97 Riviera

Greetings. I own a 97 Riviera S/C that I pretty much saved from being scrapped. The car was posted on Craigslist as a parts car, so I contacted the owner and offered to trade him a perfectly running 99 Sable. Even swap, I hate Fords. I got the Riv running the next day, and am still rebuilding it now which is a year later. Need some help on issues that I can't find the answers for on Google, and have knowledge from the rebuilding I've done so far.The car runs perfectly (except for the SES light that comes on every 300 miles give or take due to the ho2 sensor which I'm troubleshooting now. I think it may be the cheap Bosch sensor I put in. Ordered ACDelco, should be here by the weekend)

What code is it storing?

p1133

insufficient switching

Might be the sensor, or wiring to it.

Thanks. I'll take a look at the wiring when I change the sensor this weekend. I'm hoping it's just the sensor since I don't have the equipment or the knowledge to do the wiring. Wouldn't be surprised if it is since I have other electrical issues that are just plain baffling. The power locks and interior lights will stop working for a while, then come back in on their own. Only happens once every now and then, might go months with no problem then its back. Same thing with the heat going through the center console and drivers side.

Another thing. Could it have something to do with the alternator plug. The previous owner had the wrong plug on there. The wires were just twisted together and wrapped with electric tape, so I got the right one from a pull your part junkyard and replaced it. Would going back in and properly splicing those wires help anything?

These cars are so complicated electrically that diagnosing them without a Factory Service Manual is an exercise in futility. If you plan on keeping the car and working on it, that is the first thing you should buy.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-Oldsmobile-Aurora-Buick-Riviera-Service-Repair-Manual-2-book-set-/162031502822?hash=item25b9d485e6:g:nQwAAOSwiylXBvAd&vxp=mtr

It is very common for the wiring in between the body and doors to go bad.  Look at the flexible coupling, pull it back on both ends and look for broken wires.

Absolutely. I have been planning to buy the manuals,  just procrastinating. This car was neglected badly, and I've put more work into it than the blue book value. But it's a great project for me, and it's a great learning experience. Everything I do just adds to the sentimental value, and I will own this car until the day I die.

They are great cars, I love mine. Get the FSM, there is so much information there it will make your head spin. There are diagnostic charts that isolate a problem to a specific circuit or component. I had a non functional automatic rear level control. I used the FSM trouble chart. It took me 2 days to get through it, but it isolated one single wire that was broken. No way I would have found it on my own.

moestippich wrote:

Greetings. I own a 97 Riviera S/C that I pretty much saved from being scrapped. The car was posted on Craigslist as a parts car, so I contacted the owner and offered to trade him a perfectly running 99 Sable. Even swap, I hate Fords. I got the Riv running the next day, and am still rebuilding it now which is a year later. Need some help on issues that I can't find the answers for on Google, and have knowledge from the rebuilding I've done so far.The car runs perfectly (except for the SES light that comes on every 300 miles give or take due to the ho2 sensor which I'm troubleshooting now. I think it may be the cheap Bosch sensor I put in. Ordered ACDelco, should be here by the weekend)

The Bosch sensor should not be a problem BUT in my experience no sensor lasts all that long if the car is dumping fuel. SO... You might want to have the injectors cleaned. Alternatively - You MAY want to put a big bottle (the 21 gallon version) of Techron in the gas and see if the problem goes away (it just might, really). Take the techron with you to the gas station on a nearly empty tank, when you are filling the car with gas first dump the techron in the tank then fill with gas. I think it says this on the instructions, actually, but anyway don't fill the tank then add the techron because it won't mix well with the gas if you do that.

moestippich wrote:

Another thing. Could it have something to do with the alternator plug. The previous owner had the wrong plug on there. The wires were just twisted together and wrapped with electric tape, so I got the right one from a pull your part junkyard and replaced it. Would going back in and properly splicing those wires help anything?

Going back and installing the correct plug on the wires, and properly splicing them, will help a lot.  You will avoid other electrical problems.