I tried starting my car today and it turns on for a few seconds, then it starts to shake, then the idle goes real low and then it stops. Even if I press the gas, the car dies. I took off the battery and alternator and had them checked out. The battery was ok, but since it was getting a little old I bought a new one. I got the alternator checked out and it works fine. What should I try out next? I Autotaped the car and here are the codes it's throwing:

P0300 Engine Misfire Detected
P1171 Fuel System Lean During Acceleration
P0420 TWC System Low Efficiency Bank 1
P0400 EGR System


I checked the Air/Fuel ratio guage and it never moved from 12.1:1.

I replaced the fuel filter about 8 months ago but im going to replace it tomorrow anyways just to make sure. Any other ideas? I really need to get my car running ASAP. Does anyone know which guage to use on Autotap to monitor the fuel pressure? Any suggestions or ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

You may want to hook up a fuel pressure gage to your rail determine whether or not your pump is good. If your pump is good I would then take a look at having your injectors cleaned. I would also check your plugs and plug wires. If all that is good then I would suspect you have a bad opti.

 

First, I would check your fuel pressure (should be between 41-47 at idle)..the fuel filter wouldn't hurt to replace but I highly doubt that is what your problem is.

Your misfire appears to be coming from a fuel system that isn't producing as much fuel as it should...it all points to the fuel pump from what I see except the EGR code is throwing me off a bit.

Hope you find your problem...

 

If the EGR valve is stuck open it is not going to stay running.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. Is there anyway to check fuel pressure with just auto tap? I looked at all the Auto Tap settings but I couldn't find a fuel pressure monitor.

How do I get my fuel injectors cleaned? Is this something I should have a shop do or can I do it myself? Will a fuel system cleaner solution that you put inside your gas tank work? The car does have 115K miles. It's a 1996 Camaro SS. Around how long do Opti Sparks last?

 

Where is the EGR valve exactly? Is the EGR valve supposed to be closed when the car idles?

 

It is located on the back of the intake. There is a convulted metal tubing that travels from the exhaust manifold to the EGR valve on the passenger side. You could just remove the EGR valve and have it programmed out of the PCM so that you won't require it at all. You will also need some block off plates to perform this mod as well so that you don't have any leaks. Thats what I, as well as many other people on the board have done in cases like yours.

Hope this helps.

 

Looks like I found the problem, fuel pump . I hooked up a fuel pressure guage to the fuel rail yesterday and I got 15psi at idle. I gave it some gas and the most I got was 18psi of fuel pressure. Im going to change out the fuel pump this weekend; hopefully it's the pump. How long does a fuel pump swap take? Im going to have an experienced mechanic friend help me. He doesn't work on FBodies though.

 

change your fuel filter 1st. Then check the pressure again, although those are some pretty low PSI readings! I had one that I only got 27PSI on, changed the filter and that brought it back up to 40psi range.

To change the pump, you have to 1st drop the rear axle, pull the heat shields off, then drop the tank.
I did the last one in an un-heated pole building, and I live in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, not fun!!! it was someone else's car, I brought a free standing kerosene heater over, but this place was 30x50 foot steel pole barn, un-insulated he he...
kingslam...

 

WOO HOO!!! Thats what I thought..but like stated above, it wouldn't hurt to change out your fuel filter first, but I highly doubt that is the problem since you just changed it out not that long ago.

Good luck!!!