He has a front wheel drive laser, they are 5x100 bolt pattern, but I am wondering about the reason why wheels are designated front wheel drive and rear wheel drive. Basically, in relation to the engine, our cars are fton wheel drive, and if that is the reason why they are designated like that, then it should be ok, right? Or does have to do with whether or not the tires are puching or pulling the car?
so yeah... can anyone help me with this? THanks!

Here's the question:

Does the Laser have a tire rotation pattern? IE does the manual say to rotate the tires?

If not, no idea. But since I've never heard of a car which had all the same size tires but on which you could not rotate the tires, we'll assume the Laser is like 99% of all other cars.
That being the case...
I don't see how it could possibly matter, FWD vs. RWD. The Fiero drivetrain, as you know, is basically a FWD system put in the back of the car.
Either way, you ought to be okay.

Ed

Also, instead of making another post. My car is surging in every gear, it is not all the time. In fist, it only suges if I am going about 5-10 km, a little above idle, in second, it surges pretty well only if I give it quite a bit of gas. In third, it is only surging the odd time when I am accelerating from about 2500 rpm, to 3500 rpm. It rarely surges in third and fourth. Fourth is about the same as third for surging. And in 5th, it is almost constant unless I am keeping it at a steady speed.

Now, by surging (i dont know if this is the right word) I mean that it is jerking the car. Almost like it is misfiring. The car has power and you can feel it move, then it is almost like when you are beginning to drive standard and you let teh clutch out with not enough gas, only not near as bad. Hope you understand what I mean.

I am thinking it is the spark plugs but I am not sure. I just threw some injector cleaner in last week, and it didn't help. It actually got a little worse. I don't think the injector cleaner would have done anything to make it worse, but who knows. Also, I thought my cousin through oil in it when she had it for the week, and stupid me thought, o well, no point in checking it, she would have thrown oil in, I told her it was down 1/2 a litre. Well it was almost bone dry when this started. I through oil in, and still nothing. I dont think anything in the engine was wrecked by it not having much oil, there is no knock, or anything else to make me suspect that it is something in the block.

I don't really know ANYTHING about cars. I am quite ignorant to them. But I am thinking it is the spark plugs because I also have trouble turning the car over the odd time. I am short on cash... REAL SHORT (18 years old w/ payments) so I dont want to pay for the labour and plugs, and wires if I dont have to.

Iny opinions/info would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

The only difference between a FWD and RWD wheel is the offset. Just for info, I am a racing wheel dealer, and I gotta tell you that I cannot find in my catalogs where a RWD car was ever built with 5x100 bolt pattern anyway. Does anybody know of one that my info doesn't show?

Also, directional wheel rotation is just for appearance (the wheels would look different unless they all rotate the same way because of design). It wouldn't hurt a thing to rotate a directional wheel in the wrong direction, except for appearances, as they aren't built by layering belts as a tire is!

Just for additional input, I haven't found a Chrysler 5x100 wheel yet that will not fit a Fiero - I am using a stock Chrysler 14" wheel on the Cadero (came in Chrysler boxes, with Chrysler centercaps, and have the Chrysler Corp logo stamped in them).

As long as the wheel has a 5x100 pattern, a minimum of 43mm offset and a 2 1/2" centerbore, it will fit a Fiero. That may differ for a larger wheel, I don't know. I don't have any experience with anything larger than 16"

George Ryan
Perfprmance Director
CFOG-I

last time I checked, a laser is 5 x 120 and fiero's are 5 x 100's.

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Matt D
1984 Indy Fiero 4sp.
1985 2m4 now equipt with a 1996 3.4 DOHC.

My shop manual (for the 85 V6) says to do the following:
Check alternator output voltage.
If possible, verify that VSS reading matches vehicle speedometer reading. (ALDL and computer required for this one.)
Check for intermittent EGR at idle. (Long, complex procedure.)
Check EGR filter.
Check ignition timing.
Check fuel filter. Replace if dirty or plugged.
Check fuel pressure (fuel pressure gauge required).
Check O2 sensor.
Check spark plugs.

Of these, the plugs and the O2 sensor are the easiest. The O2 sensor is like $20 US, and if you've never changed it (and don't have any documentation from the previous owner about it being changed before you bought it) the car probably needs one anyway.

