Hey guys/gals. I have a serious question here. I have a 1999 z28 ls1, 6 speed. I do not drive her a whole lot and keep her garaged most of the time except on pretty days.

I decided that i was going to take her on a long drive down to Florida in July. You know, take the t-tops out, enjoy the weather, etc.

So I thought, i might shold have her serviced! So I have a mechanic install new spark plugs, new wires, new fuel filter.

I also had him to replace the rack/pinon on the machine as I ran over a cinder block and put a small hole in it.

The car was running great.. no problems, other than the tiny drip from the hole in the rack/pinoin.

When i get the car back its misfiring, backfiring, etc! It runs like crap. So I take it back to him and he tells me i'm going to have to take it to the dealer becase he thinks its the coil packs?????

HELP!!

What has he done to my baby? It went from running great to missing and backfiring like crazy.

AND.......................

Oh yeah, it isn't over.

When I turn the wheel to the left or the right, the steering is tight and then real loose, then tight again, then real loose.. Very dangerous.

If you know of anything i can check, help.

I reset the computer, put her back to stock programming, ran some 104 octane booster through it.. NOthing helped.

 

Hopefully it's just a plug wire not fully pushed on the plug or the fuel filter on backwards(never replaced one so it may not be possible) or something easy. Is the car modded in any way....you said "I put it back on stock programming" so I assume you have done something to the car.

 

Just used the HPP programmer to remove the limiter, that's about it!

Car was running perfect before the mechanic got a hold of it. I'll call him about the fuel filter tomorrow.. Surely he's not that stupid.

 

Well the HHP shouldn't affect any thing that you have described. It really makes me wonder what the hell they did Do they have any knowlege about the LS1 at this "shop"?? Did they question you on anything when you brought it in that would lead you to think they didn't know what they were doing??

 

No they didn't question anything. I asked if they could do it and he said yes, no problem, drop it by!

I'll ask him about the fuel filter tomorrow. Do you think I should run some injector cleaner through it??

 

I think you should go check all of your spark plug wires. Don't bother with the fuel filter it's impossible to install backwards. I know its the mechanics job to do this, but go out and check all of the connectors on the coil packs, and see that all your plug wires are secure. Its not hard, you can actually see them on an LS1. As far as the steering goes, I would see the mechanic about that. Then, I would spend a little more time on here and LS1tech.com and learn how to do things for yourself. It will save you tons of money, potentially thousands if you do it yourself. Save for the dyno tune and the whisper lid that was on my car when I bought it, and some stupid transmission thing that was covered because of a recall, I have never let anyone else touch my car. I don't even trust the dealer.

edit: Oh yeah, I did have a shop weld in my subframes and do my custom duals after I put the headers on. It was at a good friends shop that I know and trust, and I watched them like a hawk when they did it.

 

What kind of spark plugs did they use? I put Bosch Plugs in my car and it made it Missfire like nuts. ONLY USE AC-DELCO! ! Or atleast that's what always works for me

 

Not sure... Might have been Bosch!

?

jj

 

Not true, I'm runnin' Bosch +2 platinum's, same heat range, and haven't had any problems with them.

 

Also make sure that the plug wires haven't been broken and ripped out of the boots. They may have damaged them if they were forced out. Also make sure the plugs are torqued in.

 

I put the Bosuch +4's in and it made my car missfire . Put AC Delcos in if they are Bosch and It will prolly fix your problem...

 

PS, the people who Designed this Car used AC-Delco parts... I think it would be safe to say those are the best to use.

 

The people that designed our cars used crappy rotors, flimsy suspension parts amongst other things. Does that mean they are the best part available for the car? Just cause the manufacturer uses them doesn't necessarily mean they are best, more than likely on these cars means they were the cheapest. I personally use NGK TR55's. They work well and are cheap.

 

Your control arm bushings might be bad as well.

 

bring it back to the mechanic and tell them to fix thier mistake.

btw, there's also alot of aftermarket crap that try to claim stock parts are bad, but in reality they are alot worse than stock.