Wrenching for the very first time
Today I tore into the Pontiac for the first time. I'm really comfortable working on older, RWD GM vehicles, like my truck or the Ol' Buick. GM really knew how to build those cars. They were exceptional and although there were some weak points in the designs those vehicles were easy to work on because there was a lot of room to access various components. The Pontiac is new enough that I would expect that a lot of things are awkward and difficult to access. My experience so far today was surprisingly easy.
I do have a certain amount of anxiety tearing apart a FWD V6 sedan. Transverse engines are not my strong point. Danna used to have a 1996 Chevy Lumina with a 3.1L V6 and the engine compartment was very cramped and difficult to work in. So far the Pontiac seems to be a much easier vehicle to service. The engine is almost the same size and placement as the Lumina but things are just placed a little better. Some degree of thought was put into where to place things like the alternator bracket bolts and the fuel pressure test port. I can reach all the bolts and other connectors easily and with a minimum amount of difficulty. I don't like the neckless radiator and pressurized coolant tank of the Pontiac; I also don't like that the radiator and A/C condenser have to be removed together as a unit. That means the A/C system needs to be evacuated if the radiator needs to come out. Let's hope that never happens.
The tear down went as far as removing the fuel rail. Then I ran out of light and decided to come in and make dinner. The first part of the tear down was draining the radiator. The car is so low to the ground that I had to jack it up just to get to the radiator drain. That wasn't difficult. The next step was removing wires and hoses. The wires and hoses were all routed in a very logical manner. It wasn't difficult to access any of them for removal. After that I removed the coil pack, serpentine belt and alternator.
Earlier today I went to Tool Liquidators in Tacoma. I was searching on eBay to find some of the specialty tools for the job. I found all of them at the Tool Liquidators eBay store. I noticed in their listing that they were in Tacoma. I emailed and they said I could stop at the store and pick up whatever I wanted in person and save the shipping. As I looked at the eBay listings I saw that there were a lot of specialty tools that I needed. Small tool shops often try and make money moving as many of the cheap, low-quality tools as possible. Generally, professional-quality tools come from Sears, Napa or one of the tool trucks like Mac, Snap-on or Cornwell. Tool Liquidators had plenty of Chinese crap tools but they also had a large supply of Lisle, K-D and CalVan. I picked up many useful specialty tools. So far the most useful has been the GM electrical connector separator. My whole life I've been fumbling with the GM sealed electrical connectors, trying to open them with my thumbnails or small screwdrivers. The first time I used the tool the connector magically came apart with the weather seal in tact. It was amazing. There are many more specialty tools that I'll be using on this job. I'm looking forward to it.
There's a curious symbiotic relationship between auto design and specialty tools. Engineers design cars with less space and tighter tolerances and then tool designers design tools to work on those cars. The tools become more commonly available and then engineers make even more complicated, cramped, difficult cars and the cycle continues. I used to think of things like locking flex head pry bars or flex head ratcheting wrenches as luxury tools. Now I realize that they are almost required for working on anything newer than 1992. Now that I have newer vehicles I'm part of that escalation of complex cars and tools.
I stopped after removing the upper intake plenum and loosening the fuel rail assembly. I was running out of light so I called the job at that point. In the morning I'll have some breakfast and head back out to the garage. It has been very pleasant to take everything apart. Disassembly is usually smooth with good instructions. Nothing has to fit together; it only has to come apart. Another pleasant aspect is the more-organized garage. Since Alex and Lisa's efforts last summer I've done some additional organizing. Adding the tool chest and the pegboard has put the specialty tools and other automotive necessities within easy reach. I can grab the flare nut wrenches, seal puller or hose clamp pliers easily and quickly. Removing the frustration of not being able to find things makes the job go much more smoothly.
Tomorrow I'll finish the tear down and investigate the valves. Hopefully the valves are truly the problem and I can replace them and get the car back together and on the road.
I do have a certain amount of anxiety tearing apart a FWD V6 sedan. Transverse engines are not my strong point. Danna used to have a 1996 Chevy Lumina with a 3.1L V6 and the engine compartment was very cramped and difficult to work in. So far the Pontiac seems to be a much easier vehicle to service. The engine is almost the same size and placement as the Lumina but things are just placed a little better. Some degree of thought was put into where to place things like the alternator bracket bolts and the fuel pressure test port. I can reach all the bolts and other connectors easily and with a minimum amount of difficulty. I don't like the neckless radiator and pressurized coolant tank of the Pontiac; I also don't like that the radiator and A/C condenser have to be removed together as a unit. That means the A/C system needs to be evacuated if the radiator needs to come out. Let's hope that never happens.
The tear down went as far as removing the fuel rail. Then I ran out of light and decided to come in and make dinner. The first part of the tear down was draining the radiator. The car is so low to the ground that I had to jack it up just to get to the radiator drain. That wasn't difficult. The next step was removing wires and hoses. The wires and hoses were all routed in a very logical manner. It wasn't difficult to access any of them for removal. After that I removed the coil pack, serpentine belt and alternator.
Earlier today I went to Tool Liquidators in Tacoma. I was searching on eBay to find some of the specialty tools for the job. I found all of them at the Tool Liquidators eBay store. I noticed in their listing that they were in Tacoma. I emailed and they said I could stop at the store and pick up whatever I wanted in person and save the shipping. As I looked at the eBay listings I saw that there were a lot of specialty tools that I needed. Small tool shops often try and make money moving as many of the cheap, low-quality tools as possible. Generally, professional-quality tools come from Sears, Napa or one of the tool trucks like Mac, Snap-on or Cornwell. Tool Liquidators had plenty of Chinese crap tools but they also had a large supply of Lisle, K-D and CalVan. I picked up many useful specialty tools. So far the most useful has been the GM electrical connector separator. My whole life I've been fumbling with the GM sealed electrical connectors, trying to open them with my thumbnails or small screwdrivers. The first time I used the tool the connector magically came apart with the weather seal in tact. It was amazing. There are many more specialty tools that I'll be using on this job. I'm looking forward to it.
There's a curious symbiotic relationship between auto design and specialty tools. Engineers design cars with less space and tighter tolerances and then tool designers design tools to work on those cars. The tools become more commonly available and then engineers make even more complicated, cramped, difficult cars and the cycle continues. I used to think of things like locking flex head pry bars or flex head ratcheting wrenches as luxury tools. Now I realize that they are almost required for working on anything newer than 1992. Now that I have newer vehicles I'm part of that escalation of complex cars and tools.
I stopped after removing the upper intake plenum and loosening the fuel rail assembly. I was running out of light so I called the job at that point. In the morning I'll have some breakfast and head back out to the garage. It has been very pleasant to take everything apart. Disassembly is usually smooth with good instructions. Nothing has to fit together; it only has to come apart. Another pleasant aspect is the more-organized garage. Since Alex and Lisa's efforts last summer I've done some additional organizing. Adding the tool chest and the pegboard has put the specialty tools and other automotive necessities within easy reach. I can grab the flare nut wrenches, seal puller or hose clamp pliers easily and quickly. Removing the frustration of not being able to find things makes the job go much more smoothly.
Tomorrow I'll finish the tear down and investigate the valves. Hopefully the valves are truly the problem and I can replace them and get the car back together and on the road.