Tweet
Here's the story....
About 2 months ago my 1997 Monte Carlo needed an intake gasket job, I did the job about 90% of the way myself (not my first time), but for reasons beyond my control, I had to leave town before it was done. Keep in mind I was doing this in the parking lot, I have no garage to work in. I took another car, and had the MC towed to my mechanic that I used to trust, at least until this job. In my haste (haste is bad when working on cars...) I didn't align the rear gasket correctly and didn't notice until I already had a bunch of stuff back together, so I just had him redo the whole job. For just a touch extra money, I also had him replace the head gaskets as a sort of preventative maintenance. I'm well aware that head gaskets just don't give for no reason, but I've got some trips planned and I wanted to be sure, the car is approaching 200k. Normally, this is all work I'd do myself if I wasn't living in an apartment; but I figured he'd be able to handle it.
Anyway, I get back from my trip, go to pick up the car. Not only did he lose a ton of bolts, but he also managed to screw up the exhaust manifold heat shields (and thus didn't put them back on at all), AND the car had a manifold exhaust leak. I was PISSED. I left it with him for another two days and he fixed the leak, but obviously I still wasn't happy...but life isn't perfect and it's just going to have to wait until the summer for me to clean up the mess. A few days go by and the SES lights up. I scan it, o2 sensor code, unfortunately I don't remember which code it was, but it was probably another P1133. I drive around for a few days with the light on, until one day I guess the thing crapped out so bad that the car would idle irratically and stall coming to a stop. I unplugged the sensor, drove it for about another day, then replaced it and everything was fine for the next 400 or so miles.
So today, I'm driving home, SES is back on. Scan code, P1133. This time I actually check the service manual, the diagnostic table doesn't really say anything to indicate that there would be another problem (other than an exhaust leak, which I'm 99% sure it doesn't have) besides a faulty o2 sensor. So later this week I'm going to replace the sensor, AGAIN.
My question is, is there something I'm overlooking? Other than the lack of manifold heat shields and some missing bolts (nothing critical, stuff like the crash braces...haha..) the car is running fine, and has had good power. I did end up putting in a Bosch o2 sensor, and I have a feeling that might be the culprit, but lasting less than 500 miles is rediculous. I'm going to replace it under warranty, so I guess we'll see how it goes.
I could have/should have gotten an AC sensor, but I didn't really want to drive around with the sensor unplugged for as long as it would have taken gmpartsdirect to get one to me.
If anyone has any thoughts or even reaffirmations that Bosch makes crapola, it would be appreciated.
About 2 months ago my 1997 Monte Carlo needed an intake gasket job, I did the job about 90% of the way myself (not my first time), but for reasons beyond my control, I had to leave town before it was done. Keep in mind I was doing this in the parking lot, I have no garage to work in. I took another car, and had the MC towed to my mechanic that I used to trust, at least until this job. In my haste (haste is bad when working on cars...) I didn't align the rear gasket correctly and didn't notice until I already had a bunch of stuff back together, so I just had him redo the whole job. For just a touch extra money, I also had him replace the head gaskets as a sort of preventative maintenance. I'm well aware that head gaskets just don't give for no reason, but I've got some trips planned and I wanted to be sure, the car is approaching 200k. Normally, this is all work I'd do myself if I wasn't living in an apartment; but I figured he'd be able to handle it.
Anyway, I get back from my trip, go to pick up the car. Not only did he lose a ton of bolts, but he also managed to screw up the exhaust manifold heat shields (and thus didn't put them back on at all), AND the car had a manifold exhaust leak. I was PISSED. I left it with him for another two days and he fixed the leak, but obviously I still wasn't happy...but life isn't perfect and it's just going to have to wait until the summer for me to clean up the mess. A few days go by and the SES lights up. I scan it, o2 sensor code, unfortunately I don't remember which code it was, but it was probably another P1133. I drive around for a few days with the light on, until one day I guess the thing crapped out so bad that the car would idle irratically and stall coming to a stop. I unplugged the sensor, drove it for about another day, then replaced it and everything was fine for the next 400 or so miles.
So today, I'm driving home, SES is back on. Scan code, P1133. This time I actually check the service manual, the diagnostic table doesn't really say anything to indicate that there would be another problem (other than an exhaust leak, which I'm 99% sure it doesn't have) besides a faulty o2 sensor. So later this week I'm going to replace the sensor, AGAIN.
My question is, is there something I'm overlooking? Other than the lack of manifold heat shields and some missing bolts (nothing critical, stuff like the crash braces...haha..) the car is running fine, and has had good power. I did end up putting in a Bosch o2 sensor, and I have a feeling that might be the culprit, but lasting less than 500 miles is rediculous. I'm going to replace it under warranty, so I guess we'll see how it goes.
I could have/should have gotten an AC sensor, but I didn't really want to drive around with the sensor unplugged for as long as it would have taken gmpartsdirect to get one to me.
If anyone has any thoughts or even reaffirmations that Bosch makes crapola, it would be appreciated.