoot the TEVES electrical system needs to check it out thoroughly.<P>BTW if the boost system fails, the ABS just shuts down, it does not set any of its own trouble codes. Is really two separate systems.<P>ps and if this is a dumb question, I apologise but did you know that there are two fuses in the pump motor circuit ? A 5A in the pressure switch/relay coil circuit and a 30A in the relay contacts/motor circuit. If either is bad the motor will not turn on.<p>[ 12-28-2001: Message edited by: padgett ]

Barney: are these reversible, have the plastic spikes, & have the logo like the originals ? Any difference 88<->89 ? Could use a blue set when available.

This is why you <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">really</span></span> need the factory service manual (FSM). How to display/read the codes is in the FAQ on <A HREF="http://www.reatta.net." TARGET=_blank>http://www.reatta.net.</A> <P>BCM is the Body Control Module (computer) is a silver box (abt 6"x6"x1") with three connectors located behind the glove box (need a T-15 driver - no need to remove the light lens or hinge - to remove the box). <P>ECM (Engine Control Module) is another computer that looks very similar in the passenger footwell.<P>IPX (Instrunent Panel X(tension ?)) is the display device in front of the driver that shows MPH and all that. CRT (Catode Ray Tube - don't ask) is touchscreen above the console.

Well you could try the recommened fix for an Apple III that malfunctions: lift about 18 inches and drop it.<P>Seriously, that sounds like a bad data line connection between the BCM and the IPX. Since the BCM is the easiest to get to, I would pull the glove box and reseat those connections first.<P>Now there are three possible error codes all put out by the BCM whic would help B334 (ECM data), B335 (CRTC data), and B336 (IPC data)<BR>- from the description it sounds like you were getting a 336 but can you confirm ? (Should be in History).<P>When it happened, did the defroster turn on ?

Also, a regular scanner will not show the ABS codes, you need to jump A to G instead of A to B and count the blinks of a ABS light. Is a separate computer entirely.<P>However if the red (pressure) light stays on you need to fix that first - the ABS will NOT operate if the pressure is low (or it thinks the pressure is low, this is why one of the first things the FSM recommends is to unscrew the accumulator and install a guage). Code 482 means the pressure is low. (ob. caution - remove pressure by following the yellow label before removing the accumulator).<P>Are yot certain the motor runs when you turn the key on ? If the motor is failing this could cause intermittants.<p>[ 12-27-2001: Message edited by: padgett ]

Actually it is the ratio of FW/RW weight that makes the difference in a straight line, the "caltilevered forward" of the 3800 (engine in front of the drive wheels) helps.<P>Regardless, the same engine/transmission (and they will fit either) in the back of a Fiero is going to be faster than in a Reatta. Period. 800 lbs more weight in the Reatta and the Fiero can put the power down better even before talking about FWD vs RWD.<P>As long as you can keep the wheels from spinning, you will go as fast as you can and I suspect it would take a lot more than 250 hp before that is a real problem.<P>Personally think my 88 has "enough" for what I want it for though I also think the transmission does a good job of hiding it - shifts are too soft and is too reluctant to downshift to ever feel quick.<P>Wouldn't think the short wheel base to be a problem, is the same as a Corvette and five inches longer than a Fiero, it is just a completely different kind of car.<P>With a SC series II and the right tweaking, getting into the 12s which usually translates to a 0-60 around 6 seconds should not be hard at all, the GTP crowd does it every day. All that is necessary is cubic money. That and someone who really understands the electronics and FWD suspensions, but certainly doable. The only question is "why" ?<P>If your answer is "why not ?" you are most of the way there ( would help to be an oil prince).<p>[ 12-27-2001: Message edited by: padgett ]

Hoo boy, english ragtop memories. Best one I had was a '59 Jag 150S roadster rewired to have O/D on everything. Top wasn't that bad to put up/down though not near as simple as the FIAT (know about the earlier version, had a 1500 for about a month in '62, whas how I learned to shift with the right foot flat on the floor - couldn't do that with a jag.<P>At any rate that top was "modern english" - stop car, fold seats forward, pull up top, flip out rear window. Connect to two catches on rear body, pull top forward, fold seats back, get in and latch top to windscreen. Really liked the FIAT.<P>Was cruising to Delaware one really frosty morning with cardboard stuffed in front of the radiator and the heater achieving "less cold" but not by much since top had holes you could put your hand through.<P>Think it was exiting the Delawate turnpike somewhere around Wilmington when I had red lights in the mirror. Somewhat irate policeman asked why I felt it necessary to bark the tires (remember that term ?) in every gear out of the toll booth.<P>I just held up my right hand which had a cast on the end three fingers from dropping the trunk lid on it and he walked away shaking his head. Didn't bother to mention I was shifting with my left...

Grille is retro (as in "it worked then and we can't think of anything better"). See <A HREF="http://www.hemmings.com/features/oddies/oddies7_31.cfm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.hemmings.com/features/oddies/oddies7_31.cfm</A>

Probably the same reason as Exxon: to avoid floating bulls and cars that don't go.