Some of the other questions revealed the misinformation of some other models like the Suzuki Samurai which didn't suffer from rollover problems nearly as much as was published then rumored. Kind of neat to see some of the information given. I;m surprised how much I remembered on some of the older models like the Corvair for example. Anywho, if you want to go through the 30 questions to see the ones on the Fiero, the first 2 or 3 were around number 16 or so and the 3rd question on it was number 29 or 30 for me when I took the quiz. I don't know if it changes the order or not when others take it. I got 22 of the 30 right but a couple of those I got wrong would have been right had I not talked myself out of the right answer...
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 09-04-2016).]
Interesting exercise... I only scored 17 & guessed at quite a few - don't know how someone would remember all those details! Ford doesn't fare very well. It seemed well worded technically until the last question. What exactly is a 'meltdown'? Lol! The engine turns into a pool of molten metal under the car?
I scored 20...But a few were guesses........One problem is that I know a lot of the supposed public safety info is crap.....We, being Fiero owners, know the "Fiero is a fiery death trap!!!!!!" story to basically be false- The Fiero actually has a better record than the average for all vehicles......Same with the Ford Pinto! And the Corvair was a far better car than Ralphy "Never drove a car" Nader made it out to be; The NHTSA tested a first gen' (1963) Corvair in 1972 and it was better than ALL the (Coming)1973 models!
The other part of the story is that the Ford Explorer/Firestone tragedy was made far worse by the leader of the company- Jack "The knife" Nasser; On his recommendation they told people to LOWER the air pressure in the tires to "Help avert blow-outs"....?!!!! Any tire man knows you should RAISE the pressure and that lowering the pressure generates more heat which weakens the tires structure- while making the car more susceptible to roll-overs.....Old Jack got payback tho- when he left Ford, he received a giant golden parachute, and later tried to come back and buy the Ford PAG line-up; Jag, Rover, Aston Martin and Volvo(At least here, Ford was able to tell the prick to take a hike!)
Surprisingly, the Fiero info was accurate, but both DeLorean questions were incorrect.
-DeLorean DID have a steel frame, not fiberglass. The DeLorean had a steel frame, below a fiberglass tub, to which the stainless steel body panels were attached.
-In the event of a rollover, the 'small windows' were designed to be pushed out.
I remember reading a tech article on the Delorean and the original plan was to have a full, molded fiberglass chassis.......But then they ran out of money/tech knowledge and converted to steel....Didn't know about the side windows.
I was given a " carte blanche" this labor day by the Porsche Club of American, racing at Road America. Great cars and people, very smart and $$$$. Drove my 85 GT up there and was amazed how many drivers, mechanics, techs and owners were " intriqued" unlike the local muscle car show people. Its a nice feeling to get respect from car guys that are smart, polite and classy. VIVA FIERO !!!!
"test" was simple rip of many "facts" on Wiki and Inet and many sources have data wrong. 84 Fiero did not have "miss print" in Owners book. Spec were correct as originally made. 84 recall charge oil filter etc to allow engine to take a bit more oil. (~1/2 quart more than OE) Worse, Many 84 had engine Replace because many had weak Blocks and Rods causing catastrophic failures. TSB for 84 Recall shows dealers where to look for cracks in the block.
An Example of problems cause by CEO, Board and Bean Counters... Ford Pinto. Order by Lee Iacocca, Pinto must be under 2000# and <$2000 to make. (1970s $) Problem: The gas tankwas also floor for rear hatch/trunk for 71-72 models and no room in rear end crash. Fix: Add plastic to prevent rear axle bolts etc tearing thru the tank. BUT: Adding the fix for them at factory or later after the Recall might reduce the fire/explosion risk but very bad design could still to both.
73 and later models had a real rear floor panel and separate tank. The same design tank was used in early Maveric and others but some had only have trunks not hatch back. (Mustang II was basically same as Pinto w/ different body and often more power.)
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
"test" was simple rip of many "facts" on Wiki and Inet and many sources have data wrong. 84 Fiero did not have "miss print" in Owners book. Spec were correct as originally made. 84 recall charge oil filter etc to allow engine to take a bit more oil. (~1/2 quart more than OE) Worse, Many 84 had engine Replace because many had weak Blocks and Rods causing catastrophic failures. TSB for 84 Recall shows dealers where to look for cracks in the block.
An Example of problems cause by CEO, Board and Bean Counters... Ford Pinto. Order by Lee Iacocca, Pinto must be under 2000# and <$2000 to make. (1970s $) Problem: The gas tankwas also floor for rear hatch/trunk for 71-72 models and no room in rear end crash. Fix: Add plastic to prevent rear axle bolts etc tearing thru the tank. BUT: Adding the fix for them at factory or later after the Recall might reduce the fire/explosion risk but very bad design could still to both.
73 and later models had a real rear floor panel and separate tank. The same design tank was used in early Maveric and others but some had only have trunks not hatch back. (Mustang II was basically same as Pinto w/ different body and often more power.)
not fer nothing, but the mustang from day one, the tank was the rear floor.. the only difference being the pinto was a hatchback without a formal trunk
"test" was simple rip of many "facts" on Wiki and Inet and many sources have data wrong. 84 Fiero did not have "miss print" in Owners book. Spec were correct as originally made. 84 recall charge oil filter etc to allow engine to take a bit more oil. (~1/2 quart more than OE)
So was the Duke ok running on 3 quarts? Or is your point that the engineers and dip stick makers, etc.. all had it wrong, so the owners manual technically matched up with their wrongness?
