Official "common problem" thread

[RiceBox]

Here is going to be the official list of common problems, these are the ones I know about:

-rear wheel bearings
-blown headgaskets
-5th gear pop-out
-non functioning gas/temp gauge
-Constant need to replace CV boots
-Headlight mounts
-RUST!!!
-Blown pistonrings
-Anything having to do with the Hitachi carb
-random pinging/misfiring/hesitation

Any more???

broken muffler
bad piston rings

Luckily mine doesn't have ANY rust. Nice thing about living on the west coast, no damn salt on the roads. We're much more modern, we use chemicals.

[LittlebittaContact]

Common Problem: Getting Left at Green Lights

[7RIPP3R]

Originally posted by LittlebittaContact
Common Problem: Getting Left at Green Lights

LOL true.....

[blownb310]

Originally posted by LittlebittaContact
Common Problem: Getting Left at Green Lights

***** I'll bet Hybrid/DET doesn't have THAT problem!

[blownb310]

Well you've got them covered pretty well, Ricebox. How about worn out driver's door hinge pins and bushings, stock radios are always shot, GA16i timing chains, GA16i front crank seals........hey wait a minute! That's enough. We don't want to make our cars look bad here!
P.S. Ricebox, tell us about your rear wheel bearings. I have never seen any go bad. Has anyone else?

My mother killed her rear wheel bearings in her B11 a long long time ago. But she drove 20 miles with the parking brake on. ;>

[Crazy-Mart]

hahahhah thats bad !! ... radios are a sure shot !!... i used to have the duo cassette and am/fm... but the cassette forget this crap... it was eating them !!.. im now on my 3rd car with the pioneer sys that i got then... never stock again !!...

P.s door bushing !!... 2 cars... 3 door repaired... plus i have 1 driver sider mint door complete in storage (was going on my other one but scrped the car...)

I got the 2 front one replace (one the complete spindle bought used the other one new bearing) last month ... ah there went my extra money again

Ok.. Let's see if we can drum up some more solutions to these common problems. The gas/temp gauge. How do you fix that?

[RiceBox]

Originally posted by blownb310
P.S. Ricebox, tell us about your rear wheel bearings. I have never seen any go bad. Has anyone else?

Someone else mentioned the rear wheel bearings, and I decided to add it. I had to replace mine but it was because I gave my car an alignment job using a curb while sliding sideways at 25 km/h.

I had the crappy radio problem too, but it was fixed a month later with a really sweet christmas present from my dad. Pioneer HU, and 4 Kenwood speakers!!!
<--- me listening to the tunes!

[RiceBox]

Originally posted by UnaClocker
Ok.. Let's see if we can drum up some more solutions to these common problems. The gas/temp gauge. How do you fix that?

Do a search. It's been discussed ad naseum

[dschrier]

I've had the cv boots tear 4 times in the 5 years I've owned my 90 b12, but one time was pepboys fault due to putting the wrong size boots on. I have a pinging problem caused by who knows. I even get pinging with 93 octane if it is really hot out. Anyone else have this mysterious pinging problem that has fixed it? I also had my timing chain guard break resulting in my timing chain cutting through my engine. That's all the major problems so far, and that's not too bad for a 13 yr old car.

[blownb310]

[i]I have a pinging problem caused by who knows. I even get pinging with 93 octane if it is really hot out. Anyone else have this mysterious pinging problem that has fixed it? [/b]

***** I have repaired a few GA16i's with that problem. It always went back to the worn/stretched timing chain, which had retarded the cam timing. Ignition timing adjustments will not help if the cam timing is off. But you mentioned that you replaced the timing chain and guides already? Did you replace just the broken guides and the tensioner, or did you reolace all associated components?
OK, say you had all that replaced, and that's not it. Does your B12 use any oil? If so, how much between 3,000 mile oil changes? Any oil getting into the cobustion chambers will cause detonation too.
Lastly, an inoperative EGR valve will cause pinging as well. Take your pick!

[dschrier]

Well I have no idea what got fixed when the timing chain fiasco happened. My dad pretty much took care of the repairs on that, and we had a garage do it. I would assume you would check the timing when you replace the chain? I don't really know all the mechanics behind this stuff so I claim ignorance here. After 3000 miles I am only about half way down from full to low on the oil dipstick which is about only half a quart correct? I think that's normal for a car with 150,000 miles, at least my grandfather saw nothing wrong with that. I do have a small leak which drips from the bottom of my distributor, would the oil there cause pinging? I have tried the EGR diagnosis where you push in the diaphram when the car is idling, and if the car chokes and starts to die it means your EGR valve theoretically is in good/fair condition, and my car did choke and almost die when I pushed in the diaphram. I have just used 93 octane in my car for the 4 yrs I have it just so I don't pin, but I have heard this is bad cause it can cause carbon build up in a car that doesn't require high octane fuel. Would a plugged pcv valve cause deposits to build up in the cylinders resulting in pinging? I read something along the lines of this a while back.

[blownb310]

Originally posted by dschrier
Would a plugged pcv valve cause deposits to build up in the cylinders resulting in pinging? I read something along the lines of this a while back.

***** No, not really. It would cause some serious crancase pressure though, and lots of oil leaks. A 1/2 qt. of oil between oil changed is normal for a car with 150K on it. The EGR valve is functioning if you open it manually, that's good. But does it recieve the vacuum signal to open during driving though? Better let your dad or grandfather check it out. Good luck.