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I had this same problem on a 1991 Caprice Wagon. After many hours of searching-it turned out to be a bad coolant temperature sensor (light no gauge). ECM thought the car was overheating and started the chime. Replaced sensor-no more stray chiming.
My story-I have 100 customers-99 of them think I walk on water (exaggerated), 1-thinks I’m an idiot.
That 1 is who I allow to rent the most space in my head. What it does for me is it drives me to be a continual help to others. At the end of the day what I take away from all of it is the experience, education, joy of success, pain of defeat, shame of failure and the true knowing that all those things can’t be taken away from me, that they are mine to share, use and give as I see fit regardless of how the customer feels about me.Money could never buy the experiences I had cruising the PA Turnpike with an approved road service vendor and the relief on the faces of the motorists that you could get down the road from where they sat with a belt, a hose, a battery, a fuse or whatever else they needed that we carried on the truck. To me, it is a gift that I’ve been given by my creator to be able to help folks with the skills and mind that I was born with. Books could be written-but I don’t think they would sell! Besides you are more entertaining than reading an inanimate book!
My story-I have 100 customers-99 of them think I walk on water (exaggerated), 1-thinks I’m an idiot.
That 1 is who I allow to rent the most space in my head. What it does for me is it drives me to be a continual help to others. At the end of the day what I take away from all of it is the experience, education, joy of success, pain of defeat, shame of failure and the true knowing that all those things can’t be taken away from me, that they are mine to share, use and give as I see fit regardless of how the customer feels about me.Money could never buy the experiences I had cruising the PA Turnpike with an approved road service vendor and the relief on the faces of the motorists that you could get down the road from where they sat with a belt, a hose, a battery, a fuse or whatever else they needed that we carried on the truck. To me, it is a gift that I’ve been given by my creator to be able to help folks with the skills and mind that I was born with. Books could be written-but I don’t think they would sell! Besides you are more entertaining than reading an inanimate book!
I cleaned my first spark plug when I was 9-years old after taking a baseball in the face at little league tryouts-sports are not for me. I’m 60-years old now and still suffer from I call “cast iron syndrome.” Thank God-it kept me out of a lot of trouble.
I agree with you about the passion and desire that is required to keep at it and have it be rewarding. I know very well about the ever increasing costs to own and operate an independent shop. Insurance, government regulations, wages, equipment and on and on. I agree with your position about the labor rate and the parts markups.I retired from doing it full time 5-years ago and these days I like to dedicate whatever time I can to helping that person/family with an older car that just can’t afford the “through the door price” of todays repair facilities. Often it is a case of “give me the keys and when I figure it out I’ll call you” and we go from there. If I can’t diagnose it you owe me no money.
I’m fortunate to have a network of techs and facilities that support me in my efforts. you speak from the heart Eric, that is plain and obvious-good for you-it takes courage. Enough babble from me-I’m going to go get cleaned up!
I cleaned my first spark plug when I was 9-years old after taking a baseball in the face at little league tryouts-sports are not for me. I’m 60-years old now and still suffer from I call “cast iron syndrome.” Thank God-it kept me out of a lot of trouble.
I agree with you about the passion and desire that is required to keep at it and have it be rewarding. I know very well about the ever increasing costs to own and operate an independent shop. Insurance, government regulations, wages, equipment and on and on. I agree with your position about the labor rate and the parts markups.I retired from doing it full time 5-years ago and these days I like to dedicate whatever time I can to helping that person/family with an older car that just can’t afford the “through the door price” of todays repair facilities. Often it is a case of “give me the keys and when I figure it out I’ll call you” and we go from there. If I can’t diagnose it you owe me no money.
I’m fortunate to have a network of techs and facilities that support me in my efforts. you speak from the heart Eric, that is plain and obvious-good for you-it takes courage. Enough babble from me-I’m going to go get cleaned up!
