I just got my 96 Z LT1 back from the shop last night. It had cap,button,plugs,wires,intake manifold gasket,timing chain,trans. flush and fill,new trans. filter and an oil change done. 3 weeks and several hundred $$$$,s later it runs worse now than when I took it. Before it went to the shop 1 bump on the ignition and it would fire right up, now it just turns over and over and over then finally starts and idles rough, when it was reved up in park it puffed a little black smoke. Any suggestions??? I want my car back to normal!!! Thanks!!!

 

If you think the shop has the talent to fix it, tow it back to the shop and tell them to call you when it runs the way its supposed to. If you lack the confidence in the shop to ever be able to get it running right, file a formal complaint to try and get your money back. Keep meticulous records of what you have to do to get it running right, to use as evidence of their incompetence, in your claim.

If you choose to do it yourself, it might be worth a good PCM scan, with a data log to help diagnose the problems. Sounds like its flooding. When you try to start it, BEFORE you turn the key to the "start" position, put the gas pedal on the floor and hold it there while you try and start the engine. If it starts better, it indicates that its a flooding problem. Then check the coolant temp sensor in the water pump housing. Maybe they forgot to reconnect it. A scan would show you any trouble codes, and allow you to see what the various sensors, including the coolant temp sensor are indicating.

 

Did it run better right after you got it and start normal and then get worse everytime you drove it? Most of the stuff done was just regular maintenance. Sounds like they did a bad job installing the new parts. The plugs & wires could be loose as well as some connection came loose or was not reattached like Injuneer said. My new plug wires got burnt on the headers after replacing them and it did it slowly and the car ran worse every day until it was undriveable.

 

Bad timing chain install. Timing off.----make sure no loose or missing connections including intake plenum to TB connection. My guess is your timing in off. JMHO

 

If his timing is off, how does he confirm this?

 

maybe a couple of plug wires are not in the right spot on the opti. IDK, just a guess. OR, the way that you properly align the opti when installing it. You know, the circle on the back has to be in correct position.

 

Map sensor conected?