The joys of old car ownership

[Oldfrt]

While on the way to the Mercedes dealership Friday to have the new SRS control module programmed I installed two weeks ago the check engine light came on. The tech told me what it was "Fuel trim banks 1 & 2", and cleared the code. I now have airbags back in service, they had been disabled for about a year, but that annoying check engine light keeps coming on. I did some more investigating and came to the conclusion that it was the downstream O2 sensor on Bank 1 way out of spec, (the diagnostic computer told me so). Got the car up on ramps, pulled both downstream O2 sensors out. They are sitting in my ultrasonic cleaner (normally reserved for brass only) and being cleaned, I had a burst of black stuff come out of one of them as soon as the cleaner was started.

This is also after I have been chasing a not starting while hot problem for the last week or so, ended up replacing the battery, coolant temp sensor, cam shaft sensor and crank shaft sensor.

The only good thing out of this whole mess is that the wife got stranded for about 30 min with me so if I decided to replace the car she won't give me any grief.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I learned this from my dad.

 

[Rodan]

If it's got an OBDII plug, airbags and downstream O2 sensors, it can't be that old....

 

[rubiranch]

Engine coolant temp sensor and an oil pressure sensor.
That's it.
Old and simple.

 

[biku324]

Just gave my grandson my old hand tools. When cleaning out the box I found my well-used ignition point tool with 8 feeler gauges, a contact brush, and a lead crimper.

It's been a while.

 

[FLJoe]

Engine coolant temp sensor and an oil pressure sensor.
That's it.
Old and simple.

Nice truck! One of my very favorite vehicles I still regret selling was a similar F250 but of one body style newer than yours. It had the carburetor 300" six, iron case BW transfer case and HD floating rear. It was indestructible. It topped out around 75 MPH, so I sold it when I moved to Florida as the minimum speed here on the interstate is about 80. I ran across a couple pictures of it the other day and it reminded me how much I liked that truck.

 

[rubiranch]

Nice truck! One of my very favorite vehicles I still regret selling was a similar F250 but of one body style newer than yours. It had the carburetor 300" six, iron case BW transfer case and HD floating rear. It was indestructible. It topped out around 75 MPH, so I sold it when I moved to Florida as the minimum speed here on the interstate is about 80. I ran across a couple pictures of it the other day and it reminded me how much I liked that truck.

I bought this one at the end of last year and I have been working on it quite a bit. I just finished putting a new engine in it.

Here's a thread I started a while back on fixing it up.

Bought a new project.

 

[DWalt]

Nothing high tech in my two elderly vehicles. And neither has a history of requiring any expensive service, at least so far. No plans to replace either of them. To us, they are simply a means of going between points A and B, no need to build our egos or impress the friends and neighbors. And they have reached the point where depreciation has stopped.

 

[arjay]

I’ve been reading that owning German cars past the warranty period is no longer a good idea and just leasing a car is the way to go now. I miss my old trucks and jeeps..

 

[rubiranch]

NAnd they have reached the point where depreciation has stopped.

My old Ford PU's value is increasing.

 

[LVSteve]

If it's got an OBDII plug, airbags and downstream O2 sensors, it can't be that old....

My 96 Firebird had an OBD II plug, and that's 26 years ago. Time flies.

 

[DWalt]

My 96 Firebird had an OBD II plug, and that's 26 years ago. Time flies.

I had a 2001 Honda with one. And I think they existed even prior to that. I have a meter, but have yet to use it.

 

[Oldfrt]

Mine is a 2000 s430, built in 99, it's 22 years old. The check engine light came back on, the scanner said one O2 sensor wasn't sending an output voltage. Just ordered two downstream sensors, should have them in about a week.

 

[venomballistics]

Not sure an ultrasonic cleaning was the way to go on this, but keep us posted in case I'm wrong about the outcome.

First thing to do is check its preheater coil with an ohm meter. If that's burned out, it'll never work right.
Second thing has to do with its construction. They have fresh air ports where they do an A vs B comparison of outside air against exhaust gas, It needs this reference. If plugged or contaminated, it's bricked.
I fear this may have happened in the course of ultrasonic cleaning.

 

[LVSteve]

Not sure an ultrasonic cleaning was the way to go on this, but keep us posted in case I'm wrong about the outcome.

First thing to do is check its preheater coil with an ohm meter. If that's burned out, it'll never work right.
Second thing has to do with its construction. They have fresh air ports where they do an A vs B comparison of outside air against exhaust gas, It needs this reference. If plugged or contaminated, it's bricked.
I fear this may have happened in the course of ultrasonic cleaning.

Those got plugged on my Firebird thanks to a rear main oil seal drip. Then there was the inlet manifold that failed, and the tranny cooler embedded in the radaitor. Pontiac, a member of the General Maintenance family of automakers.

 

[venomballistics]

Those got plugged on my Firebird thanks to a rear main oil seal drip. Then there was the inlet manifold that failed, and the tranny cooler embedded in the radaitor. Pontiac, a member of the General Maintenance family of automakers.

borked a set replacing valve cover gaskets.
It's not the problem it used to be, but use of a non O2 sensor safe RTV sealant anywhere in your engine would poison the sensors.
Today there's only one Mexican brand RTV out there that's not sensor safe, so it's a hard mistake to make

 

[meaneyedcatz]

That check engine lamp is not an accurate moniker.
More accurately it is
CHECK WALLET LAMP

 

[snowman]

Nothing high tech in my two elderly vehicles. And neither has a history of requiring any expensive service, at least so far. No plans to replace either of them. To us, they are simply a means of going between points A and B, no need to build our egos or impress the friends and neighbors. And they have reached the point where depreciation has stopped.

This one is worth around half a dozen likes
Andy

 

[robvious]

that's not old... lol

this blue one is old... not as old as I am... but close.. the red one is older.. helped my buddy track it Saturday... but ya.. no sensors

 

[Muley Gil]

When folks say "old car", this is what I think about. That's a '49 Buick.