1986 SE So this is my car thread. Thought I would start one and try to keep up with the refresh of the car. So little background. I purchased the car locally here in Fort Wayne. The guy that I purchased it from got it when his dad passed away unexpectedly from cancer. His father got the car with the intention of fixing it up a little at a time and having a nice DD That is my intention as well.
So this is the car I have been looking for. Very few options. No power windows, mirrors, cruise control or sub. Its a 4 speed 2.8 with 89000 miles on it. The car is 99% rust free. sheet metal all looks solid. The interior is 7 out of 10, it has the normal warping of the rubber parts but every Fiero I have owned had the same issue. The head liner and seats will need recovered then the interior will be 9 out of 10 Those are the first things on my list once I get it safe and trust it. The dash is crack free and in really nice shape. The only think I would have liked better if it was a dark color. But the tan interior will go well with the color I am thinking about. I saw a Carmel Perl paint job and I have wanted one ever since Will replace the sail panel inserts and dew wipes when I paint the car. The exterior has a lot of paint fade and there are a couple spots that will need fixed. I would put it at 7 out of 10 The heat works great but the AC doesn't. I can hear it try to kick the compressor on so it may just be low but most likely the compressor is bad. 30 years old I didn't expect it to work. One of the head lights will not go up or down, I have a relay coming in the mail to see if that is the issue as well as a rebuild kit. The other light has been rebuilt already and works just fine. The passenger tail light is cracked and I have a lead on a replacement. The fan wont come on with the AC or when it gets hot, I jumped the wires at the relay and the fan came on so I have a relay coming in the mail. The brakes are ok but eventually I will do an upgrade. The 2.8 runs great, no smoke or noise no puddles under the car and its probably the cleanest stock Fiero engine compartment I have ever owned. I don't plan on doing anything with the engine at this point. I may get the intake and valve covers redone but that's about it. The wheels and tires are not stock and I am not in love with them so I will be upgrading them at some point. Parking brake works as well as the lighter (that's why I go the car )
So that's the introduction I hope that I can keep this going and have a nice car when its all done.
Insurance has been paid for 6 months, I hope to have the tag in the next couple of days. The fan relay should be here today or tomorrow, if not I will wire the fan to run so I can take it for a drive this weekend.
To add to the story. When I looked at the car he also showed me a couple books. One was a Haynes manual and the other was a Factory service manual for the car. That's great!! I have all of the information I need at my finger tips. He also had maintenance records from his father that I will document in the next couple of posts as I start working on the car.
Temporary tag is on the car The title and tag should be here in about 10 days The relay for the fan is working fine It's not coming on when I turn AC on I don't know if it'll come on if the car gets warmer not I did hotwire the fan so that I can take it for a ride It needs tires but they are holding air for now I'm gonna add a radiator fan to the list of things to replace but only because it's a 30-year-old car The fan works but it is very noisy A new more efficient motor will fix that looking at a new 16 inch Fan upgrade
The new relay did not fix the headlight I will pull the motor and rebuild it
[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 09-22-2016).]
So I started to look for tires. Think I will just get tires this time and do rims and tires later once I have everything stable and running. Just under $500 balanced and out the door for 15/215/60 all season Will call after work and see if they can hook me up tomorrow morning.
Hear is a tire conversion chart for when changing from 14" to 15, 16, 17 ect. to keep you speedo the same. Hit the tire plus sizing tab in the left column
Hear is a tire conversion chart for when changing from 14" to 15, 16, 17 ect. to keep you speedo the same. Hit the tire plus sizing tab in the left column
The fan is warped so its noisy because its not balanced anymore. Plus its 30 years old technology, a new puller fan will fix this. The tires and rims are 14 they are nice and wide if they were not dry and rotting I would keep them.
Drove into work this morning and the check light came on. Good oil pressure, running a little on the cool side but other than that it seems to be running fine. I notice that the Volt meter is high but have not checked it with my meter yet.
Drove into work this morning and the check light came on. Good oil pressure, running a little on the cool side but other than that it seems to be running fine. I notice that the Volt meter is high but have not checked it with my meter yet.
Will pull the codes when I get home.
Running cool....is it running a bit rich? If you pull a code 13, I think I'll know why.
Running cool....is it running a bit rich? If you pull a code 13, I think I'll know why.
Not home yet. Its staying around 180 on the gage. I assume after 30 years that most of the sensors could be on the way out. The fan switch was bad so I replaced it with one from Rodney and also replaced the thermostat but I kept the old one because it looked new. The current one is a 180 so its doing what I expected. No light at lunch.
Haven't felt well so no I haven't. But I found that the line to the EGR solenoid was not hooked up. I hooked it back up and no more light. Its not the vacuum line its the fresh air line. Odd I don't know if that did it or it was a coincidence Normally that line decays and it is fine unhooked but seems to be an issue with this car.
So I pulled the codes 32 EGR Vacuum 35 Idle speed error Will check the IAC but the car is running great and idles fine. It does take a while for the idle to set but then its right at 800 rpms. Will run some fuel cleaner and see if that helps. But as its not running lean I am not going to stress it.
I found a broken vacuum line to the EGR solenoid. Light hasn't came back after fixing it
My transmission doesn't like to be down shifted to second or go into second if I run the RPMs up past 4000 in first gear. I can deal with it and will put in new oil this spring to see if it will help. But I expect the only cure would be to have the trans rebuilt or replace it.
I have been considering an engine swap. So I wont be putting a lot of money into a transmission right now.
[This message has been edited by Jake_Dragon (edited 11-22-2016).]
The alternator quit on me the other day. I have a new one but the top bolt is frozen and the head broke off. I have a new bracket on the way from the Fiero store and should be back on the road by the end of next week. I also ordered a new clutch pedal as mine the pedal part came off
I love these cars but its getting to be too much to keep up with right now so I have decided to put it up for sale
New alternator is installed. New bracket from the FieroStore installed. Its nice not being greeted by the alt light every time I start the car and no belt squeal.
I still have to install the clutch peddle but that should be a quick job. Oh yea I said it.