Thanks and a Question (or 2)
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Thanks and a Question (or 2)
First off, I would like to thank everyone here for their help. Without even registering, I have managed to lurk out a wealth of info from this forum. Thanks!
My vette is a 91 Steel Blue Metallic 6spd convertible. I've had it about 2.5 years and love every minute (well maybe not so much the knuckle-busting
).
Now for my question (and bonus story)...
I've had problems starting back in January. It started out as an issue where under full throttle, it would just quit. The engine would idle, but trying to give it any gas would just stall it. If I just let it go, it would eventually come back (10-20 secs or so). This eventually progressed to the point where it would do this to me at any throttle (even just cruising at 65 on the highway). The final condition was that it would run like total crap once it got warm and would not refire until cold.
I finally gave up and took it to the so-called "stealership" because I found out they had a dedicated vette guy (which is true, but not worth it). This turned into a circus real quick, but the end result is that I have a GM ignition module, ECM, and Prom. They finally figured out that the problem was injectors. I checked and sure enough, 2 read 2.2 ohms at the coil (...aaaand I feel like an idiot for not checking something so easy). They wanted $1900 to change 4. Yea right.
So, I call up FIC for some Bosch 3's. Swap took some hours but wasn't difficult. Ended up having a leaker, but Jon swapped out for me and now she runs great. Made me glad I bought from a person and not a warehouse. (Thanks Jon!)
Now finally for the question part.
1) Now the car runs moderately awful cold. I don't think it is a open/closed loop thing because it gets better before it gets warm enough for closed loop. It is real weak feeling and has the tendency to sputter a little when I change gears. I noticed this a little before my problems started, but only when cold in the cold (December/January - 30F type weather), and then it only lasted til I got out of the driveway. Now it seems to last until I get out of the neighborhood (3 blocks or so). When I get out on the road it seems to go away pretty quickly. Could it be that the computer is still learning?
2) I seem to be having problems getting good spark. I did a setup like they show in the FSM with an inverted dist cap and triggered spark manually. Spark happened but wasn't nice and blue like I think it should be. With my dad's help, we rigged up the coil solo and used jumpers to simulate the module grounding trigger. Same result. Tried with my original (maybe) GM coil and my autozone special that got swapped during my troubleshooting era a few months ago. Same thing. Is there something I am missing?
Thanks again for your help!
SB91
My vette is a 91 Steel Blue Metallic 6spd convertible. I've had it about 2.5 years and love every minute (well maybe not so much the knuckle-busting
).Now for my question (and bonus story)...
I've had problems starting back in January. It started out as an issue where under full throttle, it would just quit. The engine would idle, but trying to give it any gas would just stall it. If I just let it go, it would eventually come back (10-20 secs or so). This eventually progressed to the point where it would do this to me at any throttle (even just cruising at 65 on the highway). The final condition was that it would run like total crap once it got warm and would not refire until cold.
I finally gave up and took it to the so-called "stealership" because I found out they had a dedicated vette guy (which is true, but not worth it). This turned into a circus real quick, but the end result is that I have a GM ignition module, ECM, and Prom. They finally figured out that the problem was injectors. I checked and sure enough, 2 read 2.2 ohms at the coil (...aaaand I feel like an idiot for not checking something so easy). They wanted $1900 to change 4. Yea right.
So, I call up FIC for some Bosch 3's. Swap took some hours but wasn't difficult. Ended up having a leaker, but Jon swapped out for me and now she runs great. Made me glad I bought from a person and not a warehouse. (Thanks Jon!)
Now finally for the question part.
1) Now the car runs moderately awful cold. I don't think it is a open/closed loop thing because it gets better before it gets warm enough for closed loop. It is real weak feeling and has the tendency to sputter a little when I change gears. I noticed this a little before my problems started, but only when cold in the cold (December/January - 30F type weather), and then it only lasted til I got out of the driveway. Now it seems to last until I get out of the neighborhood (3 blocks or so). When I get out on the road it seems to go away pretty quickly. Could it be that the computer is still learning?
2) I seem to be having problems getting good spark. I did a setup like they show in the FSM with an inverted dist cap and triggered spark manually. Spark happened but wasn't nice and blue like I think it should be. With my dad's help, we rigged up the coil solo and used jumpers to simulate the module grounding trigger. Same result. Tried with my original (maybe) GM coil and my autozone special that got swapped during my troubleshooting era a few months ago. Same thing. Is there something I am missing?
Thanks again for your help!
SB91
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,566
Likes: 4
From: Mt Laurel NJ
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
How many miles on the car? It could be that your having a problem w/ the distributor, have you done all of the checks for it in the FSM? Usually electrical problems aren't temperature related, unless the heat makes the problem worse. Have you taken a look at the O2 sensor? With the injector problems, it could be bad or sooted up-also check to make sure the wire is OK. How are the plug wires? Check and make sure you don't have a bad one.
Good luck.
Randy
Good luck.
Randy
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
I have recently (within the last 3 months) replaced:
Plug wires (Delco)
plugs (Delco Rapidfire)
cap & rotor (autozone special)
ignition coil (as mentioned)
Ignition module + capacitor (twice, once autozone, is currently a GM from the dealer)
O2 sensor (bosch)
Fuel filter (autozone I think, back in February)
Fuel pump (same as filter at the same time)
Car has about 86k miles, everything is stock except for Flowmaster mufflers.
I did have the car out a little while ago, about 2 hrs or so after getting home from work. When I started up, it was registering some temp, I'm guessing about 130F, though its hard to say based on the stupid little gauge. It had the sluggish problem again, but maybe only about 40% as bad as when morning cold.
SB91
Plug wires (Delco)
plugs (Delco Rapidfire)
cap & rotor (autozone special)
ignition coil (as mentioned)
Ignition module + capacitor (twice, once autozone, is currently a GM from the dealer)
O2 sensor (bosch)
Fuel filter (autozone I think, back in February)
Fuel pump (same as filter at the same time)
Car has about 86k miles, everything is stock except for Flowmaster mufflers.
I did have the car out a little while ago, about 2 hrs or so after getting home from work. When I started up, it was registering some temp, I'm guessing about 130F, though its hard to say based on the stupid little gauge. It had the sluggish problem again, but maybe only about 40% as bad as when morning cold.
SB91
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
If you've not done this already.....Check to see that your getting the full 12 volts to the coil wire and ensure solid ground connections for the primary and secondary coil grounds as well. Check that the coil is fully seated in the cap and tightly secured by all the proper hardware. Check or replace the plugs and or plug wires.....pay close attention for oil gas fowled plugs. If the spark is still weak replace the cap, button and rotor.
