FIXED!!!!!! 96 SSEI WAS stuck at my place -now started
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True Car Nut
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,459
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From: Sauk Centre, MN

After pulling the plugs today in the daylight we found that there IS coolant on them.
Last night it was just so cold out there with wet hands in the driveway/wind that we could only smell them.
Thanks to a quick call to Boostie and him suspecting and me verifying coolant in that passage we got back to work.
So we pulled the SC back off to check to see if the O-rings were seated correct/cracked/damaged and found them to be in great shape and in place. What we saw otherwise was not so pleasant. The EGR tube in the LIM was plumb full of coolant.
We proceeded to put the SC and fuel rail back on and got all the vacuum lines and electrical connectors plugged in.
Then we went after the EGR to LIM tube and it is not removable with the exhaust crossover pipe installed...... no way am I attempting to unbolt that with how easy it is to snap those bolts.
We removed the EGR valve and put the Shop Vac over the EGR passage and a little (very little, maybe 2-3 drops) were sucked out.
My brother now claims he disconnected the pipe (have to get back out there as he just called into me on the phone) but nothing came out to speak of.
Going back out to hook it back up and turn the engine over with the plugs removed. The I'm going to put the plugs back in, and try to start it.
We did as 1fatcat suggested, after we dried them with a paper towel, and put held the tips in front of the Reddy Heater (have his car nosed into my tiny garage now) to burn any residue off them.
Hopefully tonight is our lucky night ....we haven't tried turning it over at all today yet as we wanted to make sure everything was definitely ready to go.
Thanks to a quick call to Boostie and him suspecting and me verifying coolant in that passage we got back to work.
So we pulled the SC back off to check to see if the O-rings were seated correct/cracked/damaged and found them to be in great shape and in place. What we saw otherwise was not so pleasant. The EGR tube in the LIM was plumb full of coolant.
We proceeded to put the SC and fuel rail back on and got all the vacuum lines and electrical connectors plugged in.
Then we went after the EGR to LIM tube and it is not removable with the exhaust crossover pipe installed...... no way am I attempting to unbolt that with how easy it is to snap those bolts.
We removed the EGR valve and put the Shop Vac over the EGR passage and a little (very little, maybe 2-3 drops) were sucked out.
My brother now claims he disconnected the pipe (have to get back out there as he just called into me on the phone) but nothing came out to speak of.
Going back out to hook it back up and turn the engine over with the plugs removed. The I'm going to put the plugs back in, and try to start it.
We did as 1fatcat suggested, after we dried them with a paper towel, and put held the tips in front of the Reddy Heater (have his car nosed into my tiny garage now) to burn any residue off them.
Hopefully tonight is our lucky night ....we haven't tried turning it over at all today yet as we wanted to make sure everything was definitely ready to go.
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True Car Nut
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: In your garage, swipin' da lug nutz

Good to see you guys are on the right path now
But once you guys get it running, I would get new plugs to put in there...plugs and coolant just don't mix well. Also make sure that the O2 hasn't been splashed with coolant either.
But once you guys get it running, I would get new plugs to put in there...plugs and coolant just don't mix well. Also make sure that the O2 hasn't been splashed with coolant either.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Sauk Centre, MN

Well, we got it all back together, fired it up, she ran rough for 3-5 seconds on her own, sputtered for 2 seconds and died. Pulled the Intake tube off the TB and found more coolant. Pulled the front plugs and they are soaked. I suspect there was a little coolant left as we fired it again with the plugs out and only fine mist came out, like it should and a lot less than before.
Cleaning the plugs, torching them again, and reinstalling and hopefully she'll run this time... I am kinda worried about the o2 sensors though. :?
Cleaning the plugs, torching them again, and reinstalling and hopefully she'll run this time... I am kinda worried about the o2 sensors though. :?
Just got off the phone with them. My diagnosis is LIM gaskets. Drain the oil right away, tear it down, and replace those. Get new plugs too.
Be aware that the O2 sensor may fail soon. They don't like DEX any more than the gaskets do.
Be aware that the O2 sensor may fail soon. They don't like DEX any more than the gaskets do.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Sauk Centre, MN

