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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'88 Chevy Astro, Electrical Woes and A/C problems
Q:
My
'88 Chevy Astro van has developed some odd occurrences since the engine
was replaced (used). First when you turn the headlights on - the RPMs
go up and the right side light goes dim. Second, when you turn the headlights
on and turn the wipers on the wipers won't go back off. Also if my a/c
compressor is noisy what could of been missed during the replacement of
the system? We have had to replace the compressor and accumulator and
orifice tube about once a year for the last 3 years.
-
Art C.
A:
Your
head light dimming and running problems are both likely related to a poor
ground. There are many ground wires on your vehicle and they are there
for a reason. The more common problem I've seen with replacement engines
is that the ground wires are not connected to clean surfaces. Grease,
paint, rust and dirt will cause any ground strap, no matter how tightly
bolted, to cause electrical problems. Problems much like the one you're
describing. Here's an example. An area automotive machine shop called
in desperation. It seems that after the engine was replaced in said vehicle
the engine would not crank over when hot and the computer codes were just
spilling out. The shop that installed the engine replaced some sensors,
the battery and starter more than once. After giving up the owner went
elsewhere. The elsewhere, replaced the starter again and flywheel to the
tune of about $500 with a diagnosis of a bent crankshaft. The machine
shop owner was only hearing law suit from a really PO'd vehicle owner
with no real answer to the problem! The cause? The ground cable from the
battery was bolted over the transmission oil cooler line support and the
fresh paint on the engine block. The fix took less than 30 minutes. The
vehicle owner sat out in the garage, no joke for the better part of a
half an hour starting the engine. The machine shop was ecstatic the customer
was madder than hell. In fact he apologized several times while he was
screaming. They were very mixed emotions. Fix the ground right and your
light and running problem will be likely gone. As for your A/C. After
replacing the compressor, accumulators and orifice tubes someone should
check the condenser to see how plugged/restricted it is from all that
junk that went through the system. A plugged/restricted condenser will
rip compressors apart in no time. After you get it fixed right have an
inline filter installed in the system too.
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