| |
Jim Grant's Tech Tips
97
Pontiac Grand Prix, Check Engine Soon, Problems In Italy
Q: My friend (who is stationed in Italy) is hoping that you might
be able to help her with a problem on her '97 Pontiac Grand Prix. The
"Check Engine Soon" light came on recently and she took it to a garage
there and they were able to do a diagnostic test on it and told her that
it had a "Code 258-Evap Canister Purge Control Solenoid" problem. She
can’t get parts for it there and wants me to send her the part but really
wants to know from you if...
- #1 This
is the cause of the problem,
- #2 Where
is the solenoid located and finally,
- #3 Will
it harm her engine if she keeps on driving with this problem???
By the way it
is a 6 cylinder, with about 70k miles on it. There’s not a Pontiac dealer
to be had where she's at and she really hopes you can help!....Lloyd
A: Something
got lost in the translation. The Code "number" you provided doesn’t work
well for an Evaporative Canister Purge Control Solenoid problem. Also
don’t send any parts overseas just yet. When a vehicle computer sets a
Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for a computer problem it doesn’t mean,
with authority, that the component or part has failed, it only means the
system is not operating within the designed parameters. With this in mind
the answer to your first question is maybe. The GM diagnostic procedures
found in the ALLDATA Information System notes that when servicing a purge
solenoid DTC, it is important to check the canister fresh air vent, vacuum
switch and integrity of all purge hoses prior to servicing the solenoid.
Basically other problems can make the wrong part look bad. As for the
location- there are 3 different 6 cylinder engines available for that
vehicle. I need engine info to answer that. Will it harm the engine? Without
proper diagnoses there is no way to answer that from this side of the
ocean. What your friend needs to do is find someone who can diagnose the
problem and pin down just what is needed to make the correct repair. Tell
your friend to send air line tickets and I’ll bring my diagnostic tools,
Italy is just about the right size for a test drive.
|
|
