95 Metro No Front Signals, Valves Rattle at Start Of Accel. and smokes for one second

I need your help on one I just bought. First of all I am doing your complete suggested tune-up, as suggested all over the forum,just to make sure I am getting best mileage.

Second , this is a 95 with supposedly 43,000 original miles. It looks like it too. They have replaced the gaskets because of dry rot but besides that engine looks and sounds great.

2 problems-

1. when starting out from a stopped position, engine can be warm or at cold start,if you get on it at all, not to the floor or anything but just give it enough gas to get up a hill at the start the valves raise all kind of sand and I get a plume of smoke that last only a second. After that the car runs smooth as silk with no sign of smoke and no valve rattle. I can accelerate any other time while running at any speed with no rattles or smoke only at starting off (low RPMS) Any suggestions on what to check on that? It also does this if you turn and accelerate on level ground from a stop sign or red-light.Advance Auto suggested NO SMOKE? I feel like something is clogged or not getting oil to rocker arms at start of acceleration??

2. Turn signal issue. The front signals on both sides will not work. I checked the bulbs. One was burned out. The other was fine. Put two new ones in anyway. They will not work as turn signals, will not work as hazard lights. BOTH back lights are fine as turning or hazard. I have checked every fuse in the box inside the car. I also , checked just case in under the hood to see if I could find a bad fuse. Again, Advanced Auto tells me there is not relay on this model. Is this so? What could be between the lights and the fuse box? Please give good descriptions, I am in no way a mechanic. Is there a second flasher somewhere?

Thanks in advance for any and all help. I hope to hear from you soon.

I gave it a good tuneup and I dont seem to have the smoking problem at start up. BUT, now the check engine light is staying on solid? Any suggestions? Also, still fighting the headlight issue listed above. Grouns cable at headlight seems to be attached properly. Any other suggestions?? Thanks folks!

I gave it a good tuneup and I dont seem to have the smoking problem at start up. BUT, now the check engine light is staying on solid? Any suggestions? Also, still fighting the headlight issue listed above. Grouns cable at headlight seems to be attached properly. Any other suggestions?? Thanks folks!
would like to hear what you thought the valve rattle and puff of smoke,I would bet if you checked your throttle body just after you would see oil?let me know I have a 96 doing same thing.

Generally, turn signal issues as well as headlamp issues are caused by the combination switch assembly, which is the mechanism mounted on the steering column behind the steering wheel that has the levers that come out of the sides for the wipers, directional signals and headlamps. If, after checking the wiring harnesses that connect to the turn signals and checking the continuity of the circuits themselves, you can't find the problem, you may consider changing the combination switch. This is done by removing the trim panels over the steering column, removing the wheel, and removing the switch assembly and its wiring connectors under the dashboard. Since this is a SIR equipped model, you will need to disable the airbag system before removing the wheel, so you don't accidentally deploy the airbag and injure yourself. This is done by disconnecting the negative battery cable and waiting 10 minutes before resuming work in the vacinity of the steering wheel. This part should still be available from Chevrolet, and runs in the area of $100. Before performing this job, check under the dash for burnt electrical connectors that lead from the switch assembly to the fuse panel (where it mates with the electrical system). If you find any frayed wires, this is the problem. You will need to replace the switch assembly as well as the fuse panel itself, as the cause for the issue is in a faulty ground wire in the fuse block. Revised parts are available from Chevrolet. Oddly, no TSBs or recalls have been issued for this problem, which seems to me as an issue that could cause a fire.

Thanks for the info. I will give it a shot. I have not pulled a wheel in a long time so this should be interesting. Am I looking for burnt marks on the top side of the fuse box? and the switch? Will Advance Auto carry the switch by any chance or any other sources maybe online cheaper. I would be scared to put a used one from a junkyard on it.

candp,

It was suggested to me to use a better grade sparkplug I used teh Bosch Plat. +4 , changed rotor, cap, wires, plugs. My EGR valve was completely 100% clogged also. Cleaned with carb cleaner and now smoke seems to be gone. Let me know if I can answer any more questions. I will watch for the oil you mentioned.

You are looking for burn marks on the wires that come from the switch assembly, or on the fuse panel itself. There will not be any burn marks on the switch near the levers. You will not need to pull the wheel until you have confirmed continuity between the switch and the signal lamps. But simply pulling the harnesses out from under the dash and looking for burn marks is a lot easier than a continuity check. Discount does not carry this part. It is strictly available from Chevrolet only. I had to find that out the hard way.