So I have a fresh Golen built motor with a pro charger. Working out small bugs and had it on the dyno once already. I have a tune in it for the amount of fuel the stock and booster pumps and 42 pound injectors could deliver. Updated the pump, will do the 60 pound injectors the day of the next dyno tune. Addressing belt slip first.

So here is the problem. 300 miles on the fresh motor and not even a hiccup. Out of nowhere lose all power and thought the car stalled. Was driving real easy very low RMP and MAYBE 40 mph in traffic. The car sounded/ felt like it died. Im like WTF and meanwhile cars backing up behind me in rush hour traffic with nowhere to pull off. I turn the key and grind the starter (oops) look at the tach and it's showing like 1000 rpm but I heard no exhaust at all (borla so it's loud) and I thought that was weird. So I figure it's chugging and I just don't hear it or whatever. I shut the key off and try to fire it back up. It cranks quite a while and finally fires up again. Service engine light is on. Get it home, seems to be running ok but now it's hard starting. Found one vacuum line that came off so I reconnect it. Now when I try to start it, it will pop right away and this is where it would normally fire right up, but it don't then I have to keep cranking about 5 seconds and the car will fire. If I shut it off and start right away it seems to start right up. Let it sit a few seconds it's harder to start.

Used a paper clip to grab codes and here is what I get:

CCM
C 12 (I think this means no codes so all good here)

ECM
H 36 Distributor Ignition System (Faulty high resolution pulse or extra low resolution pulse detected)

H 42 Ignition Coil Circuit (Shorted or grounded circuit)

H 33 MAP Sensor Circuit (signal voltage high - low vacuum)

So here is my question. If this vacuum line came off when I was driving and the manifold pressure changed and threw the 33 code and the computer was trying to adjust fuel etc...would this throw the ignition codes if the car was stumbling?
I am running the MSD Opti and to be honest I don't know if I trust it. I am seriously thinking of putting the stock unit back on. When we put the car together the 1st one I had was arching on itself. Pile of junk. The car ran but we could see sparks from the bottom side of the car as we were checking for leaks. So I sent it back to MSD and they sent a replacement. I'm wondering if their opti is just a piece of crap? I almost got the vibe from talking to one of the tech guys there that they have had problems with them.

Any input would be appreciated. This is the first lick of a code or problem I have ever had with the car. 37K on it. This motor would pop with a touch of the key and now it cranks quite a bit before it will fire. Also I thought after jumping the clip getting the codes would also reset them. I still have the service engine light on. How do I reset them?

Thanks for any advice in advance....not sure which way to turn. Im going to get it up in the air and look at this MSD again. If that thing is arching again it's going right in the trash.

 

Also is the only way to reset codes to disconnect the battery? And could the hard starting be because I still have these codes and they have not been reset? Have to head out for work today but I am going to look at it again tomorrow.

Any info would be appreciated

 

anyone?

 

Codes with the H prefix are history codes and do not affect anything, they just show there was a problem in the past. Disconnect the battery to clear them and then see if they return.
C12 is an active code and means the PCM is communicating properly.

 

Thanks,

Was planning on doing it today and taking it for a spin.
Wish I knew why it is hard starting after this episode...

 

OK...disconnected the battery for about 10 minutes, hooked it up and the codes are still there? This was before starting the car back up so it's not like they showed back up. Started the car and service engine light is still on. Car still cranks quite a bit before starting. I'm still wondering about this MSD Opti. Wanted to get it on a lift at a friends today to see if I can se this one acting up like the first one did but it's raining.

But whats the deal? Why wont the codes go away?

 

ok...this time I unhooked both battery leads and let it sit. Got them to clear. Started the car and immediately the code 36 came back. Faulti Opti? Although t it did say H 36. Why would it be in history if it's a fresh code again?

 

I also tried an MSD Opti which was a big mistake. My C4 is a '94 as stock as can be. I see that you are in the Chicago area. Took my car to Kevin at Libertyville Chevy who fixed my problems. Kevin's speciality, however, is a Corvette engine builder of 600+ hp. Would highly recommend that you contact Kevin. He is a great resourse if you are talking big time HP.

 

Have you verified that you are getting good fuel pressure ?

 

Thanks,

I will do this. I parked the car and it's been sitting. I was so disgusted and sick of working on it after the water pump mess that I did not even want to look at the damn thing. Plus I had 2 busy weeks with company from out of town and other crap so just no time. I am going to put the damn stock opti back on and send this MSD pile of crap back. I called them and there trying to tell me that crap got inside it. I know it didn't, and if it did then why did I drive the car a few hundred miles over the course of a few days with no problem? If we got anything in it ripping it apart a number of times from the water pump ordeal then why wouldn't it have crapped out right away? The MSD is flat out a pile of crap and I think they know it.

 

Pressure is fine. Brand new Walbro 355 pump in the car