Wow, what a day...
For that matter, it would be a good idea to renew all the usual fluids in the near future: engine oil/filter; trans fluid/filter; brake fluid; radiator fluid. All the usual suspects. Fresh blood does a world of good in an old car.
One more thought... Since you don't have to pass CA emissions, is there a need to put the CA-emissions-specific parts back on? Are other possibly cheaper/easier-to-find parts available that will allow for 'normal' (everyplace other than CA) emissions requirements?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 79
From: Nashville, TN
I've already had the oil and filter changed to Mobile One, so Transmission, Brake, and Radiator come next. Thanks for the advice.
As far as other, non-CA emissions parts...if the rest of the car is set up to have CA emissions, I'm not sure it'll accept non-CA. That was probably the issue here, the engine they got didn't have the CA parts, and now the check engine light won't go off without them.
Though, just getting the hose assembly and all it's parts (the stuff highlighted on the right of the diagram) might do the trick. I'm pretty sure the "wrong" manifold it has on it is just the non-CA manifold (which doesn't have the hook-ups for the stuff labeled 571-587), so replacing the other without...nevermind, the hose on the right side hooks into the stuff on the left. Crap.
As far as other, non-CA emissions parts...if the rest of the car is set up to have CA emissions, I'm not sure it'll accept non-CA. That was probably the issue here, the engine they got didn't have the CA parts, and now the check engine light won't go off without them.
Though, just getting the hose assembly and all it's parts (the stuff highlighted on the right of the diagram) might do the trick. I'm pretty sure the "wrong" manifold it has on it is just the non-CA manifold (which doesn't have the hook-ups for the stuff labeled 571-587), so replacing the other without...nevermind, the hose on the right side hooks into the stuff on the left. Crap.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 79
From: Nashville, TN
Ok, went to a couple of places yesterday, found out the Secondary Air Injection Check Valve Pipe is discontinued (part 571) as is the other one with the same name (591).
Went to my Chevy Dealership to get the text pages that go with the picture (so now I can identify everything by name and part number, yay!), and Kenny (the awesome tech) told me that part 591, and all of the other pipes/hoses, can be fabricated, but not the 571 piece. Their parts department couldn't locate it anywhere. Kenny suggested Pull-A-Part, if we're lucky (extremely lucky!) we might find it all there. Was planning on going today, but the weather wasn't cooperative.
I did manage to find the discontinued part at Rock Auto dot com, though, and also the Exhaust manifold, and the Check Valve, all 3 pieces for $270. However, I'd still be missing some other stuff, like gaskets, bolts, and hoses, so before I place the order, I'm still wanting to check Pull-A-Part.
So as of today, this doesn't look as impossible to recover from as it seemed. I did ask Kenny if, in his opinion, the car was unsafe to drive in this condition, if these missing parts affected ANYTHING other than the car passing emissions, and he said no. He said that there was something they could do with the car's computer that would help with the hard shifting, he checked the Transmission fluid and said it looked and smelled pretty fresh, so I probably won't need to have that changed. So all I need are the emissions parts, and the Fuel Injector Sight Shield (the plastic engine cover.)
You know, the engine swap happened about a month ago. Wouldn't they have needed to replace all the fluids when they did it?
Went to my Chevy Dealership to get the text pages that go with the picture (so now I can identify everything by name and part number, yay!), and Kenny (the awesome tech) told me that part 591, and all of the other pipes/hoses, can be fabricated, but not the 571 piece. Their parts department couldn't locate it anywhere. Kenny suggested Pull-A-Part, if we're lucky (extremely lucky!) we might find it all there. Was planning on going today, but the weather wasn't cooperative.
I did manage to find the discontinued part at Rock Auto dot com, though, and also the Exhaust manifold, and the Check Valve, all 3 pieces for $270. However, I'd still be missing some other stuff, like gaskets, bolts, and hoses, so before I place the order, I'm still wanting to check Pull-A-Part.
So as of today, this doesn't look as impossible to recover from as it seemed. I did ask Kenny if, in his opinion, the car was unsafe to drive in this condition, if these missing parts affected ANYTHING other than the car passing emissions, and he said no. He said that there was something they could do with the car's computer that would help with the hard shifting, he checked the Transmission fluid and said it looked and smelled pretty fresh, so I probably won't need to have that changed. So all I need are the emissions parts, and the Fuel Injector Sight Shield (the plastic engine cover.)
You know, the engine swap happened about a month ago. Wouldn't they have needed to replace all the fluids when they did it?
That's good news. Sounds like maybe you'll end up with a decent Monte after all.
As for the fluids... Makes sense that the engine should have received fresh oil/filter, but not a given. A quick look at the oil on the dipstick should give you an idea if it's fairly fresh. If it's dark or smells burned, change it.
Radiator fluid should be fresh if the engine was swapped out only a month ago.
Brake fluid, there's no telling. Most people don't flush brake fluid regularly if at all. Swapping the engine doesn't require changing brake fluid.
