The car is making a loud popping noise through the exaust. I can't feel it in the engine, the engine runs the same, it is just through the exaust. It does it randomly, and due to longtubes and a cutout, it is f'in loud. I've got people slamming on their brakes and running away thinking they are being shot at, I am not kidding. It popps and people start looking around and getting scared. I had left the TPS sensor unplugged once and ever since it has been doing this. It misses under load. Any help would be apreciated.

 

Just having an open cutout can lead to alot of popping and backfire noises. My car does this every now and then, especially on a sudden deceleration where I take my foot off the throttle quickly.

 

I think I just fowled the plugs, I am going to pull a few and check them.

Well, I'll be damned, lots and lots of carbon on the plugs. Could have driving it a couple times with no TPS hooked up done all this? I would hate to go put new plugs in and have this happen again, but it's hard to dianose any further with fowled plugs.

 

Well, changed the plugs, same thing. A little more responsive, that is it. Loud as ever. Check engine light comes on while driving, but I need to get a special code reader because it has the OBDII plug-in but is an OBDI computer from PCM4LESS. Along with the fuel pump with a bad checkball.... what now, new wires, another opti...... I don't know, thinking of having the car crushed at this one scrap yard, but no salvage. I hate doing this to a beautifull car, and taking the loss, but it cost me too much to store and no way am I going to give it away, or sell so cheap it turns up as somebody's amazing deal story.

 

Scan the car, that is your best bet. That may lead you to the problem.

 

It has code 13 and 44, which is an error in the left bank o2 and says it's running lean. But in fact, it is dumping fuel out the exaust! When I changed the plugs last night, the right side (passener) was clean, the driver/left side were coated. I think I'll try to replace the sensor and hope for the best. I hope I am not wasting $60.

 

Have you checked for exhaust and vacuum leaks?

 

Yes, no vacuum leaks, the only exaust leaks are well after the O2's. It runs better, still popps but not as bad. Still misses, but only every once in a while. At WOT, wow it wakes up. No check engine light anymore. I am guessing that it is just GM's opti that is designed to miss a lot. I think GM designed the opti as a money maker for them. Opti-profit. It is so stupid, when DIS became the thing long before they designed the opti. It is such a dirty running car. I think it needs to go to the scrap heap. I am seriously thinking of doing so. The car is just a headache that I tried to save from a precious owner who put longtubes and a cam as the first mods he did. I'll be sure to post a vid of it going in the crusher. People don't want to give me more than $2000 for it, I'd rather watch it burn/crush. Maby I'll try wires first.

 

No - don't send it to the crusher. Check your left side O2 sensor (sensor and and connection). The trouble codes you read said that you were running lean in the left bank. An O2 sensor outputs a voltage of ~100mV when lean and ~900mV when rich. If you have a bad O2 sensor or connection, the signal from the sensor to ECM will be low if any at all. Since the ECM "thinks" that there is a lean condition, it will dump in all kinds of fuel to compensate (maybe why your left side plugs are soaked). This is why you get terrible gas milage when O2 sensors go bad. Hope this helps.

 

Also - the popping is probably unburned fuel from the overly rich mixture igniting in your exhaust.

 

Well, the O2 isn't code isn't comming back. It has a bad fuel pump, it does not hold pressure, and has been whining very loudly latley. So I decide to fix what is obvious and go from there, right? Well I call summit, they say they have a fuel pump 255lph made by BBK for a 1997 LT1 Camaro... I made sure the guy knew I was talking about a 1997 LT1 Camaro... 70mile drive to the GA Summit store.... guess what..... they don't have one... they have one for a 85-90... but not for a LT1 camaro. I was pissed. Of course they try to suggest a huge Aeromotive pump..... this isn't a blown bigblock. I wish there were parts available for these cars.

Thanks for the help.

 

Ok, so I have all exaust leaks closed, including the cutout. Now the only place the exaust is comming out is the tailpipes after the muffler. I changed plugs, Autolite 106s. Changed the oil. Reset the PCM. Fresh 93 Amoco Gas. It is not as bad, and certianly not as loud but it is still popping out the exaust, and missing.

It lacks power, and misses some, until it hits bout 5000rpm and then it pulls like a raped ape. It sputters and runs rich only at low RPM's. No codes. Any ideas or suggestions where to go next? MAF sensor? I don't want to throw parts at it though.

 

Just for anyone who does a search (imagine that) and has the same issues. The opti fixed it. This car has not ever run like this. Smooth like stock durring normal driving, put has the very smooth solid pull when on the gas. Very responsive. Thanks for all of you that helped.

The down side is that the cam sounds real mild now. It used to sound a lot bigger.

 

Thanks for the update. As for your cam, you can always yank a plug wire, you'll get a motor with some lope again.