My '88 Fiero - The Never-Ending Saga

[GTRS Fiero]

Tried the push rod removal tool.  Can't get 3 of the rockers to turn far enough to clear the rods.

[GTRS Fiero]

I can now state authoritatively that my Fiero has been to the track where it all started.

[GTRS Fiero]

Proof:


I was fortunate.  No rain, the entire trip.  Apparently, there had been rain that morning, but I never saw any rain or wet roads.

[GTRS Fiero]

This is what happens if you drive in Illinois at night:


I cleaned it at the last gas stop, drove 184 miles, and those darn kamikaze bugs came at me in droves.  Most of the bugs took a head-on approach, but some hit the sides, also.

Oh, and the steel mill is certainly open.  Just foller yer nose.

[GTRS Fiero]

Here is my engine bay as it sits now:


I think it's getting close.

[GTRS Fiero]

There is a bolt with a plastic handle that holds the spare tire retention rod, and another bolt with a plastic handle that holds the jack.  Where does the third such bolt go?

I can't seem to turn the bolt that holds the spare.  Ideas?

[GTRS Fiero]

Does anyone know how to get the spare tire hold down bolt out?

[TopNotch]

I never had one that was stuck. Spray some PB Blaster or something similar on it.

[GTRS Fiero]

I did that.  Then put a pipe wrench on it.  Still can't turn it.  It isn't even particularly tight.  I can move the rod on the shaft of the bolt.

[GTRS Fiero]

Worked on the tail lights a bit.  They came out OK.  While I was at it, I refinished the mounting clips.  I think I got them on even.  Darn!  Forgot to check operation of the lights.



Removed most of the silicone someone put under the stock trunk seal, and secured the trunk seal properly.  Worked on the cowl seals.  I'm still not happy with them.  One seems longer than the other, by about 1 inch.  Or maybe the passenger side cowl seal area requires a longer seal.

Tomorrow, I need to try adjusting the deck lid.  It doesn't sit quite right.  I'll also work on the brakes.

The temperature never gets more than about 1/4 on the gauge.  I need to see what's up with that.

Raining today, so no driving.

[GTRS Fiero]

I'm not sure how the trunk seal is supposed to fit.  I mean, the outer edge of the seal.  Should it go over or under?

[Fierofool]

Over.

[GTRS Fiero]

Oddly, I discovered that the top sides of the trunk are plastic.

[GTRS Fiero]

Dishearteningly, I just discovered that my '88 steering rack is bad.  Apparently, there is no fixing it.  Apparently, if the grease gets out and the rack gets wet, it's done.  Don't make my mistake and let this happen.

Polishing works for a bit, but then the rack locks up again.

[GTRS Fiero]

I did that.  Then put a pipe wrench on it.  Still can't turn it.  It isn't even particularly tight.  I can move the rod on the shaft of the bolt.

In case this happens to anyone else, I got the spare tire out.  I removed the bracket to which the spare tire hold down is bolted, which brought out the offending bolt and the hold down rod.  I soaked the bolt in PB Blaster for an hour, then used a vise and some force to turn the bolt back and forth until I could remove the bolt.  No rust or anything like that.  It's been less than 1 year since it was last removed.  No idea what happened.  Anyway, it's all back together.