Asking for help before i toast the car

[hovoc]

I have a 94 Firebird v6 with 157k on the clock. I've never had any major engine issues, biggest thing being a starter or alternator (thank god). Anyways, occasionally I can get in the car, and press down on the brakes and the whole dash and steering wheel will light up. While the brake is down, the head lights will raise, but not retract. Also, during this occurance (with or without the peddle pressed) the only brake that that does work is the small one on the hatch.

Any clue what this could be? Id hate to have this car put in the shop for some sort of mass electrical problem, at this point I dont feel the car is worth the repair.

Another thing. The car tends to over heat. Ive checked all the coolent and everything is fine. T-stat has been replaced twice. 2 mechanics cant find anything wrong with it, one hard wired my fans to run whenever the car is on and that delays the problem, but it will eventually overheat and cause the tranny to not drop down to first gear (automatic) or cause it to slip or something.

Thanks in advance

[ONLNTM5]

I'm not sure what the electrical problem is with the lights and everything, I have never heard of that, but I would imagine someone here might be able to help you. The over heating problem sounds like a Chev. Lumina that I had that overheated and eventually warped the heads. This was due to the fact that the person that owned the car before me, regularly serviced everything but the cooling system, and neither did I. So mechanically at 165,000 miles (only 43,000 were mine), the car was in near perfect running condition, except when the heads warped and let coolant into the oil. The reason this happened is that residue built up in the heads and the coolant couldn't circulate properly to cool them.
Anyway, when is the last time that you had the cooling system flushed real good? Also, I'm sure your mechanic thought to replace the radiator cap? Another problem could be an air pocket in the cooling system.

[hovoc]

I'm not sure what the electrical problem is with the lights and everything, I have never heard of that, but I would imagine someone here might be able to help you. The over heating problem sounds like a Chev. Lumina that I had that overheated and eventually warped the heads. This was due to the fact that the person that owned the car before me, regularly serviced everything but the cooling system, and neither did I. So mechanically at 165,000 miles (only 43,000 were mine), the car was in near perfect running condition, except when the heads warped and let coolant into the oil. The reason this happened is that residue built up in the heads and the coolant couldn't circulate properly to cool them.
Anyway, when is the last time that you had the cooling system flushed real good? Also, I'm sure your mechanic thought to replace the radiator cap? Another problem could be an air pocket in the cooling system.

not sure when its had a coolant flush. the mechanic said he went over the system and didnt notice anything out of place.

it doesnt seem the coolant system is leaking anywhere. the gauge reads normal now, where as it would go into the red. but the transmission still doesnt drop to 1st when slowing down, this happens after about 10-15min of driving.

it may be a trasmission issue, the fluid cooler (if there is one on this car) may be bad, the fluid hasnt been changed in god knows when, but ive always been told that tranny fluid doesnt need to be changed, so that may be it. its to the point where if itd be too much of a repair bill then i may deem it not worth fixing.

[ONLNTM5]

I would say that the sporadic overheating problem could very likely be caused by blockage in your cooling system. As far as your transmission, I have been told that servicing one over 120,000 miles can actually cause the transmission to go out on you. I'm not really sure how this is possible, but what I was told, is that the old transmission fluid can gum up and become part of the working mechanism, or something to that effect, and when you flush, it, drain it, or whatever, some of the functionality can be lost. So, I guess you would be taking your chances with a transmission service.

[pete]

Did your electrical problem start after your good buddy wired the fans on? Probably the cause of your problem is there. It should be returned to the factory wiring, and the real problem of your overheating found. Fans may not work because the relays are bad (two of them under the hood in the relay/fuse box) or the coolant sensor is bad. The fans should run when the a/c is on also.

[hovoc]

Did your electrical problem start after your good buddy wired the fans on? Probably the cause of your problem is there. It should be returned to the factory wiring, and the real problem of your overheating found. Fans may not work because the relays are bad (two of them under the hood in the relay/fuse box) or the coolant sensor is bad. The fans should run when the a/c is on also.

no it was a random occurance before the hard wiring of the fan.

this car is a mystery, all the fuses and relays have been replaced, the wiring has been checked, no one knows its time to put it out of its misery, but i cant afford another car.

as far as the tranny, ive heard the same thing, however, my dad's gf has a crown vic with over 200k on it and changed her tranny fluid at about 150k or so and hasnt had any problems to date

[Joe 1320]

Let me straighten out a few facts.......

Transmission fluid does need to be changed.
Cooling systems do need to be flushed.
Oil does need to be changed.

Failure to do the above results in things breaking down.
I don't care how long somone else's car has gone without a certain part being serviced, I'll guarantee it would last even longer if they did service it.
the overheating issue could be caused from poor coolant flow through the radiator, blocked passages in the block, partially blown headgasket, overheating transmission. Since you mention transmission problems as well, sounds like the trans may be overheating and the radiator can't cool it down. BTW, just because a mechanic looks at something and says it appears normal did you ever think that this might have been a "D" student, rather than an "A" student?

[wolfdogs]

'Anyways, occasionally I can get in the car, and press down on the brakes and the whole dash and steering wheel will light up. While the brake is down, the head lights will raise, but not retract. Also, during this occurance (with or without the peddle pressed) the only brake that that does work is the small one on the hatch."

Ive heard of about every problem with f bodies there is... since 1967....but never......ever.....have i heard anything like this......

what connection is the brake to any of these components.....

[redbird94]

hmmmm .................................................. .

[hovoc]

'Anyways, occasionally I can get in the car, and press down on the brakes and the whole dash and steering wheel will light up. While the brake is down, the head lights will raise, but not retract. Also, during this occurance (with or without the peddle pressed) the only brake that that does work is the small one on the hatch."

Ive heard of about every problem with f bodies there is... since 1967....but never......ever.....have i heard anything like this......

what connection is the brake to any of these components.....

it boggles the mind......



as for the coolant flush ill give it a shot, not sure when it was done last, may solve that issue, but until i fix teh electrical issue, the car cant go anywhere

[SteveH95Formula]

"....the only brake that that does work is the small one on the hatch."


I think he ment the brake 'light' on the hatch.
but could be wrong.

[hovoc]

"....the only brake that that does work is the small one on the hatch."


I think he ment the brake 'light' on the hatch.
but could be wrong.

you are correct sir, sorry for my poor grammar


only brake light i get when i press the brake is the small light on the hatch, and thats not enough, since i dont have running tails

[DeWynter]

I had a weird problem with power feedback through the brake system when I changed out my Hatch shocks. the problem was that they didnt make a very good conductor like the factory ones. So I would get all kinds of weird things with the electronics in my car when I pressed the brakes, as it would feed back power to the fuse box on the defroster electronics and would turn on the headlights, but not lift them, I had no brake lights, and my rear defroster wouldnt work. It also blew fuses that didnt seem to be connected. I brought back the hatch shocks and bought original GM ones and no more problems. I guess the moral of the story here is it could be a power feedback loop.

[Coop '02Z]

Sounds like what Dewynter said a wierd power or even a ground loop issue. I have seen it, it is always wierd like this.

[hovoc]

Sounds like what Dewynter said a wierd power or even a ground loop issue. I have seen it, it is always wierd like this.

only thing i can possibly think it would be is that a few years ago i had a system in the car, and it was removed back in the day, but not sure why it would just pop up like this