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Question: 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera  mileage: 120,000. One of my belts would squeak when I turned on my A/C so I put some WD-40 on the belt until I didn't here the squeak anymore. I drove it around a little and it worked, no more squeaking. But when I started it a few hours later, it started squeaking even without the A/C on! Did I some how make the problem worse? And if so what can I do to fix it?

Answer: Spraying WD-40 is only a short temporary fix that is not recommended. It dries the belt out even worse than before. Once a belt starts squeaking, the only remedy is to replace it.

Question: 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera  mileage: 142,000. Where is the low pressure side charging valve for air conditioning?

Answer: If you are not familiar with air-conditioning, you do not want to start now. It is very dangerous unless you know what you are doing. Special training is required.
 

Question:  1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera   mileage: 180,000.  I recently did a compression test on my car because of poor running and stalling problems, and because we wanted to determine if the car's engine performance was good enough to keep a little longer before getting other things fixed.  We got the following readings, and would like to get your comments/opinions on them.  Don't know official cylinder number but will give them from left to right: #1 - 152;  #2 - 165;  #3 - 152;  #4 - 149.  Did notice that the last cylinder mentioned, jumped up to about 90 psi real quick like the others, but then took a little longer to get to 149.  Any comments or suggestions?  Are these acceptably balanced numbers or do I have a serious problem looming?  Thanks for your help.

Answer:  Your numbers are very respectable for a car with 180,000 miles.   From what you have told us, it sounds like the internal engine is in good shape. You may want to check the crank shaft sensor.

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Question:  1995 Oldsmobile  Cutlass Ciera   mileage: 94,500.  This car was purchased as a dealer demo with 6K miles on it.  I have changed the trans fluid and filter at least 3 times.   The trans fluid has a tendency to turn black quickly, but the trans never acted up until recently.  It suddenly started to lose power, so I had the trans fluid and filter changed again.  After that, the fluid once again went quickly to black, the trans developed a hesitation while shifting, and it began to leak fluid.  Now the trans "slams" into gear somewhat when I shift into reverse or when I let off the gas pedal and then accelerate again.  Any thoughts on what the problem could be or possible solutions?

Answer:  We think that the transmission may be failing in your car.  Fluid that turns black quickly, would indicate excessive heat caused by the clutch packs slipping in the transmission.

Question:  1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera mileage: 68,000.  My car was shutting off while driving on the road. It did not shutter and stall, it was like the ignition just immediately shut off.  After pulling to the side of the road, the starter would work, but it wouldn't start.  After waiting about ten minutes, it would start and run well.   It became worst in that after about 15 to 30 minutes of the engine running, either on the road or idling in the driveway, the engine just shut off.  Fuel pressure and vacuum check ok.  Now the car won't start at all.  Starter motor works, but there is no spark at the plugs.  I have already replaced the three coil packs, the sparkplugs are fairly new, put in at about 60,000 miles and the wires look very good.  I put an ignition module from Advance Auto on the car when it was cutting off on me, but that didn't fix the problem.  Luckily, Advance took the new ignition module back.  No trouble codes were set when the car cut off it the past.  Now the trouble code is a 44, which I think means lean fuel.  I have check the wiring harness with an ohmmeter between the ignition module and the connector just before the computer and checked the connector the crankshaft position sensor for continuity and found no problem.  I removed the crankshaft pulley/ vibration dampener and cleaned the cps and the fins on the dampener, but it didn't help.  Would appreciate any help.  Any ideas?  Thanks, Joe

Answer:  Try replacing the PCM (computer) with one that you know works.

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Question:  1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera  mileage: 75,000.  My brake lights don't work.  But only when the " anti lock " dash light comes on and stays on.  If I start the car and the "anti lock" light does not come on, the brake lights will work ok.  The "anti lock" light will usually come on after about 10 minutes of driving.  Any suggestions?  Thank you much...

Answer:  The “ABS” (antilock breaking systems) light will “light” when there is a malfunction in the braking system.  The fault code is then stored in the computer.  The computer must be scanned to retrieve these stored faults to pinpoint the malfunctioning component.  Because the ABS light indicates something is wrong, a trip to you neighborhood automobile service center sooner rather than later is recommended.  Your ABS system may not be functioning.

Question:  1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera  mileage: 193,203.  My car is constantly stalling.  My father and I used car code reader and came up with a number 42 EST (Electronic Spark Timing) code.  We then replaced the computer and fuel pump, but it is still stalling.  As far as I can tell there is no pattern to the stalling, it stalls at idle or going down the road at almost any speed.  Our next step is to try the Fuel pump, but that is a whole day under a car.  I also know that Oldsmobile released a 75-page book on problems the Cutlass' had. 

Answer:  Code 42 (electronic spark timing) refers to the ignition system.   What you should probably do is replace the pick-up coil, the ignition module and the ignition coil.  They should all be replaced at once, because they work together as a “team.”

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Question:  1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera  mileage: 166,000.  I have an 86 Olds 2.8 V6 that stalls when I come to a stop in traffic (autotrans, multiport FI) and have replaced the mass airflow (got a code 33, 34 saying high and low voltage readings replaced mass airflow no change).  Replaced entire ignition system plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and coil distributor.   I do notice at night, sparks traveling around coil and down the outside of spark plug wires and around the base of all plugs yet car still runs OK and I don’t get a shock when I touch the spark.  I have had everything checked in the fuel system and its ok.   Can this arcing be causing the engine to stall and if so what can be causing the arc?  I have replaced everything.  Just rebuilt motor.

Answer:    Try servicing the fuel injection system.  Clean the carbon deposits from the throttle bore and idle passages.  Also, check to see that the catalytic converter is not plugged or restricted.

Question:  1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera  mileage: 200,000.  My problem is the EMC fuse keeps blowing; sometimes it may last 5 minutes and then other times it may blow with the switch being turned on the crank mode.   Do you have any suggestion that may help me?   I would appreciate the help.

Answer:   Check the wiring loom for damage or to see if it is shorted out.   In addition, you may possibly have a bad PCM (power control module), which is the same thing as an ECM.

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