Haven't tried to diagnose the problem but I thought I'd try here first. started the car after washing it and about 2 minutes of driving the car after washing it, it started missing and stumbling terribly. It doesn't smooth out and the service engine light came on. I put a scanner on it and it said something about a problem with the secondary air pump, a problem with the MAF, and misfiring on one cylinder. I don't really think it's water related, just coincidental that it started when I washed it. But it ran fine for a few minutes and then it just started. Any tips on where to start??? Thanks in advance.

 

by the way it's a 96 Trans am with a bone stock lt1

 

the same thing happened here, next time don't wash your engine! it turn out to be a bad coil and some plugs

 

Check you wires and plugs, but possibly sounds like you got some moisture in your opti. Don't know for sure. Good luck. Air pump shouldn't be making your car stumble and miss.

 

Let evrything dry 100 before you try to start it again. You might be one of the lucky ones that get away with an unharmed opti. If not.... Buy it now

 

well I let it dry out and no improvements. I'm tearing it down at the moment and checking the plug wires and gonna replace plugs. Then I'm going to replace the opti if it's no better.

 

It sucks, but more that likely the opti is the culprit. I have had my air pump send a trouble code before and the car ran fine. If it started stumbling right after you washed under the hood like you said, it is probably not just a coincidence. It's probably the opti.

 

it has a nearly brand new opti with about 3000 miles on it. I didn't even wash under the hood, I washed the exterior of the car. I've already got it torn apart ready for the opti to come off. Guess we'll see. I'm gonna go ahead and add a set of headers while it's sitting, and plugs and wires. What kind of plugs should I go with? BTW, car will be getting an NOS 150hp wet kit within the next few weeks so I want to go ahead and put a cold plug in it. What kind of brand do you all prefer?

 

Hey, I had an opti go out on me after about 300 miles, a week after I changed it to be exact. That will **** a guy off, let me tell ya. Sorry about your luck.

 

I think alot of people like to run the NGK TR-6

 

it was the opti. I bought a new assembly from gm and it fired right up and ran fine. Thanks guys!!