Rough fan (they also may squeal) sounds more like a bad fan motor or a loose squirrel cage. That is different from no fan. Removing the fan motor is also a good time to check for crud in the fan duct.

Man, this car either really hates me or really hates snow/cold. The engine got pretty badly flooded this morning (I think thats what happened) so I left it at home. When I got home I cranked it and kept my foot on the pedal, and after some sputtering and what sounded like a backfire after I let off the starter, it started up and ran ok. I let it idle for a few minutes and it almost sounded like it was sputtering a little every 10 or 20 seconds.

I heard that a flooded engine can damage spark plugs to the point where the car runs rough/bad fuel economy/create more tough starts. Is this true? Should I get them replaced now?

When I take it in for the heat I will probably have a winter tune up done. Are there any specific things I should ask for?

You my friend, have the wonderful Magnavox ignition.. that is your problem, period. I used to have my engine get flooded all the time, too. And it would take 20 miles before all the gas would ever be burned off. Upgraded to the delco ignition, and smooth as glass now. I can flood the engine, and the car will start right up, and a nice rev, and the extra gas is all burned off instantly. When you take the car in for the heat, see if you can get a "delco" ignition put in. You can spend $200 for all new stuff, or less than $100 for used. Either way, it'* worth it. If you haven't replaced your O2 sensor, now is a good time. Especially if you have such a weak ignition, and the car floods out, like you said.

The "backfire" you talk about after you let off the starter, is just the starter itself. If you want to test this, just quickly pop the starter [so little, that the car won't start]. If the noise is reproduced, then that is the starter, mine does it too. If that isn't the noise, then it was most likely an ignition cross-over, and the ignition fired, when the intake valve was open [mine also does this, although it is impossible to reproduce, and I just chaulk it up to my old plug wires]. A true backfire, you would know, very loud, and the whole car will usually shake.


-justin

A first start to fix the fan problem I would start with removing the fake wood trim on the dash, remove the four screws to the climate control (very easy) pull it out, unplug the
electrical connector and clean the contacts.
It sounds like you have a faulting connection problem or ground as stated previously.
Then I would proceed to the module and motor if the problem is still present.

That doesn't sound right, I don't see how that could happen :?

You want my ignition to test it? Trust me dude, the delco ignition with some aftermarket coils is a difference of light and day from the magnavox I had, which only fired 100% of it'* crappy capacity, about 25% of the time. You could always tell when it was acting up, but it always worked, so it was left alone.


-justin

My
SSE would intermittenly not throw heat and I found that the damper motor would not work.
Turned out it was the connector harness to the contol had a loose socket.
Tightened it up and it works fine.

I tried oiling the fans myself to no avail, and the heat stopped working all together, so I took it in.

Heres a run-down:

New Parts:

Thermostat (was stuck open). They replaced it and a gasket and drained/refilled the system.

The main problem was the heater fan motor had crapped out. It was replaced completely.

Everything is fine and dandy now, and it cost $350 CDN with parts/labor/tax. Thats about $296 USD for the American folks here.

This morning it was pretty cool out (-25C with wind), so I plugged the car in for a hour. I am happy to say it started in less then a second, with no hesitation or sputtering. I think my Bonne just doesn't like that transition from fall to winter where things are melting and freezing constantly. Now that everything is permanently frozen, there seems to be waaay less problems starting. Anyway, I'll keep an eye on it. When Spring rolls around (and my bank account can build up again ) I will try and get my hands on the Delco ignition.

thanks for the help guys!

yeah the winter temperatures are hard on most any car. I had the fan go out twice on my 87 98 (same part #).

Also since these cars are low I managed to hit a chunk of sand/snow last year (2 ft storm) that smashed my cat. good excuse for a high flow then.

be careful with deep snow if it snows a lot. I live in an area where we get 90s and 100s in the summer and -30 in the winter and most cars dont seem to like it too much considering one day it is 60 and it gets -5 at night...like the other day.


Never once did that old car not start right up on the first try in the winter though.

My 90 SSE has trouble starting below 5 deg. so I plan on upgrading to the Delco also.
They tell me on the board one from a 93 will bolt right on.