Service slants

Motor, Mar 2001 by Meir, John A

Acura

Rear trailing arm noise. The rear trailing arms on some 1990 and newer Integras may squeak when the car is driven over speed bumps or into a driveway. One possible cause could be that the inner and outer portions of the trailing ann bushings are rubbing against each other. Acura has released plastic shims (Part No. 52387-SH3-305) to be installed in the front and rear slots of both bushings to correct this condition.

To begin the fix, raise the vehicle on a hoist and coat both the trailing arm bushing and the plastic shims with silicone spray. Working from the outboard side of the trailing arm, insert a shim in the middle of the bushing's front slot (see illustration), then insert the other shim in the middle of the rear slot, making sure the shims go all the way in. Repeat for the other side. If the vehicle is on a frame-type hoist and the shims won't go all the way in, push the wheels up or down as necessary to load or unload the bushings. To keep the shims in place, fold their split tabs away from the center of each bushing.

Ford

Takeoff judder. Ford has come up with a new right-hand engine support insulator (Part No. F5RZ-6068FA) to eliminate a judder or harshness on takeoff on some 1995 Ford Contours/Mercury Mystiques built through 8/21/95. The insulator (it's actually the part we used to call a motor mount) may also leak fluid, because it's one of those newfangled hydraulic types.

GM

Rear brake moan/groan. On some 1998-99 Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Intrigue and Pontiac Grand Prix models, a moaning or groaning noise may emanate from the rear of the vehicle that can be heard in the passenger compartment. This condition is usually most apparent during moderate braking, and typically does not occur on a brand-new vehicle.

According to GM, the noise may originate at the rear brake pad/rotor interface and be transmitted during brake application to the vehicle's underbody through the rear suspension components. To correct the problem, replace the existing rear brake pads with a revised set (Part No. 18023388). Make sure you properly burnish the pads during break-in to prevent inadequate braking.

Chrysler

Squeaking front strut(s). A squeaking noise may emanate from the front strut(s) of some 1998-2000 Concorde/Intrepid/LHS/300M models during suspension jounce. To check this out, bounce the vehicle so the front struts are in the full jounce position or drive the vehicle over speed bumps at 8 to 10 mph. If a squeaking or bubbling noise can be heard coming from either front strut, perform the following procedure:

Remove and disassemble the struts. Next, remove the strut striker cap by prying upward, first on one side then the other, until the cap is free of the strut housing and can be slid off the strut shaft. Install the revised strut striker cap (Part No. 05018266AA) by sliding it over the shaft until it contacts the housing. Gently tap the cap into place until it's fully seated on the strut housing. Finally, assemble the strut and reinstall it in the vehicle.

Honda

Clutch pedal noise. A squeak or groan or a "notchy" feel when the clutch pedal on a 1998-99 Accord is depressed may be due to imperfections in the bore of the clutch master cylinder, which could cause excessive friction on the piston. To correct this condition, Honda has released a Clutch Hydraulic System kit (Part No. 46340-S84-A06, H/C 62704474), which includes a reservoir, master cylinder, slave cylinder and its mounting bolts, all connecting lines and hydraulic fluid. The system comes fully assembled, bled and ready to be installed. Honda recommends not disassembling the system or replacing only select components on the vehicle, but instead using the entire kit.

GM

Inoperative washer pump. A filter grommet restricting fluid flow may cause the washer pump to not prime or pump washer fluid in some 1995 GM vehicles. A revised grommet (Part No. 22039457) will correct this condition. The affected vehicles are the Buick Skylark, Chevrolet Beretta and Corsica, Oldsmobile Achieva and Pontiac Grand Am.

Ford Truck

Rubbing noise from rear during right turns. Some 1996-2000 Explorers and Mountaineers equipped with 5.0-liter engines may exhibit a rubbing noise from the rear of the vehicle during right-hand turns. Ford says this may be due to insufficient clearance between the muffler hanger rod and the rear driveshaft.

To correct the problem, replace the muffler assembly and hanger bracket. The revised muffler (Part No. YL2Z5230-AA) has hanger rods that have been reoriented 900 that, when used with the new hanger bracket (Part No. F57Z-5A246-A), allow the system to swing fore/aft and prevent contact with the driveshaft.

GM

Rough idle after initial start. Some 1996-98 GM light trucks with 4.3-, 5.0- or 5.7-liter SCPI engines may idle roughly after the first startup after sitting overnight. These symptoms may be intermittent, In addition, the Service Engine Soon (SES) light may be illuminated with a history of misfire codes present.

According to GM, deposit buildup on the ball-to-seat interface of the injection system's poppet valve may be the cause. This causes the poppet valve to stick closed, depriving that particular cylinder of fuel. This condition usually affects only one poppet at a time, and it's not uncommon for the poppet to free itself and resume normal operation. It's believed that certain fuel brands may contribute to the problem. So if you have an intermittent misfire that you can't seem to duplicate, then this may be the cause.