CoolWheels

I have a 90 Reatta with less than 60,ooo miles, garage kept and in beautiful condition. If I can drive it two or three years and sell it for only a couple of thousand less than I put in it, I will be satisfied. I will still have lost only a couple thousand to drive a wonderful, rare machine. Reattas may not increase in value but they sure do not suffer the decreciation new cars do. Reattas offer a money saving experience with a car you hardly ever see on the road. That is good enough for me.

We all know that Buick recommends 5 w 30 oil for Reattas. But a respected mechanic recently told me that as the V6 engines pile up the miles, the oil viscocity should be increased to 10 w 30. Any comments?

Jim--Thanks a lot. It was the emergency brake. I noticed the red brake light was on after taking the car in for an EPA required emissions test. The guy must have accidently taped the emergency brake just enough to trigger the red light. I love this Reatta forum. You guys are so helpful. Thanks again.

About six months ago my yellow antilock brake light came on. It fixed it by changing the relay. I also put in a new ECU. Now my red brake light is on but the brakes work perfectly. I wonder what is going on here. Should I change the relay again. Is it safe to drive the car? Like I said the brakes are working fine.

About six months ago my yellow antilock brake light came on and I fixed it with a new relay. I also put in a new ECU. Now my red brake light is on yet the brakes work fine. Should I try a new relay or what? I am cautious about driving it until I find a fix although, as I said, the brakes do work fine.

At least the Reatta was mentioned in the article. Unmentioned were cars in this price range like the Subaru SVX, the Pontiac Fiero, the Porche 944, the VW Sorocco, etc. As far as the writer's remarks about the Reatta's "entertainment" system, maybe it does not look so great nearly 20 years later, but even trying to make such an unfaircomparison says more about the writer than it does about the Reatta. Twenty years ago the most sophisticated computers could not match today's laptops.

The Reatta is featured in today's Sunday New York Times in an article describing classic cars that can be bought at reasonable prices. The article covers both foreign and domestic makes attainable at prices below $15,0000. Click on www.nytimes.com

John- I felt much the same way you do when I first got my Reatta. But after getting ripped off a time or two by chain service station mechanics, I found a local mechanic who got top ratings from local media. I ordered my parts from Jim Finn. Thereafter my repair costs were a fraction of what the biggies charged. Just do due diligence and you will come out okay.

I had a chance to buy a low mileage 90 Reatta with this color combo but after thinking about it a couple days, I decided it was just too much of a color clash for me. Different strokes for different folks.

The advice to watch out for rodents is good. I luckily was changing my air filter when I noticed a rodent's nest right on top of the main wiring harness. Caught it just as the rodents were taking the first few nibbles. Rodents love little used garages.

The issue I am going after on my 90 Reatta is that when I first turn it on, none of the instrument panel guages work except the engine service light. Also, the air conditioning swivel vents on either side of the dash and glove box do not work. If I wait, the gauges do start to work including the speedometer and the tachometer. I drive it for a while, then the engine just quits, the gauges quit working, and I am left driving a car without power steering or brakes, not a fun task in heavy traffic. I pull over, then usually the car starts right up again, I wait, the gauges come back on, and off I go, until everthing stops again. I figure I have a faulty connection that works only when it is contact with the ECM, and then it looses contact. I understand the module for the AC is near the ECM and could inadvertantly get bumped or disconnected (as by the mechanic who looked over the wiring). If the ECM is below and behind the glove box, it seems it would be pretty easy to disconnect some other wiring. Also, I assume if I take a look at the ECM, I should disconnect the car battery negative groundd???

I have searched the 90 Reatta manual but it does not give the location of the electronic control module. I am embarassed to ask, but just where is it located? My other cars, pre 1980 Alfas, do not have this and I have never worked with an ECM. Also, if I find the connector to the ECM is loose, or not well grounded, or that I must replace the ECM is there anything I should know before I start monkeying with it, such as disconnecting the negative ground? Please add anything else I should know about the ECM as my Reatta urgently needs attention that the local shops do not seem able to provide and I am having to do the trouble-shooting myself. Thanks a lot in advance.