Some of you may recall the problems that I've been having with my car since I bought it. Basically, I don't have any power once I step on the gas -- the car will usually downshift properly but there's no "get-up-and-go." I can barely even break my rear tires loose from a standing stop. My friend hooked up his laptop to my car (1993 Trans Am LT1) and logged some engine data. He said that the engine looks like it is running properly -- there are no abnormal sensor readings, the air/fuel ratio looks good (BLMs around 128), and the MAP sensor is reading throughout its entire voltage range. Here is a link to the datalog, for those who can interpret it. Is his rationale correct?

http://home.alltel.net/usaaf/etc/GM052601.CSV

That got us thinking. He suggested that the problem might lie in the transmission, which is what he originally thought to begin with (like MONTHS ago). Internally, he said, it seems to be working properly -- the TV cable has been adjusted, the transmission shifts properly and firmly, etc. However, the torque converter might not be transferring power correctly. At idle in park, the engine revs up relatively quickly. When in gear driving, once floored the car downshifts but doesn't rev up quick at all. My friend's 1986 Camaro is completely different... throttle response is about the same no matter if he's sitting still or driving. He has an L98 350 (engine swap).

Practically everything has been gone through. Everything electrical has been replaced (wires, plugs, Optispark), there are no vacuum leaks, and the throttle position sensor has been checked. I'm sure there's other stuff that we've done but I just can't remember it right now. We really don't think that it's a fuel issue because the fuel pressure is reading correctly (I had it checked somewhere) and the engine doesn't sound or drive like it's getting fuel starvation. Although, sometimes during startup it will take longer and feel like its getting none or too much fuel.

The lower i go in gears, the better it feels. Drive and 3rd are by far the worst. I mean, there is nothing behind it at all. The whole way to the floor and its nothing but a struggle. Even at 85 mph and 2500 rpm, if i mash the gas it gets near 3700 before anything happens and i can barely tell even then. I know for a fact that it wont even hit its top speed, whatever it is in these cars. In second, it gets the most responsive between 2500 and 3500 rpms.

What do you think? Is it my torque converter?

The status is pretty much at begging level at this point. Thanks to any help i get.

 

heres a link to my other thread: http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...threadid=91073

 

Make sure youre exhaust manifolds/headers aren't glowing red. This kinda sounds like a clogged catyletic converter.

Frank

 

the car only has 66k miles. could it really happen that soon?

 

I had similar problems with my car and found out it was my input drum that went out causing me to burn up all of my clutches. My car wouldn't move off of idle till I hit about 2k rpm and wouldnt rev more then 3.5k in park or in gear. My car was alot worse off then yours sounded. I only had a 2500 stall if that matters.

 

Mine went at about 70,000.

Frank

 

TTT