Well, Dan is on his way home, driving his 96 SSEi.
The Check Engine light is on, o2 is more than suspected, and the stock boost guage is now indicating 2 psi more boost than it did before the SC porting.
We found the old TB gasket had not been fully removed, the lower section was gone from the original, the new gasket had been installed, but it had a gap at the bottom, thus causing a vacuum and coolant leak.
After some brainstorming on possible locations for coolant leaks in areas we had worked in that was deamed the only possible place as we had already pulled the SC off to verify the O-rings weren't damaged/not seated right and every thing else looked good.
We removed all the plugs, cleaned them, cycled the engine to get the coolant out (took one revolution after the TB was sealed), put the plugs back in, and it started right up and ran smooth, despite a LOT OF SMOKE. Ran the engine for 2-3 minutes, drained and replaced the oil and filter, and then took it for a drive. It definitely felt smooth and pretty much about how my 95 did after I ported the SC on that and replaced the damaged SC gasket on that. Very smooth and Dan said it was definitely smoother and the boost was a solid 1.5-2 lbs more as it used to peak @ 9 lbs (stock boost guage) at the top of second gear, and now we're seeing 9.5-10 average, peaking at 10.5-11 lbs at the top of second.
Also, I suspect that Dan'* engine, or just his supercharger were replaced previously as his 1996(?) M90 is not painted like the M90 on my uncle/aunts 1996 Park Avenue Ultra.
Needless to say we are both VERY relieved. Like he said "it was probably something stupid" and it was. We won't say who'* to blame though.
Also, 120 grit flapper wheels with a dremel spinning @ 8-9000 rpm create a very smooth SC inlet and finishing up with a 1000 grit wet by hand really is candy.
First time using a flapper wheel personally ---won't be the last time for sure. In fact I have a 98+ SC sitting here waiting to get ported this week.
The Check Engine light is on, o2 is more than suspected, and the stock boost guage is now indicating 2 psi more boost than it did before the SC porting.
We found the old TB gasket had not been fully removed, the lower section was gone from the original, the new gasket had been installed, but it had a gap at the bottom, thus causing a vacuum and coolant leak.
After some brainstorming on possible locations for coolant leaks in areas we had worked in that was deamed the only possible place as we had already pulled the SC off to verify the O-rings weren't damaged/not seated right and every thing else looked good.
We removed all the plugs, cleaned them, cycled the engine to get the coolant out (took one revolution after the TB was sealed), put the plugs back in, and it started right up and ran smooth, despite a LOT OF SMOKE. Ran the engine for 2-3 minutes, drained and replaced the oil and filter, and then took it for a drive. It definitely felt smooth and pretty much about how my 95 did after I ported the SC on that and replaced the damaged SC gasket on that. Very smooth and Dan said it was definitely smoother and the boost was a solid 1.5-2 lbs more as it used to peak @ 9 lbs (stock boost guage) at the top of second gear, and now we're seeing 9.5-10 average, peaking at 10.5-11 lbs at the top of second.
Also, I suspect that Dan'* engine, or just his supercharger were replaced previously as his 1996(?) M90 is not painted like the M90 on my uncle/aunts 1996 Park Avenue Ultra.
Needless to say we are both VERY relieved. Like he said "it was probably something stupid" and it was. We won't say who'* to blame though.
Also, 120 grit flapper wheels with a dremel spinning @ 8-9000 rpm create a very smooth SC inlet and finishing up with a 1000 grit wet by hand really is candy.
First time using a flapper wheel personally ---won't be the last time for sure. In fact I have a 98+ SC sitting here waiting to get ported this week.
It was more like 1psi Marty. Before the porting it was around 9.5-10psi, no more than 10 at peak. Now it'* at least if not slightly more than 11psi at peak, and everywhere else it'* about 10. And no more smoke
Originally Posted by OLBlueEyesBonne
Dan, just noticed your sig needs to be updated. 
----Thanks to everyone that helped us out. I really appreciate all the support and timely help throughout this pretty much crappy weekend.----





