Yeah, "stuff" happens...what can ya do. Optimism ain't always enough...but it's home now, so time to start fixin' her up! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

Steve,
Congratulations! Can't wait to see it in Moab IX. Your story was HIGHLY entertaining. Made me realize how lucky I was a few years back.. Swordy and I purchased a 91 Amigo on Ebay located in Cleveland, OH. My son (Marshall, then only 13) and I few to Ohio and drove it back to So Cal. Muffler (totally rusted through) fell off in Indiana somewhere. Deer ran out in front of us just west of Denver. (we missed it). Did I mention it didn't have a top? Rained on us (midwest rain is different than So Cal rain) in Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas. Over heating problems from Nevada to So Cal. I totally understand your pain! My Amigo story ended 6 months to the day later.... Totalled it on the local freeway. Second Amigo purchased a year later on ebay was shipped. The only good thing about traveling cross country was the company of my son.

Deby

I was re-reading this post and realized I never detailed what went wrong with the Trooper. So for those who want the technical details, the short answer is the water pump went out...on the DOHC 3.2 it is powered by the timing belt, and when it went out, it pushed the timing belt forward enough so that the belt cut an oblong circle out of the plastic cover. Eventually the belt jumped a few teeth, at least on the one bank of cylinders. Meanwhile, antifreeze was blowing everywhere.

The instant the tone of the engine changed my eyes darted to the temp gauge, and it was still in the green but climbing fast, so I immediately pulled over and shut it off. I think I got it in time to avoid fundamental damage to the engine, but the jury is still out until I figure out this running-on-5-cylinders thing (which, as I mentioned above, I suspect (and hope) is an ignition problem due to it's intermittent nature).

So although the repairs were far from cheap, at least I got a new timing belt and water pump out of it... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

I was wondering why you were in need of new timing belt covers. I recalled them being very clean & in fine shape.

So, did the dealer take care fo the repair charges?

I haven't contacted him yet, partially because I haven't really received a repair bill yet, due to the lightning strike Monday morning that knocked out the electricity and fried the computers at the Firestone...I should receive the invoice in the mail shortly.

But since you asked, I need to get familiar with used car warranty laws in Massachusetts - are you familiar with such? Do I have any rights in this case, or is it strictly as-is/no warranty?

i second this suggestion. when it happened to me, it was hit and miss, off and on, and then it kept getting worse until i figured it wasn't going to fix itself. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

it seemed less of a problem cold than warm/hot.

after replacing plugs and wires, pretty much the same.

diagnosed with one of those cheapy neon(?) plug wire short-detecting tools, and found the short in the coil (1 of 3) that was bad by holding the tool in-between two of them. the fact it was intermittent made it more fun <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

a good clue is: each coil is for two cylinders; so if you pinpoint the problem to two cylinders that work off one coil, you've probably getting it narrowed down.

I also used a timing light on the plug wires to help spot non-firing plug(s).

even warm, the problem was still intermittent, but diagnosable. you can also try it in the dark, but maybe without the lightning <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />.

i could have replaced just one coil, but didn't know any better at the time, and replaced the thing as a complete unit, which is fine, 'cause now i have to backups for when they decide to stop supplying parts... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

if i had known, i probably could have switched coils around to see if the problem followed.

hope this helps. and thanks for the adventure story, though i'd guess you'd prefer that it'd been smooth...


bc

BTW the same thing happened to me with the water pump and timing belt and timing belt cover...almost immediate shutdown equaled zero impact (well learning how to do my first water pump/timing belt/tensioner/crankshaft pulley removal etc actually had a big impact -- it got me here to 4x4wire isuzu -- and put a dent in the wallet for the helms manuals--worth it to me--i suggest you get the updates too because i remember there were a couple of significant changes that even alldata didn't show)

i was also surprised at how rugged those timing belt covers really are, and the fact that it got cut though made me wonder if i hadn't had the problem with the belt partly off for awhile and was just oblivious

anyway, hope yours turns out equally non life-threateningd

If the plugs/wires don't fix it the coil paks will be next...since there are 3 coil paks for 6 cylinders, would a bad coil pak only affect one cylinder, or two? Are the 3 paks interchangable?

Yes, it could affect only one cylinder. That's how this one was.

Richard <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

in my experience, yes one bad coil affects the two cylinders it controls. the only way it wouldn't, imho, would be because of intermittent. frankly, can't see how a bad coil could affect only one of the two cylinders it supplies. but, stranger things........

and yes the paks are interchageable, that's why i said


and of course as you know the wires could be the culprit, especially if you've got one of the "special" engines that leak the oil up to the sparkplug hole. i didn't have that problem.

Good to see you made it home okay and that the new RS is in better shape that you thought last I talked to you <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> I have been without internet access the past few days, so I was wondering how everything worked out. Where did you run into toll roads in Indiana <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />