Been doing some searching here their and finally got on here.Great Site.
Ok what i got is a 1988 Cutlass Calais 2.5 129k miles. paid 685 and got free water pump. Got a couple problems maybe i can get some answers with.

Got this really hard start and sometimes it will goto around 1k RPMS then goto 500 and die. Other times i have to give it fuel. I believe it to be starter for a couple reasons. One ive had the alternator and battery checked and their good. 2 its making the sound starters make when they die.

Second thing is i put a Flowtech Raptor muffler on and i got some problems with it . It fits great sounds freaking awesome but here is the problem or problems. One the idle immediately increase 1-300 RPMs so instead of a 1k at startup its like 1200 1300 1400 in their. This in turn triggered a SES light <dont got code yet> and then i went from 3/4 tank to E in about 37 miles. After we did some parts throwing at it because it needed them im leaning towards an O2 sensor.Does that sound about right? When we changed the plugs they were all black.Got ac delcos in their now.


Here is what has been done or is getting done.
Starter
Front Rotors and Pads
Fuel Filter
Plugs
Plug wires --->Do i need to change coils?
Oil Change
New V Belts --->how many just the 2?
Coolant flush.
O2 Sensor
upgraded muffler but mite go back to stock one if it clears code.
Air Filter and Crankcase filter


I need new shocks there rusted through in the back. Also i got some burnt out lights in the cluster.How do i go about removing that?Also my oil pressure gauge is intermittant.Like now it reads 0 but oil is great.

Also the radio display went out but it still plays.Its the old Delco setup.Can not wait to get Pioneer in here.

Update.
Plug wires in. Such a pain lol.
Pads and rotors on.
Waiting on starter.
Removed the Raptor idle went back to almost normal and no more code so i dont know. Gonna either try to rehook up the old muffler or just run a straight 2" pipe out the back.
Will continue to update.

strange the new muffler caused the raise in RPM like that...

Yeh i got to talking to a couple people about this more knowledgable than me on this. One guy said maybe i should have put the 2.25" cat on too because the 2" might not have been enough for the air the O2 was pushing back or it could have been going out. I get it back tommorow night from the mechanic who is doing the belts and other stuff.

The lines leading to the fuel filter are rusted.

Shocks also.

Whistling sound on accelleration from passenger side.

Overall though im pleased with this car. Got about 71 miles so far from after the F to the 3rd line before it.


Also got an 89 cluster in the 88.

Yep...and have you tried to change the fuel filter? Sure to have some leaks afterwards...

I used some plastic lines on my delta...won't rust out...not sure exactly what type of plastic tubing it is but it is approved for fuel injected fuel lines and I got it from NAPA.

TOC Admin
Brando

Lol well no thats why it went to the 28/hour mechanic along with belts. I got 3 of em lol.

The vehichle isnt too hard to work on just tight. A guy on AIM told me to get some rubber lines splice the old ones connect the rubber lines in and make sure they dont leak. Those shocks look horrendous. Ill get pics tommorow because i got a oily line maybe you guys can tell me where it goes or what.


Is it normal for steering to be really tight at startup?

well, could be the oil is stiff and needs to get warm before its viscosity is high enough for it to pump it through the steering pump...

Mine does the same thing for the first 3-4 quick turns of the steering wheel after starting. Then it frees back up. Don't know if it's normal or not. A person much more knowledgeable on the subject may be more helpful

Got a list of 11 items to be addressed from mechanic.
Trans filter
Muffler (working on that one lol)
power steering hose (pressure line) that could be the issue
front flex brake lines (Both are cracked)
upper/lower rad hoses
heater hoses
thermostat
valve cover gasket
RR Brake line rubbing against the coil spring it runs to the wheel cylinder
Then 2 issues of rust

Depending on temp, it could also be water. No, it isnt normal at above 0 temps. I took off the return line from the rack on my lumina, bought 3 quarts of ps fluid, put the return line in a can, and fired it up. Ran it until the fluid came out clean, reattached, filled the resivior, bled, and topped it off. I would recommend this if you just got the car... racks are expensive...

There's a TSB on this specific problem...



TOC Admin
Brando

Will look into both when i do that power steering pressure hose in a few weeks.By then it should be WARM.

been awhile want to update this alittle.
Got some parts today finally.
Muffler, exhaust hanger, thermostat, rad cap, overflow cap, the top of the line fel pro valve cover gasket.

Gonna do this stuff hopefully thursday.

Had to buy front tires today had a flat and that was the spare and last week the original took a hit so i had to use plastic. It solved like 95 percent of my vibration problem, once i get money to buy my rear tires ill be set as they are dryrotted and thats not good.

ANy pointers on rear shocks? Looks to be somewhat easy job just gotta get the torch out and start to heat up the bolt and should solve it.

Car is running rich without muffler you can hear it backfire once and awhile and im hoping for warm weather all time now cuz starter is getting really bad and im out of money.

Pressure hose is mechanic item. Talked to a guy about that and rather pay for 2 hours of their time than my frustration.


Hoping for road trip end of may to see what it gets. Right now post tunuep im gettin 20 mpg. Seems around where it should be. I cant wait to find out highway mileage, also hoping this will go up a litle when i get new O2 sensor on it and muffer.

Code on machine is related to irregular idle at idle which i knew lol.

Anywho since i got new front tires i maxed it out today it went almost to 180 degree angle the needle and it still was going faster and faster.

Changed o2 sensor on the old one the tip inside the manifold was broken. I think it has the cat melted inside as i still have the light and the smell of exhaust/raw fuel. I re jumped the terminals and only code 12 but light is on. Going to refill tank and see if it helped. Planning on dropping the cat in place ofa 2" straight pipe till i can buy one off ebay.