Have you checked for trouble codes? Has the "service engine soon"/"check engine" light come on at all?

Check the condition of the wires, cap, and rotor while you're at it.

Hope that helps.

Ed

The laser is 5x100 bolt pattern, if they don't come stock like that, he modded it to fit these rims. I allready threw one on to varify they were that bolt pattern.

Thanks Cadero, that put me at ease.

Ed, my engine light comes on all the time. I did a readout but jumpering the 2 pins on the ALDL and the code it is giving me shows EGR valve. I knew mine was shot, Smooth is suppose to be sending me one sometime soon. I didnt think this could be the problem, but Jim (AusFiero) told me in chat last night that this could also be the problem so I think I will replace the EGR valve first. I am going to spend the money I dont have and do a complete tune up on my car. I am tired of small stuff like this wrecking my fun in this beautiful car!

George Ryan (Cadero) is correct. Virtually all fwd Chrysler products have a 5X100 bolt pattern (whether 14, 15, or 16 inch wheel). Watch out for the DSM (Mitsubishi) wheels though (e.g. 90 Plymouth Laser)... they are 5X114.3 as I recall. Also, most Chrysler wheels only 6" wide. Shelby Lancer had 15X6.5 size. There was also another wheel used on some Daytonas (called the "crab" wheels) that are also 15X6.5. Avoid the "Fiberide" Shelby wheels. They can be expensive, but are still heavier than some aftermarket rims. Nice package is the newer Rota Slipstream (5 spoke): 15X6.5 weighs less than 12# and the 16X7 weighs only 13.5#

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FierOmar

quote Originally posted by soup: [B] I allready threw one on. Smooth is suppose to be sending me one sometime soon. [B]

Post some pic's of the rim's on the car and You'll recieve the EGR in the mail...lol Blackmail... Gotta love it! Sent it out yesterday!

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SmoothFieroGT@Yahoo.com www.CFOG-I.org

quote Originally posted by FierOmar: George Ryan (Cadero) is correct. Virtually all fwd Chrysler products have a 5X100 bolt pattern (whether 14, 15, or 16 inch wheel).

No, SOME Chrysler and Mistubishi had 5x100. The smaller, lighter cars with 14" and 15" wheels had this pattern, but the larger and heavier cars had a different, larger pattern, as did the high performance cars.

The more metal you put between the lug holes, the stronger the wheel - elementary, right? The larger wheel had room for a larger pattern, and a heavier car would need more strength (as would a high performance car) so they would have a larger pattern also.

quote Watch out for the DSM (Mitsubishi) wheels though (e.g. 90 Plymouth Laser)... they are 5X114.3 as I recall. Also, most Chrysler wheels only 6" wide. Shelby Lancer had 15X6.5 size. There was also another wheel used on some Daytonas (called the "crab" wheels) that are also 15X6.5.

Here is a cut-n-paste from AAARims.com about the Laser:

-------------------------------------------

54321

Laser [1985-1986] 14x5.5 in., 5 lug, 100mm bolt pattern. 18 spokes.

Color Choice:
Silver $ 148.00

-------------------------------------------

Now, the 16" Laser rims had a 5x4 1/2" lug pattern, but the 14" was as above.

I agree about the majority of the Chrysler 14" wheels being 6" wide, most of their 15's were 6 1/2". But there were some of the 14" wheels that were 6.5". My wheels are an option for the PT Cruiser, and are 6.5" for example. I have had 245-50-14's on these wheels, and currently am running 235-60-14's.

Chrysler still offers a 5x100 pattern in the PT Cruiser and Neon, BTW, in 6.5" x 14 size.

quote Avoid the "Fiberide" Shelby wheels. They can be expensive, but are still heavier than some aftermarket rims. Nice package is the newer Rota Slipstream (5 spoke): 15X6.5 weighs less than 12# and the 16X7 weighs only 13.5#

The Chrysler optional wheels for the PT that I have on mine weigh about 12 1/2 lbs. each.

The Laser wheels will come in at about 14# to 15#, about the same as the stock Fiero wheels (14x6 also).

Hope this helps

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George Ryan
Performance Director
CFOG-I

[This message has been edited by cadero2dmax (edited 08-24-2002).]