= good plan fing02.gif

Changing the bulbs in the instrument cluster is really no problem, just a few screws. You only need to be careful of the speedo cable.

DTN, you don't like the dance club effect of the blinking CEL? I LOL'd lmao.gif

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (97DerekTiburon @ Nov 22 2008, 01:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm going to stop by a guy I really trust and tell him what I've done so far. I'm going to ask him if I can tow it there and have him scan it.

If it's minor, I'll fix it. If the weather really sucks or it's a big item to fix (I'm short on time and no garage), I'll have him fix it then register it to drive it home.</div>

They can bring a scan tool out to you if they're going to tow it. You should really look at investing in one of Jay-M's Gizmoz scantools.

If you have a laptop:
http://www.rdtiburon.com/index.php?showtopic=20072

If you do not have a laptop:
http://www.rdtiburon.com/index.php?showtopic=24386

I use it regularly to check my car. Or, if I think there's a problem. I have become very familiar with the standard sensor values and operations of the ECU because of it. I'm usually the first one my friends call when they have a problem. I'll take a snapshot of the code, any obdii sensor values that I think might be of use, then when I get internet access I'll just look up the code. Here's some pictures of Jay-M's scantool in action on some friends cars.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff111/D...ked/bridget.jpg
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff111/D...ed/bridget2.jpg
VW 1.8L turbo passat wagon- Bad coilpack

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff111/D...d/daynascar.jpg
BMW somethin' or other- motor mount broke, engine dropped, took out alot of sensor wires

Seriously, I recommend a scantool to any DIY'er. It unlocks the power of troubleshooting to you. Not knowing the problem is 50% of the reason people take their cars to mechanics.

 

i rule this a head gasket. done a few with this symptom. usually put our coolant system presser test on and pressurize it to what the cap says. if pressure goes down and no visible leak can be found we can generally assume the pressure is being released through the head gasket into the cylinder. there fore causing a miss and white smoke on start up.

 

It is possible that it's a head gasket. However, I've had this problem for almost a year now and have been trying different things all along. I've replaced 5 items so far and done plugs and wires so each time I tried to fix it, the car ran for several minutes (probably 100-150 times overall) and only one time did it blow that smoke (yesterday). Not only that, but it's the same color as when I Seafoamed it and I <u>did JUST Seafoam it</u> but said that I thought the smoke was over with.

Yesterday was the only time I saw that smoke and it was right after I replaced the TPS and let it run.

Like I said, it could be a HG but there's really nothing that's leading me to think it is, from compression to coolant levels to the smell of the smoke (I think it's smoke, not steam).

I'll add that I checked some stuff out today and had it running and while the exhaust was very heavy-smelling, there was no smoke.

 

Timing could be off causing an incomplete burn in the combustion chamber therefore giving it the appearance of running rich. ECU could also be bad. Its issues like this that make widebands worth the money.