The temp sensor in the block has a habit of getting in the way sometimes when you do headers My friend knocked his clean off during a header install and we didn't even know it until we tried to run the car. I'd buy a new sensor once you rule out the wires not being bad.

 

ok logged into my pcm today and checked the codes. i logged in with tuner cat and turned off the auto tranny stuff. and then i cleared off the temp sensor. took the sensor off and cleaned it and put it back in. started it up and it was ok then it started doing it again. i checked for trouble codes and now it reads no codes at all! now i have no clue what to do! i have an extra sensor and i am depressed so i didnt feel like working on it anymore i guess tomorrow i will do it i am don working on it for today

 

Check your opti harness.
When the plug gets corroded inside opti, it will buck and run like crap because of a poor connection.
Its not too bad to pull it off either.

 

to all you opti spark claimers! i hate to tell you BUT your WRONG! the freaking problem was the F)*((*)(*g ECT sensor! it was so upsetting! i flashed the pcm and now its running a M6 and i kept getting code 14 ECT so i went to the store and got a new one ($13.18) put it in put some more coolant in it because some leaked out. started it up and it idled perfectly took it for a nice long run and it never did it again! I AM SO HAPPY don't worry i am still getting an ls1!
BTW i took my fuel filter off and opened it up (edlebrock filter so i can replace the inner filter) and checked it, it wasn't clogged at all. took the plugs out and it was nice and brown all my wires had the same ohms so it wasn't anything ignition nor fuel! i flashed my pcm so now its M6 and not A4 anymore and the only code i was getting was code 14 which is ECT.

 

Sorry to see that you appear pissed at the people mentioning the opti as a problem. (only trying to help)

But now it's fixed and the cost was minimal. Lots of aggravation as only car problems can be. But all-in-all I'm sure lots of people learned some valuable information from this thread.

Later ... Larry S.

 

no its not that at all but everyone that says "o you have an lt1 its your opti" i know the opti is the weak point of this motor but its not the answer to everything. thats all i meant by that