V6 Discussion and questions about the base carbureted or MPFI V6's and the rare SFI Turbo V6.

3.1 Losing power or won't start

Old 04-05-2016, 04:23 PM
  #1  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
czlowiekmucha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Poland
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991
Engine: 3.1
Transmission: Automatic
3.1 Losing power or won't start


Some Time ago I had a problem. I thought It was head gasket because It was losing power and shakes like a devil on idle. But first I've changed all ignition parts and IAC to new ones, didnt help so I've took down heads but gasket were good. Anyway I've put new gaskets and replace valves. But the problem continues and now it's even more because now it is hard to start sometimes. Like in the video above. Compression is correct above 115 PSI on each cylinder.

Could It be skipped timing chain? Or maybe valves not well adjusted?

Last edited by czlowiekmucha; 04-07-2016 at 05:42 AM.
Old 04-07-2016, 11:11 AM
  #2  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
czlowiekmucha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Poland
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991
Engine: 3.1
Transmission: Automatic
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

Today I noticed the big cracks on the magnet in distributor, but it's happening the same on the secend one (left side) with small crack-but it's cracked alongside, Could it be this? Can I buy this part of the distributor somewhere, because I can't find it on Rockauto


Last edited by czlowiekmucha; 04-07-2016 at 01:54 PM.
Old 04-22-2016, 04:56 PM
  #3  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
czlowiekmucha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Poland
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991
Engine: 3.1
Transmission: Automatic
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

Have changed whole distributor with new module... didn't help...

Is my ignition allright on idle? Or loose timing chain?
Old 04-22-2016, 06:55 PM
  #4  
Senior Member

iTrader: (8)
 
antares57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 661
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Car: 91 Firebird/88 Firebird/91 Formula
Engine: V6 3.1/V8 5.0/V8 5.0
Transmission: 4L60/700R4/4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.23/2.73/2.73
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

Are you saying that it is still hard to start and shakes?
Old 04-23-2016, 03:31 AM
  #5  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
czlowiekmucha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Poland
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991
Engine: 3.1
Transmission: Automatic
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

Yes, still having problem with starting and it's drivable only for the first 2-3 minutes after that loosing power. When Pushing pedal to the metal causing stalling. Sometimes small explosions in the intake or exhaust.

This is new distributor from CARDONE


But even after changing Everything (distributor, spark plugs, wires, module, cap, coil, IAC) in ignition system nothing gets better...

HELP!

Last edited by czlowiekmucha; 04-23-2016 at 02:10 PM.
Old 04-25-2016, 03:44 PM
  #6  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
czlowiekmucha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Poland
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991
Engine: 3.1
Transmission: Automatic
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

Old 04-25-2016, 08:10 PM
  #7  
Member
 
C2YT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Monroe, Michigan
Posts: 451
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 4.8l LS
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

I like the music.. haha

Glad you figured it out!
Old 04-25-2016, 11:58 PM
  #8  
Senior Member

 
tealman92's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 998
Received 19 Likes on 16 Posts
Car: 1992 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

Did that fix the problem?
Old 07-09-2016, 03:31 PM
  #9  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
czlowiekmucha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Poland
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991
Engine: 3.1
Transmission: Automatic
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

Actually it didn't.

Problem still in progress....
I've put more new parts like lifters, oil pump and temp. sensors, so now everything from the head gasket up top is brand new.

but now car doesn't have power right after the start, earlier it was only on hot engine.

Gas response working in slow motion, and sometimes missfire. From start on DRIVE it has problem between 1200-2200 RPM (missfires, weak acceleration, no torque). But I can drive it over 60mph no problem..

Compression OK on each cylinder

I'm out of options. Could it be torque converter problems?

Last edited by czlowiekmucha; 07-09-2016 at 03:56 PM.
Old 07-10-2016, 08:47 AM
  #10  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
RBob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Chasing Electrons
Posts: 18,399
Likes: 0
Received 215 Likes on 201 Posts
Car: check
Engine: check
Transmission: check
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

If the stock Multec injectors are still in the engine replace them. By now the coils are shorting out.

The ECM is also an area of concern as the '7730s get flaky. This causes all kinds of strange problems. Drop the ECM down and with the engine running rap on the case. Can also twist the case slightly.

See if that changes how the engine is running.

As for replacing the lifters and such, need to adjust the valves, not just torque the rockers down. I don't recall the number of turns past zero lash. It is something like 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 turns.

There are threads here on TGO about the rocker arm adjustment.

