HELP! Car running like crap after Headers and Cam
08-13-2003, 09:53 AM
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 202
HELP! Car running like crap after Headers and Cam
After I installed my Jet Hot's, the car seemed to run great for a bit. Burnt wire # 5 twice, but finally have it set up so it wont burn. The car gradually seemed to loose power and Idled like crap esp when cold. I have an A/F guage installed (i know these dont really tell much) but it seemed to be running leaner than usual.
So 2 days ago I changed my 02's and Fuel Filter. It ran MUCH WORSE right afterward. Seemed to bog when the car warmed up around 2000 rpm's. Smelled TERRIBLY rich. I took it on the highway for a while and it gradually seemed to run better, and even idled better when I came off, but also seemed to have less power than when I just installed the headers. But when cold, I seem to still have the bogging problem around 2K. The A/F reads a little richer than before, and MUCH richer at WOT. At one point I gave it gas and it almost died, but a few seconds later it SHOT foward. It seemed like when I opened the TB, the computer didnt know what to do with all the incoming air, then just dumped a ton of fuel in eventually and made the car shoot foward.
My opinion seems to be that its def an A/F problem. I ordered an OBD I conversion PCM from www.Madz28.com and e-mailed him my mods for a custom program. I'm hoping this will clear up the problem. I am taking a decently long trip (2 hr drive) that I've had resorvations for a while but the PCM wont be here before I leave. I'm going to keep the rpm's low while driving, but should I worry?
Any suggestions? Will the new PCM help me?
I'm leaving today around 6 pm so please post your opinions asap.
Any help is MUCH appreciated
So 2 days ago I changed my 02's and Fuel Filter. It ran MUCH WORSE right afterward. Seemed to bog when the car warmed up around 2000 rpm's. Smelled TERRIBLY rich. I took it on the highway for a while and it gradually seemed to run better, and even idled better when I came off, but also seemed to have less power than when I just installed the headers. But when cold, I seem to still have the bogging problem around 2K. The A/F reads a little richer than before, and MUCH richer at WOT. At one point I gave it gas and it almost died, but a few seconds later it SHOT foward. It seemed like when I opened the TB, the computer didnt know what to do with all the incoming air, then just dumped a ton of fuel in eventually and made the car shoot foward.
My opinion seems to be that its def an A/F problem. I ordered an OBD I conversion PCM from www.Madz28.com and e-mailed him my mods for a custom program. I'm hoping this will clear up the problem. I am taking a decently long trip (2 hr drive) that I've had resorvations for a while but the PCM wont be here before I leave. I'm going to keep the rpm's low while driving, but should I worry?
Any suggestions? Will the new PCM help me?
I'm leaving today around 6 pm so please post your opinions asap.
Any help is MUCH appreciated
08-13-2003, 11:30 AM
#3
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 202
I was hoping it wasn't an Opti. It really doesnt seem to have opti symptoms though becasue after the car has been driving for a while and warms up, the car idles ok and just seems to have less power.
08-13-2003, 12:28 PM
#4
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Tampa Florida
Posts: 1,490
Sounds like the OBDII to me.
My car bogged like hell with the original tuning.
I think your car will run fine after the pcm.
In all the cases i've known the opti feels like a spark plug that isnt firing.. but its not consistant. Sometimes more sometimes less and usually more when the engine is warm.
My car bogged like hell with the original tuning.
I think your car will run fine after the pcm.
In all the cases i've known the opti feels like a spark plug that isnt firing.. but its not consistant. Sometimes more sometimes less and usually more when the engine is warm.
08-13-2003, 03:08 PM
#7
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 202
I took it for another spin, and the A/F guage is reading leaner than normal. But not sure if I should trust it. The car really lacks power as if the timing is retarted.
could having O2 simm's effect the A/F ratio?
could having O2 simm's effect the A/F ratio?
08-13-2003, 03:26 PM
#8
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Bowie, MD
Posts: 71
I think a lot of it may have to do with the lack of a computer tune. My car idled rough,almost died unless I two-footed it, and lacked power right after I installed my cam and headers. Once I got the tune it smoothed out nicely and has run fine since.
08-13-2003, 04:44 PM
#10
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Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Diamondhead, MS
Posts: 467
Are you setting any codes? Mine would throw random misfires all day long.
I know after I installed the HOT cam in my WS6, it ran like crap with the stock computer. It was incredibly lean. Wouldn't rev past 5K. On the dyno, you could see the car bucking. On the track, it ran slower than it was before the cam. Nobody programmed OBDII back in late '97 so I switched to OBDI and it fixed everything.
When LT1 Edit came out, I started doing that and it got even better.
Hopefully that'll be all yours needs.
I know after I installed the HOT cam in my WS6, it ran like crap with the stock computer. It was incredibly lean. Wouldn't rev past 5K. On the dyno, you could see the car bucking. On the track, it ran slower than it was before the cam. Nobody programmed OBDII back in late '97 so I switched to OBDI and it fixed everything.
When LT1 Edit came out, I started doing that and it got even better.
Hopefully that'll be all yours needs.
08-15-2003, 02:48 AM
#13
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: AL
Posts: 465
Originally posted by wayne97
I just put long tubes and Hot cam kit in my 97 and its popping up as "random misfire" and I dont know what to do ... boggs down like crazy too. maybe we have similar probs...
I just put long tubes and Hot cam kit in my 97 and its popping up as "random misfire" and I dont know what to do ... boggs down like crazy too. maybe we have similar probs...
08-15-2003, 05:13 AM
#14
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Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Frederick, Maryland USA
Posts: 273
Originally posted by ZDriver96
Sounds like the OBDII to me.
My car bogged like hell with the original tuning.
I think your car will run fine after the pcm.
In all the cases i've known the opti feels like a spark plug that isnt firing.. but its not consistant. Sometimes more sometimes less and usually more when the engine is warm.
Sounds like the OBDII to me.
My car bogged like hell with the original tuning.
I think your car will run fine after the pcm.
In all the cases i've known the opti feels like a spark plug that isnt firing.. but its not consistant. Sometimes more sometimes less and usually more when the engine is warm.
If it's the opti, pretty soon the motor won't even start when you try to turn it over. It definitely doesn't sound like opti issues.
