Code 44 car running very badly!! HELP! daily driver
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 20
From: Knoxville TN
Code 44 car running very badly!! HELP! daily driver
This evening I was driving home from work and the car started to run very very badly. It would hardly idle and upon acceleration it was bucking as if I was pumping the gas, but I wasn't. When I got home I had to pull up a very steep hill my driveway and I almost didn't make it!! the car started bucking again.. As of now even with the car at idle if I apply just a small steady amount of pressure to the gas pedal the idle increases but it isn't steady at all. It fluctuates up and down about 500rpms either way.. The check engine light finally came on and revealed a code 44 O2 sensor or lean exhaust. Oh by the way the problem is with my 84. Perhaps I have some of the dreaded Crossfire probs? fuel pump?!?! Suggestions?!?! :cry
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,388
Likes: 1
From: X
Re: Code 44 car running very badly!! HELP! daily driver (Boo383)
Change the fuel filter first...On the frame below the pass side door. You also need to join this site for your 84...Lots of tech and Faqs there
http://www.crossfire.webhop.net/
http://www.crossfire.webhop.net/
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 0
From: Owensboro Ky
Re: Code 44 car running very badly!! HELP! daily driver (Boo383)
Ok, this is just a guess. Sounds just like my truck when the distributor cap and rotor got worn out and corroded. And if it wasn't getting any fire, wouldn't that unused fuel be going out the tailpipes and effecting the O2 sensor. I might be way off, but look under the cap and see how it looks.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: Code 44 car running very badly!! HELP! daily driver (Boo383)
You know I'm a firm believer in listening to what the car says. Sure it could be lean exhaust, but it could just as easily be a problem with the O2 sensor. If it is disconnected, it will show up to the computer as lean and set the code accordingly.
Trust me, I've been there. I've noticed that my A/F gauge quit working, a few minutes later it would set the code. Now in the case of the LT1 it still ran fine because it could read off of the right bank and still make adjustments. If your O2 sensor is screwed up the car will generally run like crap.
Question, when you fire it up cold how does it run? If it runs fine for a minute and then starts to act up it's the 02. Reason being when you first fire it up, it's in open loop running off of set values. When it warms up and gets out of diagnostic mode it will go closed loop. In closed loop if it can't read from the O2 it won't know how to run right. If it reads lean it is going to try and richen it way the hell up. Too rich and it either won't run or will spit and sputter like crazy under throttle.
At the very least check to make sure your O2 didn't become unplugged. If you still have the original 1 wire sensor, go ahead and replace it. $20 to eliminate that as a problem.
Trust me, I've been there. I've noticed that my A/F gauge quit working, a few minutes later it would set the code. Now in the case of the LT1 it still ran fine because it could read off of the right bank and still make adjustments. If your O2 sensor is screwed up the car will generally run like crap.
Question, when you fire it up cold how does it run? If it runs fine for a minute and then starts to act up it's the 02. Reason being when you first fire it up, it's in open loop running off of set values. When it warms up and gets out of diagnostic mode it will go closed loop. In closed loop if it can't read from the O2 it won't know how to run right. If it reads lean it is going to try and richen it way the hell up. Too rich and it either won't run or will spit and sputter like crazy under throttle.
At the very least check to make sure your O2 didn't become unplugged. If you still have the original 1 wire sensor, go ahead and replace it. $20 to eliminate that as a problem.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Re: Code 44 car running very badly!! HELP! daily driver (Boo383)
sounds like you are having the same problem i had. a new computer cleared it right up. i would replace the o2 sens. first, it's only a $20 part. i went though a bunch of time and parts before i figured it out. i got a computer from autozone for $75 + core. mine was running EXTREMELY rich, to the point it would eventually foul the plugs and it wouldn't run at all.
good luck!!
good luck!!
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 20
From: Knoxville TN
Re: Code 44 car running very badly!! HELP! daily driver (Boo383)
Thanks for all the suggestions!! It will probably be Sunday before I have time to start trouble shooting. I think I will measure fuel pressure first and I am probably due an O2 sensor anyway so I will do that as well. I just hope diagnosing the problem isn't too rough... Thanks!