OffspringPhreak

hey everybody, i finally got the suspension/brake work done to my car, and glad to say it's actually riding really great(first time i rode in an F-body with decent suspension).

so, i make this thread in hopes of trying to figure out why my car has no acceleration("get up and go", power, whatever you wanna call it). it idles right, sounds right, drives exceptionally well(even does a hell of a good job on gas if i don't drive it rough), and, well, i've had a couple mechanic friends look at it, and even took it to a shop, with no luck.

someone said that it could be the muffler being clogged? anyone know anything that might help? i first doubted it, but now it doesn't seem like such a bad shot. oh, by the way the car is a '90 Iroc-Z, with a 350 TPI stock everything(with aftermarket replacements here and there, the biggest being the EGR valve and EGR solenoid and radiator--but i know the radiator doesn't have anything to do with this). i just wanna find out why it's got no pickup. i know it's just stock, but i can be at a full stop and stomp it to the floor and it just accelerates as slow as hell(it also makes it kinda hard to pass someone on a 2 lane road) if you need more info just ask, thanks.

oh, by the way, ever since i replaced the EGR valve the RPM guage "jumps" around randomly sometimes when i'm driving(nothing happens, the needle just jumps around sometimes). should this be anything i should be worrying about?

sorry i made this so long, hope someone can help me out, thank you!

OffspringPhreak

umm...anyone know? any help is appreciated... thanks.

firebird45331

check for a clogged catalytic converter, fuel filter, and fuel pressure

OffspringPhreak

gonna check the catalytic converter probably tomorrow(hopefully, got some personal stuff going on). on a side note---would that cause the engine light to come on? when i'm driving and the car gets to operating temp the light comes on, then after a bit it goes off; then randomly comes on and off when i'm driving. any suggestions on what it might be(my brother says it could just be a sensor going off, but with my luck with cars i wanna know what it is). thanks, later.

firebird45331

my guess would be the O2 sensor

OffspringPhreak

amidst all the **** going on lately i've managed to get the catalytic converter checked out.

according to the muffler place all that stuff is working great. they said they doubt the oxygen sensor would be tripping the light. they said they get people coming in with problems like mine all the time and 9 times outta 10 it's the transmission. to me the trans seems fine though, no jerking or anything. i'm so fed up with this car it's not even funny. i'm trying not to give up though(or throw too much money at this damn thing). my brother knows a transmission guy, so i can probably get it at least checked out. any tips on checking things in the fuel system? or the transmission? any help is appreciated, if i don't get any i'll probably just start new threads in the right categories, oh and thanks for your help firebird.

Stevo

iTrader: (45)

Mine had similar problems and it ended up being my TPS Sensor...Smelled funny every now and then idle ok sometimes then outta wack and when driving some hesitation here and there.

Ever sence ive noticed my tach needle will jump around here and there kinda strange, that has me wondering also cause that didnt go away.

also check ur plug wires, the guy who did wires before me decided to leave one very close the the exhaust header and its burnt...none the less i think this could be part of my problem, New wires are on the way.

goodluck

OffspringPhreak

TPS sensor? i'll see if i can get that checked out too(after i replaced the EGR valve i noticed the tach will jump around while i'm driving--but just the guage. it idles and drives just fine, well eccept the acceleration problem). i notice a bit of a smell when i lay into it, not much though.

thanks for the input i'm hoping it's not the transmission like i've heard it might be(already sank about 3 grand into the car--just fixing it, don't like the idea of putting that much more into it just to get it running like it should). hopefully my brother will come over today and i'll be able to check out the tranny a little bit at least or take it to his work and hook it up to the diagnostic computer or something.

Magman

iTrader: (6)

When is the last time you changed the cap/rotor/wires/plugs? Check the initial timing and make sure it matches the spec for your engine. Keep it simple and eliminate all the standard issues first.

OffspringPhreak

did the basic tune up when i realized it had as much pickup as a moped--new wires, plugs, distributor cap, rotor, checked timing. i mean engine wise it's good. had my brother's mechanic friends look at it, hell even took it to the GM place and had them look over the engine when i got my suspension work done to it and they said it was ok. didn't get a chance to get my brother to look at it yesterday. gonna take it someplace and hook a diagnostic thing and see if any codes pop up, also gonna see if i can check the fuel system and transmission when i get the time. thanks for the help because without it i'd be going insane and getting rid of that damn car.

Apeiron

Have you tried reading the codes?

OffspringPhreak

i did before and the code for the EGR valve and EGR solenoid came up(replaced both of those, which is fun on a TPI!! who the hell designed that engine?). been trying to take it to my bro's work where he can just hook the computer up to it and tell me what's wrong with it, gonna do that sometime this week hopefully.

OffspringPhreak

hope nobody minds me just extending this thread instead of making a new one, but i bought a new Fuel Filter today(according to the book i have i have to relieve the system of pressure, and says i have to take the fuse for the pump out to do this--checked the fuse panel, no fuel pump fuse, should i just crawl under the car and ****** the filter out or what?).

the idle has dropped on it(i'm assuming it's because the timing really is off?), if i can manage to get my hands on a timing light i'll mess with that too.

oh and another thing. ok according to the VIN number, the engine i have is a 305, everything looks like it belongs etc, but the EGR valve i had to get was one for a 350(the 305 bolt heads didn't match up). could that still be a 305 but with a 350 intake? has me confused, i'll see if i can get the numbers off of it and check it out this week too.

oh yeah i almost forgot--the code that keeps popping up is for the EGR. i just replaced it about 2-3 months ago, what gives?

Apeiron

During closed-throttle deceleration sometimes the computer will cycle the EGR valves open and closed, and look for the appropriate changes in manifold vacuum, idle speed, O2 readings, etc. If the sensors don't respond as expected, then code 32 will be set. Code 32 doesn't necessarily mean that the EGR valve itself is bad. For example, the valve could be in good working order, but the ports could be plugged with carbon.

OffspringPhreak

ah ok, i kinda figured that but none of my mechanic friends will really give me a straight answer(even when they're under the hood). thanks though, still troubleshooting, tomorrow i'll replace the fuel filter and see what happens. hopefully i'll be able to check/adjust the timing too.