As for the fluids... Makes sense that the engine should have received fresh oil/filter, but not a given. A quick look at the oil on the dipstick should give you an idea if it's fairly fresh. If it's dark or smells burned, change it.
Radiator fluid should be fresh if the engine was swapped out only a month ago.
Brake fluid, there's no telling. Most people don't flush brake fluid regularly if at all. Swapping the engine doesn't require changing brake fluid.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 79
From: Nashville, TN
I had the oil and filter changed to Mobile 1 Synthetic High Mileage last Tuesday, which is when I found out what all was missing. However, if the engine only has 42K miles on it, my next oil change will probably need to be to regular Mobile 1.
Ok, so I need to remember to have Kenny check the brake fluid, too.
Ok, so I need to remember to have Kenny check the brake fluid, too.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 79
From: Nashville, TN
Ok, think I found all the parts for the Secondary Air Intake system. Have a Dorman Exhaust Manifold and Check Valve already here, waiting on all the other parts.
So, I took it to Freeland Chevrolet today to have them check out the other issues that should be covered under the 90 day warranty (Trac Control and hard shifts.) Bad news. The Trac Control is the Wheel Speed Sensor, they say the whole hub has to be replaced - and it's not covered under the warranty. I managed to find some aftermarket Wheel Speed Sensors, not sure if this'll work.
The transmission is throwing a code that translates to Pressure Control Solenoid needs replacing and the Valve Body and Oil Pump need reconditioning. She said they hadn't torn it apart, just read the code. It's obviously got the wrong pressure, but how can they tell what needs reconditioning without a teardown? Well, this part is gonna cost upwards of $1200, and most of it's not covered. The warranty guy was real nice, though, and told me that there is a part that is covered, and he'd go ahead and cover some of the labor, too, so they'll pay $600 of that. He mentioned that it might just be more cost effective to go with a rebuilt or LKQ (Like Kind and Quality) replacement transmission that had some warranty on it, and I could apply the $600 to that if I wanted.
The guy who sold me the car swears up and down all it needs is new tranny fluid and a filter, but the fluid looked new. He says he'll check it out when I bring it to him to install the manifold and the check valve, etc.
Any advice on any of this, guys? I mean, I did pay $3,200 LESS than NADA for the car, so I'm willing to sink a bit more money into it to make it reliable. But am I throwing money down a well? I've already spent about $360 for the emissions parts, saving quite a bit by going aftermarket on the manifold and check valve (I'd have paid $354 for the manifold alone at the dealer) and he's gonna supply the labor for that. Should I see how much other stuff I can get him to do before I have the dealer do anything else?
I'm thinking I should go ahead and get the wheel speed sensor fixed now, and hold off on the transmission. Then once he "has his way" with her, see if I have any more hard shifts on the way home. If I do, I could take her to Mr. Transmission, have them check out the transmission for real (they have a free performance check) and see what THEY would charge. I could then call the warranty comapny back, and have them re-authorize to Mr. Transmission if it's cheaper.
Wow, I'm really getting a crash course on my car's internal organs, I tell you!
So, I took it to Freeland Chevrolet today to have them check out the other issues that should be covered under the 90 day warranty (Trac Control and hard shifts.) Bad news. The Trac Control is the Wheel Speed Sensor, they say the whole hub has to be replaced - and it's not covered under the warranty. I managed to find some aftermarket Wheel Speed Sensors, not sure if this'll work.
The transmission is throwing a code that translates to Pressure Control Solenoid needs replacing and the Valve Body and Oil Pump need reconditioning. She said they hadn't torn it apart, just read the code. It's obviously got the wrong pressure, but how can they tell what needs reconditioning without a teardown? Well, this part is gonna cost upwards of $1200, and most of it's not covered. The warranty guy was real nice, though, and told me that there is a part that is covered, and he'd go ahead and cover some of the labor, too, so they'll pay $600 of that. He mentioned that it might just be more cost effective to go with a rebuilt or LKQ (Like Kind and Quality) replacement transmission that had some warranty on it, and I could apply the $600 to that if I wanted.
The guy who sold me the car swears up and down all it needs is new tranny fluid and a filter, but the fluid looked new. He says he'll check it out when I bring it to him to install the manifold and the check valve, etc.
Any advice on any of this, guys? I mean, I did pay $3,200 LESS than NADA for the car, so I'm willing to sink a bit more money into it to make it reliable. But am I throwing money down a well? I've already spent about $360 for the emissions parts, saving quite a bit by going aftermarket on the manifold and check valve (I'd have paid $354 for the manifold alone at the dealer) and he's gonna supply the labor for that. Should I see how much other stuff I can get him to do before I have the dealer do anything else?
I'm thinking I should go ahead and get the wheel speed sensor fixed now, and hold off on the transmission. Then once he "has his way" with her, see if I have any more hard shifts on the way home. If I do, I could take her to Mr. Transmission, have them check out the transmission for real (they have a free performance check) and see what THEY would charge. I could then call the warranty comapny back, and have them re-authorize to Mr. Transmission if it's cheaper.
Wow, I'm really getting a crash course on my car's internal organs, I tell you!
