A miss in the engine
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Bourbonnais Illinois
A miss in the engine
I have a 1995 LT1 convertible. It has about 25,000 miles on it, of which I put 12,000 on in the last 2 years. It has been trouble free until the last few day. It started a miss. Almost a surge particularly noticeable when it is idling. I think continues as I am driving but it is less noticeable.
Today it was much worse. I opened the hood and I can hear a clicking sound, almost like a sparking sound pretty constantly. It seems to be coming from the front of the block. Any ideas what it might be? tdb
Today it was much worse. I opened the hood and I can hear a clicking sound, almost like a sparking sound pretty constantly. It seems to be coming from the front of the block. Any ideas what it might be? tdb
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 1
From: Pasadena CA
You might have a bad spark plug lead that is arcing onto the headers. If you can look at it running at night with no lights, you might see it. Also spraying a bit of water around the plug leads area would help show it up.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: UT.
Okay, I don't want to hijack this thread but I have the same problem. However mine will go in
and out of missing. I came across this thread and went out to look at mine in the dark. Guess
what? I can see sparks light up on both sides. All of my experience is with engines with coil
packs so I'm going to ask this seemingly stupid question.....this is bad right?
svxr
and out of missing. I came across this thread and went out to look at mine in the dark. Guess
what? I can see sparks light up on both sides. All of my experience is with engines with coil
packs so I'm going to ask this seemingly stupid question.....this is bad right?
svxr
Pro
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 694
Likes: 54
From: Sandwich Illinois
Engine miss
Examine the coil wire that runs behind the water pump. The one on my car was shorting on the water pump! It looked good, but examine the boots VERY carefully. Mine had a 1/2 split about halfway up on the boot that goes into the Opti. If you twist the boot, it will show you where it was split. This problem was giving me fits. I was going to replace the Opti, but everyone told me "it's the wires". When I took off the water pump, there was telltale burn marks right where the coil wire was. The only problem is, the coil wire from GM is $28! Part # 12192000. You can buy a whole wire set (part # 12173591) on eBay for $115. I would recommend that you replace ALL the wires.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
Likes: 9
From: Fort Knox, KY
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I would recommend that you replace ALL the wires.
I'd replace all the wire looms and holders, too. These LT-X engines and their HEI ignitions are very finicky when it comes to bad plug wires and electrical shorts on the way to their respective plug.
I'd replace all the wire looms and holders, too. These LT-X engines and their HEI ignitions are very finicky when it comes to bad plug wires and electrical shorts on the way to their respective plug.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
I just got my car back from my mechanic. I just wanted it checked out really good. I had mentioned a miss or a skip to him when the engine gets warmed up. Turns out the #7 spark plug wire was the culprit. Works sometime and sometimes not. He just barely caught it. The bad part is I'm going to need an alternator very soon he said. My car has 86k on it though. It's time for stuff like this to show up.
I'll be changing the plugs and wires myself. Needless to say. I'm looking forward to all the cuts I'm going to have on my hands.
Good Luck!
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