ok here is what is happening and a few things i think might be causing me problems. the car starts hard but once it starts its fine for about 5 minutes of idleing, after that, it starts running extremely rich and has very terrible throttle response. if i go to rev it up it sputters a few times then revs fine but blows a lot of smoke. i had it ideling in my garage last night when i was filling my tranny, (the door was open) and i had tears coming down my face from the fumes coming out of the exhaust. it only does this after it starts to warm up.

possible problems i am thinking.

comp 503 cam running on stock tune (224/230 .503 .510) and headers
crispy plug wire that bumped my header
O2's (they only have about 2000 miles on them)
knock sensor (stock sensor and module)
opti was replaced when i did the cam last summer


thanks in advance

 

sounds like the O2s, maybe check the wiring to them. When it first starts PCM is in open-loop mode, running on programming and ignoring the sensors. After it warms up and goes into closed loop the O2 sensors are controlling A/F ratio and making it run bad. Doesn't mean it has to be the sensors, but even with a cam and mods it should be able to get A/F close to normal. A bad plug wire would cause it to go lean, not rich, cuz the O2 sees unburnt fuel from non-firing cylinder and compensates for rich condition.

 

maybe exhaust leak before the o2s. try unpluging them and see if that helps

 

i do have one of the gaskets between the head and header leaking on the pass side. if i just unplug the o2's will it put it in idiot mode and ignore them and run decent?

 

yes it will keep the computer in openloop. i ran my car this way for about 2 months.

 

update:: i tryed unplugging my o2's this morning and nothing changed. my car is still running like absolute horse crap. it just started doing it one day. nothing major happened to cause this. it ran fine after i put the cam in for a while now it is running so rich i cant stand to be within 20 feet of it when it is running. also what would cause my fans to come on about 1 minute after i start the car, could i have a bad coolant temp sensor or C.T. switch or something and would this cause my car to run that ridiculously rich??

 

I'd get a tune and plug wire for it first and see what that does.

 

I had the same problem, only mine occured after I put in a new ECT. I put in all new 02's and plugs.wires, and come to find out it was the connector on my ECT that was causing all of my problems. I got a new one, and saughtered it in, ran great ever since(knocking on wood).

 

maybe i am just having a brain fart, but what the hell is an "ECT" i will probably shoot myself after you tell me i just cant think of it right now.