OK, I just bought a 2000 SS with 66k miles on it. Problem is dirt, bugs, sand and other contaminants probably went into the engine because of a bad air box lid sealing. I found bugs and flowers on the MAF screen (See other post) and I am pretty sure dirt/dust/sand went through. The guy I bought it from lived on a dirt road.

My qestion has s few parts: How bad would it be for a small amount of sand to get into the intake? What might it do? How can I check the engine?

As far as I know the car does not smoke. The owner said he changed the oil every 3k and it looks clean. I pulled one spark plug and it looked a little black but dry so I figure that cylinder at least is OK. The car had one of the two converters replaced within the last year, might a scored bore let oil by and clog up the converter?

Thanks for your help.

 

if i were u i would take it to a mechanic and have the engine fully looked at.

 

I would Change the oil ASAP and than change it again in about a few hunderd miles..

 

As for the converter, I wouldn't worry about it. 2000 and early 2001 models had problems with bad cats.

Was it the driver's side that was replaced? That's the one that usually craps out.

I had the driver's side cat replaced on both my 2001 Z28 and the 2001 WS6 ... .both built October 2000.

 

Ditto.

The oil and oil filter probebly caught all the crap in there, but do what ZIPPERR said and you should be fine.

I would only take the engine to get looked at if I was driving in a dusty desert area with no filter for a LONG time.

 

If you are really concerned and want to put your mind at rest. Then take it to a mechanic that is set up to do a leak down test. With that one test a good mech. can detect:
head gasket leak........into coolant or external
cylinder/ring sealing....blow-by
bad valves.........burnt or warped and which ones.
and the extent of the damage if any...expressed in %
Or if your handy? Go and buy a leak down tester, read the instructions, and have at it yourself.

 

Yes, I do believe that it was the drivers side. But I am now getting a check engine light and it is making it hard to sleep Do both cats go bad or just the drivers side?

 

Usually it's just the driver's side. On my Z28, replacing the driver's side fixed it. But, when the WS6 gave the same code and symptoms (and they were built the same month) the dealer did a "pre-emptive strike" and replaced both cats and all O2 sensors.

The TSB is only for the driver's side cat though.

 

It was my understanding that emission systems were under a longer waranty like 10 years and/or 100k miles is that correct? Also, I am guessing that o2 sensors, cats are coverd what else would be included? EGR, air pump anything else? MAF or ther sensors?

Also, do I have to pay to have the codes read even if it is an emissions issue?

 

Hmm, never had such a problem with my cats (nor my dogs ). Seriously, no codes related to my cats and I have well over 83K miles on my 2001 (built Nov. 2000). Then again it could be due to not having them on my car from 32K to 78K. What is the TSB No.?

 

The Federal warranty on emissions components is 8 years/80000 miles, and covers anything primarily concerned with emissions, check in the handbook, but includes ECU and OBD equipment and the cats, and usually the O2s and other sensors are covered for a shorter period.

If you've not yet changed the oil, keep a sample and send it for analysis, you can tell if there are more contaminants than usual, though you may need a later sample to compare it against.

 

Hey pg318 what handbook are you talking about? Thnaks for the info.