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I help out at this shop doing diagnostics and some repairs part time. Trying to figure out this Cadillac. Backfiring through the throttle body and exhaust and won't stay running without key in crank positing and all the while it's misfiring backfiring through intake and exhaust. It was late in the day so I'll have to take another crack at it on weds. Im going to start from square 1 and check every damn thing! The work that's been done to this prior to me looking at it is unreal! I feel like I'm missing something but given it's history I'm having brain farts
Warning! Super long post!
Before i continue i have to share the backstory/history.
Car came in almost 2 years ago (well before i worked there) and was diagnosed as needing a crank. They pulled the engine. 2years ago and pulled the crank....they finally replaced the crank a few months ago. I get a call from the shop owner to look at it since his other "tech" says "it's the wrong crank, it locks up when i tighten the last main cap"....So i head over and look.... Right away i notice he used wheel bearing grease on the bearings, i told him you Don't use that! This started an argument so i said ok let me take a look at this, i pull a main cap and....there are chunks of rusty debris (yes this is the same grease he uses on brake work)...i flipped my lid! Needless to say that was his last day. Fast forward...they decide to replace the rings as well as head gaskets.
They finally get the engine back in and I'm asked to help finish it up...it was missing a ton of parts! And brackets for the missing coil and missing coil harness.... The distributor is a missing modual screw, pickup coil wires are heavily corroded and missing the wire shielding and the rotor looked like it was in a blender and the shaft was bent.
Fast forward to today. I'm asked to get it started...wont start. Just by quick observation i notice the map vac was not hooked up, then i find the egr was hooked up to manifold vac and the egr solenoid wasn't even hooked up, i repaired all vac lines then I find the distributor wasn't all the way down because they used the wrong bolt for the hold down...oh...and the gasket was missing lol. I lined up the crank on #1 compression and When i take the cap off...firing order was wrong. So i get it back together and it's doing the same dang thing! I'm sure there plugs Are fouled, they Are also the wrong plugs, bosch platinums, found that out when putting #1 on comp stroke). Thats as far as i got today...there is more to this story lol So much missing stuff lol and some really hack stuff. I'm seriously thinking of writing a book if all the crazy shit i find there ( like a glued together map sensor lol)
Found it, bad gas. Should have known! Totally didn't think about how long it's been there, the gas is at least 2.5years old. It's orange and almost odorless. With all the other hands in this engine putting stuff on/in wrong i skipped a step. Chalk this up to not skipping steps and using vehicle history.
Told shop owner it needs the tank drained, filter changed and fresh fuel, he replied with wanting to try additives, i cut him off and said " it needs good fuel, my work it's done here" and walked away....not sure he will ever learn
Want an update on that caddy with the bad gas? Lol
So i haven't been there since Friday when i made the diagnosis of contaminated fuel, i told him it needs the tank drained a new filter and fresh fuel, he responded with "I'll try additives" as i cut him off and repeated the diagnosis...i come in today and talk to the other mechanic. He said "we put new fuel in it but it still won't run, the owner thinks it's an ignition switch because it stays running while cranking"....i asked if the drained the old gas out and change the filter? he said "no, just added new fuel"....good job! Now you guys have multiplied the amount of contaminated fuel lol.
This is amazing! I never new this type of distinction could exist in the human brain... I'm grabbing a big bucket of popcorn to watch the show lol
Leon wrote: I had no idea they did, I'm even more shocked the doors have been open over 5 years
IF he's not keeping it open with family money he could be closed within 6-12 months of someone else like you opening a shop down the road and hiring his good techs or techs who listen.
Obviously the techs must keep him in business and just need a good leader to help them become more profitable as a shop and personally.
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