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Motor, Jul 2007 by Rosario, Tom
Toyota has a preventive fix in the form of a revised PCM calibration. The new software will automatically upshift the transmission to 4th gear in manual mode, even if the owner selects 3rd gear on the shifter. To install the new software, order calibration 30642199 for the main ECU, 50621100 for the sub ECU.
GM Truck
Ticking, chirping noise under instrument panel. Drivers of 2005-06 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups may come into your shop complaining of a ticking or chirping sound that emanates from underneath the right side of the instrument panel. A noisy blower motor is the most likely source of the irritation. Installing a special insulating cover (Part No. 15836647) directly over the blower should drastically reduce the noise, or eliminate it entirely.
To install the cover, begin by removing the passenger door sill and kick panel moldings, then the floor courtesy light. Working from underneath the dash, disconnect the BCM harness connector at the motor, then disengage the retaining clip from the harness. Now flex the insulating cover and carefully position it over the motor. If it's installed properly, one hole in the cover will align with a hole at the rear of the motor, while a second hole will match up with a stud on the blower motor. Reposition the cover as necessary.
Once the cover is properly installed, secure it to the blower motor with a push-pin type fastener (Part No. 10098645). Now route the BCM harness over the cover and button it down with the existing retaining clip. To complete the fix, install the courtesy light and the kick panel and door sill moldings.
Acura
MIL on, DTC stored. All 2004-05 RSX models, as well as 2006 models built from VIN JH4DC5...6S000001 through TH4DC5...6S000342, are susceptible to illuminating the MIL and storing DTC P1077 (intake manifold runner control/tuning malfunction) in PCM memory. One likely cause for the code, says Acura, is a sticking intake manifold runner control (IMRC) solenoid. Replacing the IMRC solenoid with an upgraded design (Part No. 36163-PND-A01) should eliminate the trouble.
Before installing the upgraded solenoid, clear the code from computer memory. Now install the new solenoid, start the engine and hold the throttle at 3000 rpm until the cooling fan comes on. If the MIL stays off, you're done with the fix, and you can release the car to the customer. If the MIL comes back on and the P1077 logs in computer memory again, further diagnosis of the intake runner system is necessary.
Ford
Oil leak. Ford reports that some 2002 4.6L, two-valve Mustangs (build date prior to 5/17/02) are prone to leaking oil from the top of the engine. If you get one of these leakers in your shop, immediately head for the PCV valve because there's a good chance the stack-up tolerances between the valve and hose may be off-kilter just enough to cause oil to flow out between the valve and hose. Installing an ordinary worm-type clamp onto the hose should stem the tide of lube in a hurry.
Saturn
Inoperative instrument panel backlight. The owner of a 2007 Sky roadster built prior to VIN breakpoint 7Y102344 may come into your shop complaining that the instrument cluster backlighting doesn't work when the headlights are turned on manually during daytime driving. If he does, tell him that the situation is normal. According to Saturn, the backlighting is not controlled by the headlight switch, but rather through a photocell that determines the ambient light conditions necessary to turn on the backlight of the cluster.
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