Originally posted by E.Furgal: not fer nothing, but the mustang from day one, the tank was the rear floor.. the only difference being the pinto was a hatchback without a formal trunk
Pinto was available w/ trunks too. They were basically worthless and had little lid that barely fit the spare tire. Mustang II was available with hatch back.
quote
Originally posted by 2.5: So was the Duke ok running on 3 quarts? Or is your point that the engineers and dip stick makers, etc.. all had it wrong, so the owners manual technically matched up with their wrongness?
84 ran w/ 3 to 3.5 quarts just fine... Problem was you have little reserve for small leaks and burning and people run out of oil fast. After recall you only get to 4 quarts w/ larger filter and new dip stick
First Recall for 84... (later Recall docs supplement this doc)
quote
Subject: PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN - 84-C-15B CAMPAIGN: NON-COLLISION ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES MODELS AFFECTED: 1984 PONTIAC FIERO MODELS. DEFECT INVOLVED General Motors has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1984 Pontiac Fieros.
An interaction of the engine compartment environment in 1984 Fieros and maintenance or service related factors results in an unreasonable risk of engine compartment fires. Connecting rod failure and a subsequent engine compartment fire can result from running the engine with low oil levels. Tests have shown that rod failure can occur under certain vehicle maneuvers if the oil level is a half quart below the add mark. A knocking or tapping noise may be heard in the engine prior to this rod failure. If owners hear such a noise, they have been instructed to have their Fiero inspected and repaired immediately.
Improper service procedures may also result in coolant or other flammable materials coming in contact with hot exhaust components. Owners are instructed to have their Fiero serviced again if they notice fluid leaks in the engine compartment.
Additionally, in order to assure that vehicles may not have fluid leaks which result from improper installation of components at the time of original assembly, dealers will also inspect and, if necessary, correct those components.
Engine compartment fires can spread to the passenger compartment and cause injury to occupants. General Motors is urging all owners of 1984 Fieros to return their vehicles to Pontiac dealers for the inspection and repairs specified in this bulletin.
CAMPAIGN SERVICE PROCEDURE To prevent severe engine damage and to correct fluid leaks which may lead to fires, Pontiac dealers will do the following at no charge to owners:
Diagnose and correct engine connecting rod knock. Check for and correct significant engine oil, transmission fluid and engine coolant leaks. Check for and correct improperly routed hoses and wiring, or combustible material on or near the exhaust system/manifold. Check and correct as required, the thermostatic air cleaner system and install a new air filter element. Change the oil and oil filter. An AC type PF-51 oil filter and 4.0 quarts of oil will be used (and is to be used for all future scheduled maintenance service). This will reduce the possibility of engine damage due to low oil level. Install a newly calibrated engine oil dipstick. Install a "Check Engine Oil At Every Fuel Fill" label on the fuel filler door. Update pages 5-8 and 6-4 of the Owners Manual. Replace original Maintenance Schedule booklet with revised booklet. A copy of the revised booklet will be sent to each involved owner with the owner letter. Provide oil, oil filter and air filter changes at a special reduced rate for six (6) years or 60,000 miles from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, whichever occurs first (see Post Campaign Scheduled Maintenance Service Section in this bulletin).
For purposes of customer satisfaction and to assure proper operation of the cooling system, the following will also be performed at no charge to owners:
1. Check the operation of the electrical cooling fan system, and correct as required. 2. Install a new radiator cap to prevent overheating. 3. Check for and install as required, "Coolant Fill Procedure" labels.
Fix: (highlights)
7. Change oil and oil filter. Install AC type PF-51 oil filter P/N 25010908 or equivalent. Install 4.0 quarts SF grade 5W-30 engine oil. Replace old dipstick with new recalibrated dipstick P/N 10101497.
8. Install "Check Engine Oil At Each Fuel Fill" Label (NPN). Install on lower inside surface of fuel filler door below existing "Unleaded Fuel Only" label. Apply label only on a clean, dry surface.
9. Apply updates P/N 10077794 & 10077795 to pages 5-8 and 6-4 respectively of owners manual.
ETA--> "if the oil level is a half quart below the add mark." is important because oil pump was likely sucking air but might make enough pressure to keep idiot light off. (Switch Turns on at 4psi and less.) 84 don't have pressure gauge. Many other engines can be ~1 quart under low on the stick and still won't suck air.
later L4 cars had ~4q to start, longer filters allow a bit more close to ~4.5q (All Long filters are not the same, Worse when GM change contracts and newer PF51 are different and shorter.)
But remember Both are Total Volume and doesn't add reserve by using long filter and Why GM put the recall oil fill sticker in the car. Reserve oil is set by "newly calibrated engine oil dipstick" recall quote above by allowing GM et at to over fill the pan to 0.25 to 0.5 more.
[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 09-10-2016).]
Which problem caused huge problems for the Pontiac Fiero? engine fires Faulty connecting rods caused more than 100 fires, some of which happened during operation.
QUESTION 17 OF 30
How many fatalities occurred due to the Pontiac Fiero engine fires? zero And even though it was small and light, the car actually had great crash safety ratings.
QUESTION 30 OF 30 Why did a misprint in the Pontiac Fiero's manual lead to some engine fires? Owners didn't use enough oil. Low oil resulted in some engine meltdowns, which then led to fires.
