I'm pretty much a newbie at this because my last vehicle was completely mechanical. My car has a couple problems. Let me break it down for those who wish to help as it is greatly appreciated.

-1993 Ruby LT1
-Vortech supercharger kit
-Power Effects Exhaust (irrelevant probably)

I took my car to a buddy I know and he said my Quad driver in my ecm is out.

I rarely get a Service engine light and when I do its for seconds at a time and it goes away for days.

Everyday, every time I start my car, it has to turn over 20 or 30 times before starting. After that, the car runs fine (without power though). The car is slow (fast enough to beat a spraying fox body) and I don't have the money to just throw it at a shop unfortunately until I have saved the exact amount and have saved money by diagnosing the problem myself (hopefully). Im just looking to see if there is any way to verify these symptoms are in fact my quad driver because I know very little about these cars as I just bought mine in march.

This has been happening for months now...

Oh, also, when the car finally starts I only get smoke out from the right side of the exhaust and I suppose that is just burning off all of the fuel I pumped into it turning it over so many times? But why the passenger side exhaust only?

Am I missing any information I could have given to get more help? Any help is appreciated, I would like my car to pump out the 400hp its supposed to. I feel like it runs in the mid 200's...


How can I fix my car?!

 

Did you have the ECM reprogramed for the Supercharger or did this start happening long after the install?

 

The ecm was done for the charger at corvettes of dallas at the time of install back when the car had 10k miles. I was not the owner then. It now has about 91k on the odometer. But the car was wellllll taken car of its a beauty. This actually started right after I bought it, but I did fuel filter, it went away for a bit, then came back, did new air filter, went away for a little bit then came back... now its just doing this always no matter what.

 

See if there are any trouble-codes in the ECM with a scan-tool.

Hopefully, the trouble-codes will tell you what is wrong.


Tom Piper

 

This would be the first thing I would do now. Get someone with a good scan tool to check codes and values. Keep us posted.

 

Ok... I guess the dyno shop it is then... I dont know anybody with a scan tool other than the original man who said it was the quad driver, but he is currently too busy to help me out.

 

The quad drivers power the fuel injectors based on timing signals from the ECM. There is one driver for each bank, 1357 and 2468. The driver fires all four injectors at the same time.

You can buy an inexpensive injector "noid" light at Pep Boys or where ever to see if the injectors are being powered. disconnect an injector harness at an injector on the side where you didn't see smoke coming out when you started the car. Connect the light between the harness and the injector. Have someone start the crank the car to start. If you don't see the light blinking, the driver on that bank is probably bad. Its also possible the driver ground is faulty. Find someone with a manual and locate the driver ground connection. Check for an open in the line and that the ground connection is clean. Good luck

 

Good info in here!

Also I might add someone correct me if Im wrong but maybe only smoking coming out one side is a clogged cat?

Is it the original? replaced? With those hard starts I bet they are all gummed up.

just my .02

 

I dont completely understand but I think I have an Idea what you are getting at. I suppose I start by purchasing a chilton?

 

When I do this and find out which driver is faulty, how do I go about the repair or replacing, do I need a new ECM or is this new parts we are talking about?

 

Somebody told me that there are a couple relays that run these quad drivers and its possible one of those is just faulty. If this is a possibility (I understand it wont be because murphy's law is always 100% efficiently working for me) where do I find these and if I switch them out can that possibly fix this?

 

Don't get a Chilton's, pick up a Helms Factory Service Manual.
Check the for sale section here and fleabay and you should be able to pick one up for $100.

It will be the best $100 you spend!

 

Will do for sure!