1985 Buick Riviera - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

The pistons should face up, toward the hood

Most likely it just doesn't go up right? If so, you can just replace the antenna mast. Costs less and no re wiring necessary

Dead short check around battery for short circuit have auto electrician check it out.

The "check engine" light is an indicator for a system that monitors many electronic functions in the system, also called the "malfunction indicator lamp" (MIL). It can come on for any of hundreds of different causes from any of the systems that the computer monitors. Some are very important and can lead to further component or engine damage and some are emissions related not as serious but still a problem and need to be repaired. Your first step is to have the computer scanned to retrieve the trouble codes that were set when the check engine light came on. Those codes will give you specific information about what the computer saw and will get you pointed in the right direction to find your problem.

Are the heater hoses getting hot ? Could be a blend door or ac controller problem.

You have a damaged drive gear in the seat, the parts are no longer sold for this ol of a model so your best bet is to try and locate a used one.

Sorry our owners manuals which contain the fuse info only go back to the 1993 model year.

blue smoke is an indication that it is burning oil,the oil is getting into the combustion chamber either up past the oil rings on the pistons or down past the valve seals, & it 's not always easy to determine which one is the problem, if you get a cloud of smoke when you first start the engine after it has been standing over night & then it clears after a short time it is leaking down through the valve seals but if is is constantly blowing smoke it is most likely the piston oil rings are worn or broken......hope this helps......cheers.

Check all the fuses there as an issue with 80's GM vehicles where things were fed by two circuits. It's a 20 amp fuse, I just cant remember what circuit it is. Check all the yellow ones.

check the crank sensor, or the O^2 sensor.

iTS PROBABLY THE WIPER MOTOR UNDER THE GRILL JUST BELOW THE WINSHIELD.

Alot of the old car have a light sensor behind the grill..take a look..cover it up and see if that works..My old cadilliac had automatic bright light and would flash when i passed anything reflective..so i covered up the sensor. Hope this helps.

Its likely the switch is at fault.

I believe it is underneath car just in front of rear axle. There is a connecting linkage to axle so when car rides low the switch engages the compressor.

I believe by removing the inner fender well, at the back. I had a 85 Riviera, but it's been awhile.

In order to access the sending unit the fuel tank will need to come out.

1. Remove the negative cable from the battery and have a Class B fire extinguisher near the work area.
2. Use a hand operated pump when possible, to drain as much fuel through the filler tube as possible.
3. If a hand-operated pump device cannot be used, or to complete the draining process, use a siphon at the main (not return) fuel pipe at the fuel pump or the fuel tank gauge sender unit.
4. Undo the fill and vent hoses that are accessible support the fuel tank, undo the tank straps and carefully lower the tank undoing the wire harnesses and any remaining hoses as you do.
5. Once out, remove the sender retainer ring using a brass punch (no sparks) by tapping it counterclockwise.
6. Reverse procedure to reinstall.
   

cut the sheth around the the end of the broken cable to expose the inner steel wire core, then pull on that with a set of vise grips.

Hook it up like any other timing light. The difference is that you can look at the timing mark and turn the dial n the light until the timing mark on the engine is at zero. Whatever the dial read, that is the timing. This is most useful when you want to look at total advance at higher RPM's where the timing gets into 20 or 30 degrees, which is more than is on the timing pointer on the engine. If you want to use it like a regular timing light, just set the dial to zero.

You may need a height sensor or compressor. Try a pull a part salvage yard

well ther should be a vacume diagram sticker under the hood if it is gone or wore off you can get a haynes manual for that specific car at advance or autozone for about 20 dollars and it will have a diagram in there