Leaderboard

My '88 has the 1990 Dash... April Fools!

Discussions come up on the forums from time to time about the differences between the '88 and '89 models. Although they look basically the same at first glance there are several important differences. I'm going to attempt to make a list of the differences between the '88s and '89s. Please correct me if I get anything wrong and feel free to add to the list anything that I might leave off. Here are the difference that I can think of off the top of my head. Early production '88 models had black horn button emblems instead of the gold starburst design of later models. Some, if not all, early '88 models had suede side bolsters on the seats. The '88 models didn't have Remote Keyless Entry like later models and there wasn't an antenna in the rear window that is needed for RKE. The '88 model had a button for the fuel door release and a button to release the glove box latch located on the center console in front of the shifter. On the later models these buttons were relocated to the inside of the glove box. The '88 model glove box door does not have a manually operated latch like the later models do. The glove box latch on the '88 model is released electrically by pushing a button on the center console. The struts on the front of the '88 models are a different design than the struts on the later models. I've been told the '89 model struts will work on the '88 models but I can't confirm that. The intake manifold on the '88 models have "3800" cast (or machined?) into the top of the plenum. Later models do not. The plastic cover that fits over the fuel rail and injectors on '88 models does not have "3800" molded into it like later model covers do. The camshaft in the '88 is reported to be different from later models and gives the engine slightly better performance. The '88 models have different transmission mounts and possibly different motor mounts, than the later models have. The later models have an aluminum cage type of transmission mount bracket on the drivers side of the transmission that the '88 model doesn't have. The '88 models have a different system for the controlling the cooling fans than the later models have. The '88 models utilize a large resistor to control the low fan speed. Later models don't have a resistor to control cooling fan speeds. Later models utilize relays to change the fan speeds. The '88 model power steering cooler is basically a large diameter straight pipe with no fins located in front of the radiator. The later models have a finned power steering cooler. The '88 models did not have the little damper shock mounted on the engine in front of the harmonic balancer like later models have. The early '88 models didn't have a sunroof as an option. Latter '88s beginning with #3000 did as as did '89 and all other models. The early '88 models had a rubber pressure line on the Teves brake system. Later model '88s had a steel pressure line as did '89 and all other models. The ALDL jumper for the Teves diagnostic test (flashes) changed from A-G on '88 models to A-H on '89 and later models. The '88 models have longer threads on the spindle that hold the front hubs on. About 1/2 inch of threads have to be cut off to use the seven spoke Buick and Cadillac chrome wheels and probably some others. The fuel cutoff RPM for the '88 is 6000rpm, vs 5700 for '89 (and probably later models). The pulses per mile from the Vehicle Speed Senso (VSS) is ten times higher on the '89 compared to the '88. The display pulse divider is also ten times higher on the 89, so the ratio between them is the same. The higher number of pulses from the '88 VSS allows for finer adjustments for speedometer corrections when the programming of the chip in the ECM. The computer chip in the '88 requires a different decoder software to read the chip than later models. The axles and hubs are completely different on '88 models from later models. They will not interchange. The '88 axles measure about 1 1/8 inch in diameter on the splined area that goes through the bearing. the later axles are about 1 1/2 inch. Feel free to post any additions or corrections below and I will edit this list to include them.

Think anything that drops the car out of closed loop will turn off the TCC. Coolant temp is just one I knew.

Late 88s (after 3000) could have a factory sunroof. Even later ones changed the Teves return line from rubber to steel. Finally the ALDL jumper for the Teves diagnostic flash changed from A-G (88) to A-H (89-on).

I usually run 35 in the front and 30 in the rear. Most of my driving is on curvy mountain roads and drive pretty fast around the curves sometimes. The higher pressure in the front seems to make the car handle a little better. Lower pressures might give a better ride but I think the FWD cars tend to wear the outside edges more on curvy roads if you allow the pressure gets too low.

I have both the '88 and '89-'91 hood emblems in inventory. The '88 is approx. 2inch diameter and the '89-'91 is approx. 3inch diameter.

I did find parts geek sells replacements: https://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/1990/buick/reatta/fluids-fs-manuals-fs-misc/antenna.html

A good friend of mine traded in his 1970 Monte Carlo on a Pacer. To this day still can't figure it out...

Look on the door of your car or the owners manual

You were right about the power steering cooler. I just looked up the PS cooler in my '88 FSM and it shows a pipe with no fins. I added that to the list. I had forgotten about the engine damper shock not being on the '88 model. I will add that to the list as well. Still not sure about the hood emblelms. Did I describe the transmission part on the later models when I referred to it as a cage? It is something my '88 doesn't have. I have never seen one except in photos. I can't find a photo of it in the '89 FSM.

R-12 use to be available on eBay. I've not looked for a while since mine was already changed over to 134a when I bought it and my other 2 vehicles are 134a..