Ok heres a little history....

Replaced the fuel pump, plugs, wires, coil, opti spark (), computer (MadZTuner OB1 conversion), new fuel filter, etccc....I'm running out of ideas here.

The car misfires terribly and doesn't want to run right. It likes fouling all four plugs on the passenger side so I'm guessing an O2 sensor in conjunction with the header leak is causing that. So, I will replace both O2 sensors this weekend and just for the [EDIT] hell of it I'm gonna swap my old pc and see if that helps. If it doesn't..........Only thing I can think of is doing a compression check to see if my valves are good on the passenger side head. The header leak could have caused them to burn up but I'm not sure. Just guessing until a compression check tells me otherwise.

I mean cmon opti, wires, plugs, coil. Forget troubleshooting I guessed wrong everytime only thing left is the ECU and if that isn't it I'm [EDIT] clueless. I've heard of people having bad wires, etc but dam*. Sometimes under throttle it won't do anything but hold 3k or whatever and do nothing but yell. Too me that sounds electrical as it comes and goes. I ruled out everything else so what do you think ?

 

are you sure the opti was installed correctly?, is it showing any codes?

 

Yeah it sounds just like it did before and I made damn sure I lined up the right dowel pin and fired it up before I reinstalled the water pump, etc. It sounded good and reved up fine. Got it all back together and after running for a couple minutes it started doing it again.

I'm going to try the things I mentioned earlier and if that doesn't work I will take it to a shop to have it hooked up to a computer. Pay somebody to tell me what's wrong I guess. It does throw codes, ive seen the SES come on a few times. I guess I could drive it up to autozone and have them give me the codes. What do you suggest ? I hate spending money but then again, all this guessing I've blown a truckload of it and I'm still back where I started so wtf I should have.

 

Lets say it is the head and I have to rebuild them....


How much am I looking at for head gaskets, rebuild, head bolts, etc ? I'm guessing around $500 but that's just a guess.

 

if you do it yourself, should be well under 500 to have it done prolly around a 1000, or more, i would take it to autozone and have it scanned could be somethin simple

 

That's what I'm going to do this weekend after I try a few things.

 

have you looked into to see if its a fuel pump problem (hook up a pressure gauge)

also i just had the same problem where the car would run fine then miss fire not start etc i replace the opti coils (i have delteq system) and it turned out to be some as simple as a broken opti harness wiring ... so check everything but would you described it could be a fuel pump issue

Do a couple of things first

1) Disconnect both 02 sensors to see if the car runs better (if not then go to step 2)

2) Check the MAF Sensor (disconnect it to see if the car runs better) if not the go to step 3

3) try to get a scanner from someone (it may not throw a code but if you can read the sensors to see whats going on it might give you a clue if one of the sensors are not working correctly (example by looking and the sensors in real time with a scanner you can get a clue to whats going on (like the water pump temp sensor if its not working correctly it will not send the proper warm up signal which could cause a rich condition's and the motor not to run right or start up correctly etc)

 

I think I would invest in a scan tool and fuel pressure gauge if I had any plans on keeping the car. The money saved from not replacing parts that are good would pay for both of them in a hurry. Not trying to be a smart a**..but just giving you my experience before I bought scan tools...etc.

 

It is NOT the fuel pump LoL. I swapped it out twice guessing that and it didn't help. I'm gonna have a mechanic kick me in the nutts for being stupid and see what's wrong. Agreed on buying a scan tool but for now I'll have a pro figure it out as I'm done [EDIT] with it. I just want my car back

 

i would check the other things i mention if its not the fuel pump before you get raped in the butt for having someone look at it

 

Sorry it is giving you such a hard time. If you are anywhere nearby to Raleigh..would be glad to give you a hand.

 

How about a little (no cost, low cost analysis) before you even buy a tool?

If the engine runs long enough, pull each injector clip off and then reinstall it while the engine is running. As you do this, note if the engine runs worse or doesn't change when take you each clip off. The ones that produce NO change in the way the engine is running means that cylinder is not firing.

Then report back to us and we will tell you what to do next.

 

same here i bought a scan master for my car a long time ago and never looked back it was worth every penny

 

Yeah I noticed the number 2 cylinder does it the worst. The header is leaking there and you can see it misfire but it's not the only one and it couldn't be just one. Like I said, it's fouling all four plugs on the passenger side so that's a clue. Bad O2 I'm guessing but there is no way in hell a bad 02 could make it run that bad. It shoots fire out the exhaust when it backfires it's insane.

I could replace the O2's, clean the injectors, swap computers but you know I fear it will still have the same problem. Will a scan tool tell me as much as theirs will ? I know shops are good about finding the problem but like everybody else said they get paid well to do it so I'm hesitant about letting them. Ugh, we will see. I'll keep in touch. thanks guys, it's hard working on your car everyweekend and blowing money guessing and still being wrong

 

Will LT1 scanmaster work for for my car ? I have an OB2 to OB1 conversion from MadZtuner......Would that tell me what might be wrong ?