Numerous Problems - Help Please

[DKotch22]

Few questions here...many problems have come up...

First off I have a 1998 3.8L V6 Camaro and it's automatic.

Over the last couple weeks every once in a while when I put the car in reverse I hear this loud grinding noise. It isn't all the time, not even once a day. Over the past two weeks I've heard it maybe 3-4 times. Does anyone have an idea of what that might be?

Second question...I just recently had the Flowmaster American Thunder exhaust system put in. I've had it for a week now and now I'm starting to hear rattling from the rear and it sounds like under the passenger seat. I'm just wondering if this is normal for this exhaust system when its put on with just the hangars. I don't know if it's too lose and if I should take it back to the shop to see if they can tighten it in any way. I know the right tip of the exhaust is hitting the body for sure, but I don't know about under the passenger seat...

Third question...About two months ago my car alarm would randomly go off. I'd lock the car and hear the normal beeps and as I walk away from the car the panic horn would go off twice then stop. Then randomly the panic horn would go off twice and eventually not stop until I hit the panic button. It stopped for about a month and now it has started doing the same thing again. I read in the owner's manual about the sensor switch and put it to the lowest sensitivity. Even after that the alarm would still randomly go off. So for now I just unplugged the sensor so it would stop. Has anyone else had this same problem and did you find out what the problem was? We're thinking it may be a short, but I just wanted to ask on here before taking it somewhere and spending money.

Final question...I just recently replaced my fog light bulbs from stock to the Sylvania Silverstars. Before replacing them my right fog light wasn't working, but I just figured the bulb burned out. That wasn't the case, the bulb was fine and it still isn't working with the new Sylvania bulb in it. I have no idea why only one fog light would work. We figured if I blew a fuse both wouldn't work...Again, I just wanted some input on here first before spending more money taking it to a place.

Thanks in advance for anyone that helps. Hopefully all this writing doesn't scare everyone away...

-Dan

[terminaldegree]

Re: Numerous Problems - Help Please

Is your car auto or manual?

[DKotch22]

Re: Numerous Problems - Help Please

Sorry should have put all that info in the original post...I'll edit it too...

1998 3.8L V6 Camaro...Automatic...need anymore info just ask...

Thanks,
Dan

[camaronat]

Re: Numerous Problems - Help Please

#1. When is the actual grinding sound? When you put it into gear or when you are moving? If it is when you are shifting into reverse, you probably have syncronization problems, or you didn't leave enough time for the gears to sync when you were stopped. If it is while you are moving, you may have worn hear problems or something else.


#2 How is your exhaust put in, clamps or weld? What was changed with the new system? Diameter? Cat? The rattling sounds like it could be your cat hitting the floorboard. The best way to tell is to lay down beside the passenger door, listen and look. It shouldn't be a big problem to get the shop to fix it, because it was something that they should have checked on installation. That's the same with the tip that is hitting.

#3 Sounds like you have a loose connection somewhere that is probably grounding out, or coming undone. Or a sensor is on the fritz.

#4 This sounds like you have a short or connection problem in the wiring. That is unless you have two fuses for the foglights. I am unsure about that though.

[DKotch22]

Re: Numerous Problems - Help Please

#1. When is the actual grinding sound? When you put it into gear or when you are moving? If it is when you are shifting into reverse, you probably have syncronization problems, or you didn't leave enough time for the gears to sync when you were stopped. If it is while you are moving, you may have worn hear problems or something else.


#2 How is your exhaust put in, clamps or weld? What was changed with the new system? Diameter? Cat? The rattling sounds like it could be your cat hitting the floorboard. The best way to tell is to lay down beside the passenger door, listen and look. It shouldn't be a big problem to get the shop to fix it, because it was something that they should have checked on installation. That's the same with the tip that is hitting.

#3 Sounds like you have a loose connection somewhere that is probably grounding out, or coming undone. Or a sensor is on the fritz.

#4 This sounds like you have a short or connection problem in the wiring. That is unless you have two fuses for the foglights. I am unsure about that though.

#1 Now that I think about it the grinding sound only usually happens when I go to park and then reverse to straighten the car out...so hopefully I didn't leave enough time for the gears to sync when I was stopped.

#2 I took my car back to the shop today and it's still there as I'm typing this. They said it will be done tomorrow morning. The owner (I know his son) is doing it himself now because he wasn't happy with the job one of his employees did on my exhaust. Hopefully it will be all set tomorrow.

#3 & #4 Looks like I'll just have to take it somewhere and have it checked out. Hopefully they won't charge too much.

Thanks for all the help camaronat. It looks like you answered my "grinding" question and the one I was most worried about. Hopefully you're right about that one.

[camaronat]

Re: Numerous Problems - Help Please

Cool, hope it goes well.

[Loochy88]

Re: Numerous Problems - Help Please

exhaust question- one of your heat shields may be loose, exhaust might be hitting the tunnel brace, both are easy fixes and quite common

car alarm- did you try turning down the sensitivity?

[DKotch22]

Re: Numerous Problems - Help Please

exhaust question- one of your heat shields may be loose, exhaust might be hitting the tunnel brace, both are easy fixes and quite common

car alarm- did you try turning down the sensitivity?

The exhaust is all set now...the owner of the place bought new hangars and everything so it's fine now.

Car alarm...I turned the sensitivity all the way down, as low as it can go and it still went off randomly. I just pulled the plug on it so it can't go off; until I can find a time and get the money to get it checked out.