About a month ago I told you about my 88 Cadillac Eldorado needing new heads and you gave me some advice. Below is the old post. My friend didn't do the work I went to a real good mechanic in my area.

Well, I got it back now and it seems pretty good but it doesn't idle quite as good as it did before the work was done. The mechanic checked it all out added some new parts (EGR valve - D/cap and rotor) but still can't get it to idle like a Cadillac. He and I both think it might be the reman job on the heads, you know the 3 anngle v/job and porting. What are your thoughts on this and is there anything else I can check. There is no vacuum leaks.

Symptoms: At idle you feel a slight shake sitting in the car. When you put it in gear it gets a little worse then tap excel and slight hesitation then it goes and runs good til you go up a hill then it hesitates again and then goes.

Another problem unrelated, at least it seems to be. Is ever since they put the new heater core in I can't get my dash vents to blow any air. It also doesn't seem to blow real hot or cold air but it does blow air out of top dash and bottom on floor under dash. My mechanic can't figure that problem out either. He checked h/core to look for pinched hoses and things. I hope you can. Thanks

http://www.camaros.net/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=011889

It really sounds like a vacuum leak to me... especially because the heat is kinda screwed up as well...
Of course I'm assuming your vent doors are vacuum actuated...

have you done a propane enrichment test under the valve cover(s)...

have you checked vaccuum?

is it possible that enough meat was removed from the heads that the intake is not seating correctly?

I've heard that special "engine saver" head gaskets must be used to keep the heights and geometry correct with many of these caddys (4.1 in particular, but i beleive the 4.5 is much the same story)

I'm sure others will chime in..
please keep us posted

Could very well be that the points might be a bit too wide. Recheck the gap and timing.
Sounds like a connecting rod may have come loose in the dash preventing the dash vent gate from opening.

[ 07-12-2004, 09:44 PM: Message edited by: Nantooch ]

He, He!!

I love that -- "have you done a propane enrichment test under the valve cover(s)...

I would never thought of doing something like that AND I'm about as "shade-tree" as they come!!

Great idea AND about this is about the second/third(?) time I've heard about doing it on the Boards!!

pdq67

Thanks for the replys guys.

68rag,
Yea, that's what we thought but no vac leaks. What is a propane enrich test? These are not original heads I got these online at CCH out of florida. My mechanic said they really looked good. I don't know about special h/gaskets but these were good Fel/Pro about $140 for the pair.

Nan, I'll check the points. He said the timing is right on. I'll look for conn rod under dash.

Keep'em coming guys. I hate to have to take it to a Cad dealer to get it fixed $$$$ :(

Thanks

Propane enrichment is a great way to to find hidden vacuum leaks under the intake. And anywhere else. It's safer than using carb cleaner because it will not dilute oil and is easier to control, and is less hazardous to use.
Snap-On's tool number YA7148 works great for this...

Here's how it works..
Plug all but one hole in the valve covers, (especially pcv and the like).
insert propane tool (carb cleaner will work... but it is not reccomended) Then shoot propane into the valve cover (the enrichment tool has a regulated shot) the propane will get under the valve cover and under the intake manifold, where it would be sucked into the comb. chamber if there was an internal leak, causing RPM to rise..

These leaks are all but impossible to find using other means... You'll get a skip at idle, but when you get on it... it will run strong, the cylinder seems to come and go.

I did an engine job that ran just like you describe, we were pulling our hair out, and then we shot carb cleaner in the pcv grommet with all other holes plugged (pcv valve removed) and shebang... Teardown proved a shifted intake gasket...
I was talking to another friend about the procedure, and he produced the propane tool from Snap-On, stating that it was a better way... I've been using it ever since...
John

So you're saying that it tells you whats wrong by upping the rpm's? Is it pin pointed by doing this too? Thanks

Anybody out there that has worked on Cadillacs like at a dealership? Hoping maybe they have heard of this exact problem I'm having with vents.

Bump

Update,

I took my car to a Cadillac dealer to fix the problems. Six hours later they found out that the new rotor contact button was installed wrong. They also had my timing advanced 10 deg more than it should have been. The vents were not working because some of the vacuum lines were hooked up wrong. The car runs great now and I have heat and A/C. Thanks for your input guys. I'm glad it wasn't an internal leak.

Now how do I nicely tell the mechanic that messed up on the head install that he should pay my service bill?

The way it's running now is how it should have been when I picked it up at his garage.

Bump

RJ,
Sorry I haven't looked at this thread sooner, been very busy. I would just tell the guy the same way you just told us. Show him the bill form the Caddy dealer and see what he will do. One of my biggest gripes with techs is those that will not mark hoses and wires, and then cannot figure out how to put them back properly. There is also no excuse for having the timing that far off.
Have fun :rolleyes:

BillK, Better late than never. :D

Yes, that's what I did I told him what I thought but the way the dealer wrote up the bill the mechanic found a loop hole. I did get some money back from him but he didn't pay the whole bill. :(

Thanks

Bump