More questions...

[daveimme]

I am bidding on an O2 sensor on ebay, only because I think it would be good to replace it since the one on now could be stock.
But, how does one know if the sensor is bad? These cars are pre OBD monitored, so how do you find out for sure?

I think it is also time for new plug wires. What do I look for in replacing them, besides cost? Who do I stay away from? And who do I consider?

Third.....I will probably take my car to an audio place for them to install rear speakers (stock placement in backseat area). I took off a few screws to access the rear speakers, but it seemed to be too daunting for me (with no time, really) so I backed off and decided someone else will do it. Being hearing impaired, I NEED good speakers. Also, I do not want to compromise the hatch area by putting speakers back there, because the car already has a lack of storage area as it is! Suggestions here?

Thanks...

[AFJuvat]

Bad o2 sensor will kill your gas mileage - other than that, not much.

Plug wires - any good name brand. I've used Jacobs and had really good luck with them. $60 a set isn't bad either.

Speakers - any 4x6M works in the rear. you can get at it by lifting the rear panel up, but it is a pain. I replaced mine with JBL's in the front and pioneer in the rears.

bypass the fader switch, if you have a new stereo, re-wire it to use all the audio outputs. the factory radios had 2 - front and rear.

hope that helps

AFJuvat

[daveimme]

Thanks AFJuvat......so, what is good, and what is bad, gas mileage in this thing?

Took it on a highway trip once...not far, but about 140 miles and got like 21 mpg.....hit 120-130 a few times, but mostly buzzing along at 80-90. Is that good? Or bad?

Around town I get around 17. How's that?

As for the rear speakers....that means removing the seat first, eh? I'm supposed to go dirt bike riding this weekend, but with basketball games and Christmas play (we have 6 kids.....2 play basketball and 3 are in the play), so I'll only have time to hang around the house in between jaunts. Guess that will be as good a time as any to mess with it....again. My rear speakers do not work...Hmmm, makes me wonder if the factory fader is hooked up and rear is off? I'll look at lunch time and see...

Thanks for the tips.....very much obliged!

[AFJuvat]

Your mileage doesn't sound bad - around 400 miles per tank is a good rule of thumb

fader knobs are notorious for going bad

don't have to remove rear seats, just need a flexable arm

AFJuvat

[SoCal Driver]

The stock speaker cut out in the 83's is the same one as in the door -- small. You have to open up the sheet metal to get the larger speakers in. Throw in some fiberglass insulation when you do put larger speakers in. Keep it clear of the seat belt retractor.

You can pull the side liners with out pulling the windows. You will usually tear any of the vinyl that has been glued over the window edge. This overlap is really not necessary to retain the side panels. Just something that was one a common practise in interior trim.

You just tuck the vinyl flap back under the window moulding when putting it back together.

[daveimme]

Since my fuel level sending unit is bad, I would make a habit of filling the tank when I hit 200 on the odo. One time it was up to 297 and I was on the interstate going to work, with the intention of taking the next exit (best gas prices) about 2 miles away when I felt the car start to hestitate....Uh oh... So, I kept it in 5th at 55-60 mph and tried to 'glide'.......nonetheless, on the exit ramp (no car in front of me) the car died, so I coasted.....cool, no traffic going north, so I coasted into the lane, then took right lane for the quick right service road like, with a Chevron right there...but it rolled to a stop not 10 ft from the entrance.

Got out and pushed it about 30 ft to the pump. Not bad, eh? When I filled it up, I noticed it took 16.2 gallons.....I thought it was 17 gallons...and think maybe it is, but that last gallon must be sitting in a low spot in the tank??

No, the stock fader is not hooked up; the rear speakers just don't work...so will hope to look and see if there are any there at all. I have a pair of 6x9's and a pair of 6.5in, so I'll make one of them fit!

[SoCal Driver]

If the fader doesn't work it's possible that the fader is not hooked up to the radio. Most likely there are no speakers in the back either.

You have to be careful about the wiring. Most modern radios have four channels so the fader is superfluous. Still you want to connect the rear channels to the rear speakers. To do this you have to cut into the wiring. This is what I've had to do with my most recent radio upgrade. The disconnected fader just fills the hole.

[mike95125]

Just passin through, but some stereos require that both speakers in a pair be hooked up to work. What that means is that if one wire were to fail in the rear pair then your rear pair would stop working potentially. Just my .02