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Feb 13, 2011 | 01:06 PM

#21

matt01

Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 628

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From: Montreal, Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCdad

Thank you all for your replies. I shall follow your advice. I will have the entire PCV system replaced and ensure that the hole in the motor is cleaned out. I have no smoke coming out anywhere except the tailpipe when I first start the car. But I did not want to wait until bad things happen. My next question concerns the alternator. When do I know I should change it ? My car has 220K miles on it. The alternator looks pretty old. Can it suffer a catastrophic failure or will it warn me first ?

the alternator on these cars is really not a trouble spot, there pretty good. most likely is that it'll fail and you'll have just enough battery to get home, or your car just wont start in the morning..

Feb 13, 2011 | 06:21 PM

#22

NCdad

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Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 86

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Thank you Matt01

Feb 14, 2011 | 11:57 AM

#23

rspi

Administrator

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 15,736

Likes: 35

From: Albuquerque, NM

This is one way to test your PCV system to see if it is bad/plugged/clogged. Start the car and drive it until it is warm. Once it's at its proper operating temp, put it in park, open the hood, pull the oil dip stick 1/2 way out. If you see grey smoke coming out of the dip stick hole, it is bad. Replace the entire system as soon as possible.