[AT] off topic, Internet takeover by govt ?

[Steve W.]

charlie hill wrote:
> Thanks Steve, you and I talked about this years ago and I never could
> find a solution.  At one time GM was using a valve from the S-10 trucks
> and relocating it with heater hose to a not so dusty location but those
> didn't work for long either.  I had given up.
> 
> Have you actually installed one of these on a GM pickup or SUV?
> 
> Charlie

Yep. I've put a couple on different vehicles that had the same issue. 
One is on my BIL's 02 S10 P/U, another went under a Tahoe.
No issues with either in the 2 years they have been on.

GM won't make a good valve because the claim is that tests have not 
shown a pattern of failures. Even though I know of at least 20 that have 
the same problem!

The GM part isn't a bad design as much as it's incomplete. I modified 
one by turning a new shaft out of bronze with an integral valve head. 
(looks like a normal intake valve) Cut a groove in the face so an O-ring 
could press in and put that on my 02 as a test item. It has held up for 
a year so far.

The problem is the grit that makes it through the filter builds up on 
the shaft and gets pulled into the "seal", also water vapor causes the 
stem to rust a bit and the two combine to stop the solenoid from acting.

-- 
Steve W.