Anyone work on cars here?

[chperplt]

Before I became a pilot I took autoshop.. I didn't do very well, and still don't know a darn thing about cars.. Since I became I pilot, I don't have very much money either.

I bought some parts for my wife's 100K mile car and thought I would spend an easy afternoon fixing a few things. I was able to solve the cars overheating problem (blown fan fuse)!! I was also able to replace the air filter without a problem.. The problem came when I went to look for the fuel filter and PCV valve.. I couldn't... and still can't find them.

Anyone know where these two things might be??? 95 Firebird with a 3.4 V6. The owners manual sucks and I'm too lazy to run to Barns and Noble and look through the books there.

Any help??

Thanks

 

[FracPilot]

The PCV valve takes air from the air filter housing, and also vents crankcase fumes into the air filter. Take a look at the air filter housing, and find a couple small hoses coming off it. Follow to the PCV valve.

The fuel filter is likely an in line type, though I am not familiar with the V6 engine in a Firebird. If you can find the fuel line going into the EFI block, follow it away from the EFI until you find the fuel filter.

Good luck.

 

[EagleRJ]

SInce it's a fuel injected engine, the filter is probably bolted to the firewall or an accessory bracket behind the engine. It's about the size of a soup can. The fuel in it is pressurized, so don't just unhook the hoses. You'll need to bleed off the fuel pressure, usually by pulling the fuse on the pump in the fuel tank and running the engine until it stalls.

The PCV valve is about the size of a C cell battery, and it will be either mounted right in one of the valve covers, or will be mounted remotely with some hoses going to it. You can tell if it is defective by shaking it. If you hear something rattling inside, it's still good.

 

[Chas]

My thoughts

Look for the fuelfilter at the rear axle area near gas tank Remember when removing it fuel will spray due to pressure so shield yourself. It could also be located along the chassis frame under the drivers side of the car .It may look like a canister with 2 hoses on each end and be a one piece design. Chas

 

[avbug]

Dunno on your specific car, but commonly the fuel filter is either firewall right side, or on the ride side of the chassis, to the rear, on the inside.

Invest fifteen bucks in a Haynes manual at your local Pep Boys or Autozone (or a Chilton manual, though in general I think the haynes are easier to follow for most folks). When I get a vehicle, that's the first thing I pick up for it, and it lives under the seat.

Not all vehicles use a PCV valve; some are plumbed directly back to the induction without the benifit of a check valve. Generally it's located directly atop the valve cover housing.

 

[tacojet]

Purge the fuel system first....

Like Eagle RJ said, the pump wires might be in the trunk or hatchback area also.

Then disconnect the battery before you replace the filter to prevent a nasty fire. Pretty easy from there...

 

[CaptBuzzard]

I have a mustang GT and the filter is up above the axle. More than likely there is a switch to relieve the system of pressure. Probably in the trunk area. (Mine is behind the molding, so check behind those.) Your owners manual should say where the switch is. You will have a mess if you don't do that. You will have some fuel come out when you remove the filter. If it is above the axle, wear something over your eyes. I agree with avbug, get a haynes or chilton manual. They are good. Good luck

 

[LR25]

To relieve the fuel press in the line, find the plugs to the fuel pump(probobly on top of the fuel tank), start the car, pull these plugs off untill the engine quits, this will relieve the press in the lines.

And one other thing, get the Haynes manual, if all else fails, read the instructions.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Whenever I need to do work on my 200,000 mile van, I cruise to the library and pick up the appropriate manual for the job. It's free and easy!

 

[Timebuilder]

I don't have access to my reference manuals tonight, but you have enough info to find the PCV valve. Replace the rubber grommet also, if one is being used.

The F body cars (Camaro and Firebird) almost always have the fuel filter back by the gas tank. Yes, pull the fuse or fuel pump relay and let the engine die to bleed off most of the fuel pressure. You needn't disconnect the battery ground, but pull the keys from the ignition, for certain. If using ramps, block the wheels well. When I was doing this for a living (after radio and before flying) I came into work one Monday morning to find one of the mechanics missing. His wife found him with a car on his chest in the driveway over the weekend, cold as a mackerel.

Story number two: a pakistani mechanic I know was changing the fuel filter on his mercedes, and broke the bulb on his drop light, lighting a pool of fuel. He now makes Michael Jackson look normal.

Most of the EFI/CFI GM cars from the 90's use a 20mm hex on the fuel filter and a standard flarenut on the tube.

36 ASE certs, and they are meaningless for any kind of A&P credit.

Sheesh.

 

[Huck]

Let me tell you about the time I changed the starter in an F350 dually without disconnecting one (of the two) batteries. It was a straight shift, and one arc over the lugs and that ole truck jumped four feet before (thankfully) stopping again.

 

[Brother Francis]

I have a new theory as to why the TSA takes pliers and screwdrivers away from pilots.

 

[Timebuilder]

Ouch.

Changing the starter or alternator are good examples of procedures where the battery ground cable should be detached from its terminal and set away from its position. Cables have a tendency to bend back to the original position because of the "memory" of the vinyl jacket, and can return to touch the battery terminal.

Did I mention some goggles to keep spewing fuel out of your eyes? Find a pair, and save the pain for your knuckles.

After disconnecting the battery, some cars have driveability problems, including stalling and rough running. A few miles of driving the car will usually be enough to correct this problem, as the ECM "re-learns" the correct values of air and fuel to produce acceptable performance.

 

[jetdriven]

cruise on over to www.f-body.org and ask yer question over there.

the PCV valve location is on the VECI label, which is usually on the radiator support or on the underside of the hood. A black-n-white label with all the vacuum line routings and the PCV and EGR valve locations. those are usually on the rear side of the intake manifold.

 

[avbug]

If you clip the fuel line at each end of the filter with a small pair of needle nose visegrips, there won't be any fuel to spray. Any time you're pulling a soft fluid line like that, it's a good idea to compress it gently with either a fuel stop or a set of visegrips. Then you won't get a pool of fuel, a fire, a spray, or that icky liquid burny stuff on you.

 

[jetdriven]

to relieve fuel pressure you pull the "fuel pump" fuse while the car is idling or just depress the schrader valve on the fuel rail when the car is off. or if you let the car set for an hour or so the fuel press will have bled off by then.

 

[Timebuilder]

The fuel rail schrader can be a good methor of pressure release, depending on where it is located. Some manufactures try to bury the thing in the back amongst electrical cables and vacuum hoses, while some don't even suppy a test point, so you have to use a plumbling adapter from a test kit. Once again, watch that fuel spray.

Pinching off fuel lines works on a lot of cars and truck, where the maker was good enough to use rubber fuel line. Many of the GM products use metal lines, flare nuts, and small "o" rings.

It never hurts to drape a shop rag over the connection as it is loosened to absorb the escaping fuel.