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Couple of questions...


iKevin
03-09-2009, 01:21 AM
I have a 1996 Corsica with a 3.1L V6 engine. It's been around 40 degrees F here in Minnesota and whenever the car sits for over an hour, it really, really struggles to start. I turn the key for 2 seconds, then let go and the car still hasn't started. I do this about 3 times before it actually starts. What's going on??

Also I noticed that the power-lock feature doesn't work. When i pull the trigger to lock all the doors, I hear a click towards the fuse box entrance on the drivers side. Same thing on the passenger side. It just clicks towards the fuse box. Any clues?

I had the head gasket replaced, new brakes as well. The engine seems to idle strangely. Once I get it started it revvs up, then dies down like it's about to stall, then revvs up again, dies down then goes to normal. Any clue?

jsgold
03-09-2009, 09:40 PM
Not sure what to tell you on the doors...could be a switch or broken wire in the door hinge area...common things. As to the engine it sounds like a bad vacuum leak...if it misses maybe check fire on all cylinders too. Should have a 2-3" BLUE spark, no yellow or short firing. Coils do go bad on these and one cylinder could be mis firing. Check the vacuum lines first though and remove and clean in IAC (Idle Air Control) very carefully as well as the area it sits it. Carbon build up can cause weird idle.

iKevin
03-12-2009, 07:54 PM
Well.. not sure what else to add. I notice that my Corsica starts perfectly once warmed up or once it has been started before.

I learned there was a fuse missing from breaker slot 15. Not sure why it was removed in the first place, but NAPA auto parts didn't have the breaker, so I just went on over to a Ryan's Chevrolet dealer in Buffalo, MN and ordered the breaker for $11.50. It's going to arrive tomorrow. We'll see what's going to happen....

ctwright
03-12-2009, 08:26 PM
for your power locks, if you hear the clicking sound coming from some relays, that tells you that your control circuit is good and you don't have a problem with the switches, which means either the power circuit is bad or maybe the locks themselves have gone bad. check to see that the power locks are getting power to them. I believe the power locks is a solenoid, it receives power, and then a rod pushes your locks up, or pulls them down, just check whichever ones aren't working and replace, if all of them aren't working I can't see your post now that I'm replying and I can't remember but it's probably just no power on your power circuit.

ctwright
03-12-2009, 08:48 PM
i forgot to add something important, although the clicking sound tells you your control circuit is good since the relay is clicking, and the fact that the relay is clicking, doesn't mean that the relay is good, sometimes a relay will engage and click when there is voltage supplied to them, but the contacts that are supposed to touch each other then go bad.

A relay works like this, it's a method for controlling a component that operates at a different voltage than the switch you are controlling it with, or something rated at a higher amperage rating than you are controlling it with.

For example, your starter and solenoid. You have a smaller wire coming from your ignition switch which feeds power to your coil in your solenoid, the coil engages, contacts close, one side of the contacts that are then closed is the bigger wire that is coming straight from the battery, and the other side a big wire goes to the starter. The smaller wire coming from you ignition switch would be considered part of the control circuit. The bigger wires are in the power circuit, the ones actually feeding power to the starter.

iKevin
03-12-2009, 08:54 PM
Alright, well I just drove home, and I noticed my Service Engine Soon light is on, and when I come to a complete stop or anytime where I'm not touching the gas petal, the engine is idling up and down frantically.. Kinda scared to drive it. When I actually do drive it with the problem, the engine is smooth and seems fine though.

iKevin
03-19-2009, 07:29 PM
Well. Got the breaker for my power door locks and now it works, as well as my rear window defroster, a friend of mine took some parts out of the engine, and said there was a massive carbon buildup and removed the carbon and now starts and idles perfectly!!

Now, one last question. Where can I get the upgraded instrument cluster for my Corsica?

freebirdjr
04-02-2009, 09:53 AM
So, after you had your head gaskets removed, the carbon built up? Just curious. I noticed a lot of build up in the vacuum tube, so I am curious as to how long it had been since you had last removed the head gaskets in your car and the reasons you removed them. Have you been able to find a wiring schematic for the Corsica? I've been looking for one myself. Since removing my engine, I am hoping that I don't forget where I pulled all the wires from! How long has it been running okay? P.S. I have the same vehicle, 3.1, all that good jive.

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