Just got my Monte and have timing belt and noise questions.

[wiserocz]

Hi,

Glad I found a forum on the 3.4 DOHC. I just bought a 96 Monte Carlo Z34 off of ebay and to put it lightly it needed some badly needed maintenance (I did after all pick it up at a FORD dealership, must have been a trade in).

So on the way home (50 mile trip) I had time to asses the things it needed and today I had tires, brakes, tie rod, and a trailing arm replaced for $571.00 which isn't too bad I figuire.

The next things I have to worry about is the ABS, BRAKE, and SERVICE ENGINE light is on. I also noticed a sound that was coming from the passenger side of the car that sounded like rattling metal. At first I thought it may be the infamous timing belt everyone talks about when they mention the DOHC 3.4. Now I'm not so sure. I think I may do the timing belt just to be safe as soon as I have the money. It runs a little crappy but I think that may be because of the SES light.

I need to run a scanner on the Service Engine soon light, does anyone know of a place like Autozone that does free scanning? There used to be a place but they went out of business or sold or something.

I get the feeling the last guy that owned this car never did any maintenance on the car at all. At least it looks nice the rest will take time to get straight.

From my perspective, so far coming from a 92 Achieva SC with a 3300 the Monte doesn't feel as fast but it could be that the SES is causing that. The Monte is a nicer car but I would have loved to have a 3800 in the thing at this point. I might feel different after I get it right tho. BTW nice forum!

BTW is there a way to get the damn door handles to go back down, is it a spring or something?

[Lyle's GTP]

DAMN!! I hope you didn't pay much for the car.

Lyle

[SappySE107]

You need to get it on a scanner to see what all is wrong with it. The cam timing may be off, may be way off, or may be fine. Hard to say, but the scanner is definetly first. You can see how the belt is doing though via the inspection cover.

Is your monte a 2 or 4 door?

[wiserocz]

I paid very little for it. I was expecting worse. Mechanically it seems okay, shifts and idles smoothy it seems like it runs out of breath around 3000RPM and then rockets up from there after a little stumble. When you get a car off of ebay and you knock a couple grand off the price of the car you have to expect to be doing some work. Truth be known I would have had new brakes and tires put on it regardless of condition. Next up will be a tune up and I'm going to buy a scanner to find out whats tripping the SES light. I've heard these motors last forever with exception to timing belt changes and alternators. The car itself is actually really nice looking, very clean interior and body, it just looked like the last guy didn't maintain his car to my standards. After I get things straightened out I will post some pics just so you can see my cool lil deal. The actual buyer bailed out (had negative feedback YES NEGATIVE) and I got to get the car at my first bid because everyone else was bogus.

BTW They only made 2 door monte carlos.

[SappySE107]

Interesting, I guess the lumina only got the 4 door, even though both cars are pretty much the same thing.

Its going to be normal for that car to not have anything down low, and then to kick in around 4k or so and then start to really move. They changed the intake manifolds in 96 to larger port, and it raised the powerband up 1000 RPM from the older engines. It probably needs an O2 sensor, and hopefully with a full tune up the rest will fall in place.

[wiserocz]

Thats probably a good thing to replace. I will stop tomorrow and get a scanner and maybe get a o2 sensor for the hell of it. The one thing that freaks me out is the metalic rattle near the passenger side of the engine. A buddy of mine said that it was just an old rusty tensioner does this sound right? It sounded like a timing chain at first and then I realized from this forum that its a belt in my car so thats not it. I think the timing belt wouldn't hurt to get replaced but I am gonna wait till my Achieva sells on ebay before I get too far into the mix.

Just in case anyone wants to see my ol ride...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4511733466

I hope I can get this 3.4 Running as nice as I had that 3300, that car has a lot of low end torque.

[SappySE107]

Unless you have 1500+, don't count on getting a scanner tomorrow for your car. Its OBD2 and the hardware isn't cheap. Rusty tensioner? I suppose. Its a good idea to change the belt tensioner every 100k or so though they rarely go bad and thats usually well over 150k. The engine does have a chain as well, to drive the oil pump "dummy cam". That chain has a tensioner though and should still be good on your motor.

[wiserocz]

1500 for a scanner WOW! Thats a bit much.

What about this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4511353293

Does anyone know if it will work?

[SappySE107]

Never seen that, but it might tell you the codes. The scanners I have seen give you the actual data, not the code number. They also give you much more than trouble codes, which makes them more useful than that thing. Are you near south bend, indiana?

[wiserocz]

Nope Lapeer Michigan

[SappySE107]

Oh well, my friend has a nice scanner, but you would have to be local for that to help you out any.

[napatiger]

Instead of that scanner off ebay, couldn't he just use the paperclip trick and count the flashes?

[wiserocz]

Hey I'm liking this. So tell me more about the paperclip technique...Just a note, from what I can tell the car is only misbehaving in midrange it rattles and misses just a little bit and then surges forward. I wonder if it could be a O2 sensor. BTW I added a mini pic to my avatar of my car, soon as I get it detailed I will get some nice high res pictures. I need to get the engine compartment detailed the previous owner probably never opened the hood and its DIRTY. BUT NOT FOR LONG!

Thanks everyone for the help!

[wiserocz]

Just noticed this thread and I take it that 96 and newer cannot use the paperclip trick?

[wiserocz]

http://www.60degreev6.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=409&highlight=paperclip