Hello! New member from Ohio. '98 Riviera SC

Hey guys, just bought a '98 Riviera on a whim. Needed a car and I was looking at Eldorados but then during my research I came across the buick Riviera. Found one on ebay that had 10minutes left on the auction and I won it. Going to pick her up Friday. Can't wait to put some wheels on her and get her cleaned up. Her name is Ruby.

WELCOME ABOARD !!! Beautiful Riv you have there.

Hullo!! Looking good!!

I love Ruby Red Rivieras!

Nice find, I was looking at the last-gen Eldo's before I came across the Riv by chance. I was much happier with the Riv than I would have been with an Eldorado.

Welcome. The car looks pretty nice.

Thanks guys! The previous owner said the traction light is on but he has been driving it that way since he bought it 20,000 miles ago. He said it never gave him any problems and the brakes feel fine. Any chance it might be a simple fuse? As soon as I pick it up Im going to take it to a mechanic to check it out for me and make sure its in tip top shape. Any advice?

Might learn something about your issue here:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t161-anti-lock-brakes-and-traction-control-ses-light

If not, feel free to post questions there.

Thanks, Aaron. So it looks like the first step is to check for fuses and hope I get lucky. The 2nd step would be to get it scanned. Does that sound about right?

Also, is this the set of manuals I want for my car?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1998-Aurora-and-Riviera-Service-Manual-Vol-1-2-3-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3367b4d830QQitemZ220783237168QQptZMotorsQ5fManualsQ5fLiterature

charlieRobinson wrote:

Thanks, Aaron. So it looks like the first step is to check for fuses and hope I get lucky. The 2nd step would be to get it scanned. Does that sound about right?

Also, is this the set of manuals I want for my car?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1998-Aurora-and-Riviera-Service-Manual-Vol-1-2-3-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3367b4d830QQitemZ220783237168QQptZMotorsQ5fManualsQ5fLiterature

Those manuals will work. There was a "Second edition" with many engineering changes incorporated but the first edition has been good enough for me.

As for the ABS. yeah. When my light has come on in the past it's just been that the wiring or a wiring connector to the ABS sensor in the hug (they are integrated into the hubs) has gone bad, which calls for hub replacement. I suggest you get Timken hubs if you have the $$. Don't even look at the 'economy' hubs on eBay, I put a pair of those on and literally toasted them driving in Canada on the Queensway.

Albertj

I will do whatever I have to do to make this car SOLID. Anyone in Ohio have scanner and want to help me out and diagnose it? I will pay you whatever you think is fair.

I'm really liking that color
You made a decision to buy that car within 10 minutes. That's awesome!

charlieRobinson wrote:

I will do whatever I have to do to make this car SOLID. Anyone in Ohio have scanner and want to help me out and diagnose it? I will pay you whatever you think is fair.

I like that attitude...WHATEVER IT TAKES !!! I believe we have a true Riv lover here !!!

charlieRobinson wrote:

I will do whatever I have to do to make this car SOLID. Anyone in Ohio have scanner and want to help me out and diagnose it? I will pay you whatever you think is fair.

See if you can get the code read for free at an auto parts store. I know many have readers that will read the OBD-II codes but I don't know about the brake codes. Maybe someone else can chime in?

I have read that auto part stores cant read 1998 rivieras but I will give them a call and see what is what. Can't wait to give this car everything it deserves.

turtleman wrote:

I'm really liking that color
You made a decision to buy that car within 10 minutes. That's awesome!

Me too. Same color as my last car, 2000 grandam SE. I really liked that color and I got lucky with getting the same paint.
The decision to buy it was actually pretty entertaining. I spent a straight week, 5 hours a day, researching everything about cars. Scanning craigslist and ebay and reading all kinds of reviews. I started from a 94-98 Nissan 300zx,wanted it as my next car, to a 98 dodge caravan(I wanted to turn it into a real cruiser) to a 96 Eldorado( was almost set on this, had 2 picked out and was ready to buy) and finally to a 98-99 Riviera.
I was so sick of looking for cars that when I saw the Riviera I said, "YES". It had about 10 minutes left and I put a bid on it and said to myself, "whatever happens, happens".

Then I found your guys' internet hideout and I am happy to have become a member here.

taken from this forum
https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t3707p90-automotive-apps-for-iphone-android#130194

I found this

J. Chris Davis wrote:

What I've got for my android is called Torque and then I bought the PLX Kiwi bluetooth OBD II reader for android. Works great. The app is like 5 bucks from the android market and the OBD II reader is $100 from amazon.

For about the price of taking it to the mechanic I can buy the OBD II reader and the application. This sounds like the way to go.

They can read a '98 just fine, but might not have access to the Traction/ABS codes. The dealers should have the type of scanner needed to see those codes.