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#21

02-13-2011, 01:06 PM

matt01

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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..

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#22

02-13-2011, 06:21 PM

NCdad

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Thank you Matt01

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#23

02-14-2011, 11:57 AM

rspi

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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.

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