Hello retired,
I had a 1995 Chrysler Town and Country Limited that exhibited almost the identical symptoms that you are describing. I hit brick walls with every repair facility I dealt with. I stumbled across a posting on google that pointed to a bad dashboard cluster as the problem. Well that is the only thing electronically that had not been replaced so I bit for it. THAT FIXED IT! Don’t know if this is what is causing your problem 7-years of design difference here. My T&C did have the factory security system and things did keep pointing back to it as a problem but it never was. Maybe maybe….Hello retired,
I had a 1995 Chrysler Town and Country Limited that exhibited almost the identical symptoms that you are describing. I hit brick walls with every repair facility I dealt with. I stumbled across a posting on google that pointed to a bad dashboard cluster as the problem. Well that is the only thing electronically that had not been replaced so I bit for it. THAT FIXED IT! Don’t know if this is what is causing your problem 7-years of design difference here. My T&C did have the factory security system and things did keep pointing back to it as a problem but it never was. Maybe maybe….OK, so much for my thoughts! Curious though, if no fuel pump operation then how did vehicle sustain running after it used up the starting fluid you sprayed to get it to go? Based on one of the ETCG videos a clicking relay isn’t always a conducting relay! The load contacts could be burned beyond conduction. I can’t remember which video he covered that in. Would like to know where the fuel odor is suddenly coming from after the filter replacement. Keep us posted and good luck.
OK, so much for my thoughts! Curious though, if no fuel pump operation then how did vehicle sustain running after it used up the starting fluid you sprayed to get it to go? Based on one of the ETCG videos a clicking relay isn’t always a conducting relay! The load contacts could be burned beyond conduction. I can’t remember which video he covered that in. Would like to know where the fuel odor is suddenly coming from after the filter replacement. Keep us posted and good luck.
Hello,
Go back to the connectors of the ABS sensors you replaced. Your problem sound like there is either a failed or missing weatherseal at one or both of the connectors allowing rain water to get in. Did you have this rail related problem before you changed out the bearings/sensor assemblies? Disconnect them and examine closely-I’ve received aftermarket sensors that were missing the proper weather seal right out of the box. It happens-even with dealer parts!Hello,
Go back to the connectors of the ABS sensors you replaced. Your problem sound like there is either a failed or missing weatherseal at one or both of the connectors allowing rain water to get in. Did you have this rail related problem before you changed out the bearings/sensor assemblies? Disconnect them and examine closely-I’ve received aftermarket sensors that were missing the proper weather seal right out of the box. It happens-even with dealer parts!I have a thought that it could be related to the exhaust leak you referenced at the exhaust manifold. Is that suspected manifold leak in the same area that you found the wet spark plug? For a head gasket failure to permit water (antifreeze) to flow into the exhaust system the affected cylinder(s) would have to fill up with the fluid and the exhaust valve(s) would have to in the open position during the pressure test. My suspicion is that it could be a cracked cylinder head. You did not say exactly where in the “exhaust” you observed the fluid coming out.
I hope this helps you a little bit.
I have a thought that it could be related to the exhaust leak you referenced at the exhaust manifold. Is that suspected manifold leak in the same area that you found the wet spark plug? For a head gasket failure to permit water (antifreeze) to flow into the exhaust system the affected cylinder(s) would have to fill up with the fluid and the exhaust valve(s) would have to in the open position during the pressure test. My suspicion is that it could be a cracked cylinder head. You did not say exactly where in the “exhaust” you observed the fluid coming out.
I hope this helps you a little bit.
Hello,
I’m not exactly familiar with your GrandAm fuel setup-but your comments cause me to ask some potentially silly questions. First, is it possible to install the fuel filter backwards? Perhaps you did (or not). Second, do you by any chance still have the old fuel filter to attempt to go back to where you started? Third, did you possibly receive a defective or incorrect fuel filter? I agree with the comment about full fuel pressure key on engine off. Do you hear the fuel pump spool up when you turn the key on (no start)?
Just some thoughts…..Hello,
I’m not exactly familiar with your GrandAm fuel setup-but your comments cause me to ask some potentially silly questions. First, is it possible to install the fuel filter backwards? Perhaps you did (or not). Second, do you by any chance still have the old fuel filter to attempt to go back to where you started? Third, did you possibly receive a defective or incorrect fuel filter? I agree with the comment about full fuel pressure key on engine off. Do you hear the fuel pump spool up when you turn the key on (no start)?
Just some thoughts…..