RBob.
Old 07-10-2016, 10:29 AM
  #11  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
czlowiekmucha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Poland
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991
Engine: 3.1
Transmission: Automatic
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

I've tried different set of injectors - no improvement


Lifters were adjusted correctly with 1/2 turn, nothing change after replacement.

In two weeks I'm gonna switch ECM to see if it helps., but I'm still thinking of torque converter ... Sometimes on the RED STOP light RPM's flowing and on a hot days smells like burnt clutch

Last edited by czlowiekmucha; 07-11-2016 at 06:57 AM.
Old 01-05-2017, 02:18 PM
  #12  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
czlowiekmucha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Poland
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991
Engine: 3.1
Transmission: Automatic
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

New injectors from Southbay - still no improvement
Changing ECM - no improvment, I think it even got worst beceuse 02 sensor flashes and it drives even worst

I've put 3third set of ignition wires and niew distributor with cap, - nothing changes.


On cold engine in first 2 minutes of driving is ok, after that some missfires and lost of power.

It only happens on cruising between 1800 - 2100 after few second in the floor and some missfires it runs like hell above 2000 rpm, but leg out of pedal and it's happening again.


I'm thinking about changing Transmission with converter, but is it worht it? No clue...

HELP?
Old 01-05-2017, 03:39 PM
  #13  
Senior Member

 
tealman92's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 998
Received 19 Likes on 16 Posts
Car: 1992 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

Hows the fuel pressure?
hows the cat? A clogged cat will cause those problems.
How about the egr valve?
Old 01-05-2017, 03:41 PM
  #14  
Supreme Member

 
W.E.G.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: northern VA
Posts: 1,356
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Car: 88 Sport Coupe Camaro
Engine: V6 2.8
Transmission: Borg-Warner T-5
Axle/Gears: RPO/GU6: 3.42
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

Vacuum leak?

Chase every vacuum hose.

Is the hose connected to the "cannonbal" vacuum reservoir?
Old 01-05-2017, 03:41 PM
  #15  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
czlowiekmucha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Poland
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991
Engine: 3.1
Transmission: Automatic
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

Fuel pressure - don't remember but it was allright.

EGR is gone few years back and reprogrammed ECM.

Didn't think about cat... Hmmm

Originally Posted by W.E.G.
Vacuum leak?

Chase every vacuum hose.

Is the hose connected to the "cannonbal" vacuum reservoir?
Yeah it's connected to new bigger reservoir tank from Audi A6 thas it matter if its a little bit bigger?


Last edited by czlowiekmucha; 01-18-2017 at 02:50 PM.
Old 01-18-2017, 08:21 AM
  #16  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
czlowiekmucha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Poland
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991
Engine: 3.1
Transmission: Automatic
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

I noticed a oil spill almost everywhere where I park the car.

It's probably going from the cover with three screws (camshaft cover?)




1. Could it cause vacuum leak over there?

2. Is it only gasket or is there any bearings inside to change?

3. Should it be cork or metal gasket? On Rockauto there is only cork.

Last edited by czlowiekmucha; 01-18-2017 at 09:24 AM.
Old 01-18-2017, 02:03 PM
  #17  
Senior Member

 
tealman92's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 998
Received 19 Likes on 16 Posts
Car: 1992 Z28
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

Did you ever change the fuel pressure regulator?
Old 01-18-2017, 02:11 PM
  #18  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
czlowiekmucha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Poland
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1991
Engine: 3.1
Transmission: Automatic
Re: 3.1 Losing power or won't start

Yes. Actually I've changed fuel rail for used one, didn't help... maybe it is somwhere over there because often smells fuel during driving, how to check it? And does changing the Fuel Pressure Regulator Diaphragm needs adiitional gaskets/o-rings?
And what about my other questions?

Originally Posted by czlowiekmucha
I noticed a oil spill almost everywhere where I park the car.

It's probably going from the cover with three screws (camshaft cover?)




1. Could it cause vacuum leak over there?

2. Is it only gasket or is there any bearings inside to change?

3. Should it be cork or metal gasket? On Rockauto there is only cork.

Last edited by czlowiekmucha; 01-18-2017 at 04:25 PM.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
89irocz355
Interior Parts for Sale
13
03-28-2018 08:24 PM
89irocz355
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
26
09-12-2016 01:28 PM
89irocz355
Exterior Parts for Sale
18
04-11-2016 10:17 PM
89irocz355
Interior Parts for Sale
3
03-27-2016 09:52 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: 3.1 Losing power or won't start



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:49 AM.