LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

Drivability problem and diagnosis

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-12-2006, 07:17 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jkaiser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 48
Drivability problem and diagnosis

I think I may have a bad OPTI but I just want to try and rule everything else out.
Car:
95 lt1 firebird, Vortech supercharger(@ 50,000), long tube headers(@65000), Ignition, computer and all sensors are stock. I had a small waterpump leak last year after I took it out of storage but a bit of stop leak and driving has resolved that problem. Car now has 81,000 miles.

Symptom:
Some missing and stumbling and seems to be running fat. At first it seemed to be only when warm, now it appears to be more frequent.

What I have done to date:
Had it scanned, only seemed to have a couple o2 out of range. Seems the wire to one of the o2's was shorting on header. FIXED.
Fuel pressure is good, vacumn is good
Checked for any air leaks between MAF and supercharger and supercharge and TB:NONE
Wires seem to be good, plugs are good.
Unpluged temp sensor still ran bad.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
jkaiser is offline  
Old 07-12-2006, 07:22 AM
  #2  
Registered User
 
Sweetred95ta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: High Ridge, MO
Posts: 2,193
Re: Drivability problem and diagnosis

Well, since you mentioned it does it more when it's warm, it sounds like a closed loop problem. Try unhooking both O2 sensors and driving it. That will put the car in "open loop". Let us know how it runs after you do this. Then, we can go from there.
Sweetred95ta is offline  
Old 07-12-2006, 07:29 AM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jkaiser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 48
Re: Drivability problem and diagnosis

I thought unplugging the temp sensor(water pump) would put it in open loop? If it did not, I will definitly try the o2's. Thanks, your quick
jkaiser is offline  
Old 07-12-2006, 07:45 AM
  #4  
Registered User
 
Sweetred95ta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: High Ridge, MO
Posts: 2,193
Re: Drivability problem and diagnosis

I've never tried unhooking the temp sensor. I always do the O2's, that way I know that the computer can't learn from them and the car will read from the open loop tables. It worked for me last weekend. The car was running horrible (new setup and mail order tune), so I unhooked the O2's and it ran much better, not perfect, just much better, and I got 5 more mpg.
Sweetred95ta is offline  
Old 07-13-2006, 10:20 AM
  #5  
Registered User
 
Tekprodave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 526
Re: Drivability problem and diagnosis

How old is your opti? If its over 100k then I'd replace it along with the water pump. I went with an electric WP which is a little more difficult to install but makes the car run cooler.

Are you running the crane ignition box? If so, make sure it is grounded really well. A bad ground can cause misfires just like an opti problem.
Tekprodave is offline  
Old 07-13-2006, 10:42 AM
  #6  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jkaiser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 48
Re: Drivability problem and diagnosis

OPTI has 81,000. I am not using the Crane ignition, it failed on me a couple years ago so I am running a stock ingnition.. thanks
jkaiser is offline  
Old 07-13-2006, 10:50 AM
  #7  
Registered User
 
Tekprodave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 526
Re: Drivability problem and diagnosis

Originally Posted by jkaiser
OPTI has 81,000. I am not using the Crane ignition, it failed on me a couple years ago so I am running a stock ingnition.. thanks
Stock ignition? Wow. The first thing I would do is upgrade that baby. Get a LTCC or Delteq. I went with a Delteq since it was a more complete kit and much easier to install. It made a HUGE difference on my Vortech supercharged car. The thing still fires with a ton of oil in the cylinders. LOL!
Tekprodave is offline  
Old 07-14-2006, 06:22 AM
  #8  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jkaiser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 48
Re: Drivability problem and diagnosis

Okay after much tinkering I think I have it. It appears to be the o2's I unplugged them and it seems to run fine. I will be repalacing them this weekend. The service engine light did not come on with the o2's unpugged, is that right? I will leave final post after installation.
Many thanks guys
jkaiser is offline  
Old 07-14-2006, 07:00 AM
  #9  
Registered User
 
Sweetred95ta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: High Ridge, MO
Posts: 2,193
Re: Drivability problem and diagnosis

It won't throw a code with BOTH O2s unhooked. Glad it ran good w/out the O2's hooked up. That's a much easier fix. Post back and let us know if it fixes it or not.
Sweetred95ta is offline  
Old 07-19-2006, 07:06 AM
  #10  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
jkaiser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 48
Re: Drivability problem and diagnosis

It was the o2's. I replaced them with original gm sensors and I have driven a couple hundred miles. Running great. thanks again
jkaiser is offline  
Old 07-19-2006, 07:52 AM
  #11  
Registered User
 
Sweetred95ta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: High Ridge, MO
Posts: 2,193
Re: Drivability problem and diagnosis

Congrats.
Sweetred95ta is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
liamcg97
LT1 Based Engine Tech
17
11-25-2019 05:55 PM
Klypto
LS1 Based Engine Tech
11
03-23-2016 09:05 AM
Matt W
LT1 Based Engine Tech
6
04-24-2015 12:54 AM
AlaskaZ28
LT1 Based Engine Tech
12
04-17-2015 08:54 AM
AlaskaZ28
LT1 Based Engine Tech
9
01-01-2015 12:30 PM



Quick Reply: Drivability problem and diagnosis



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:53 PM.