Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Bad timing? Misfiring? I don't know...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 12, 2003 | 01:10 AM
  #51  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
I tried running it without the JET chip and still no difference. The gap on the previous plugs was 50 but the plugs were old and it did the same thing with the old ones in. The cap and rotor are new and the timing is set at 9. I found a plug in on of the white wires that lead into the coil was unpluged due to a weak snap in the plug. Figured that was it but it was no different when plugged in.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2003 | 01:16 AM
  #52  
Morley's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,099
Likes: 2
Try setting the base timing to 6* and set the plug gap to .035-.040 (factory specs) and see if this has any effect. Even if it doesn't you will have eliminated those possibilities. Also do an ohms check on your plug wires and make sure none of them could be grounding out.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2003 | 01:17 AM
  #53  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
How do I do an ohms check?
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2003 | 03:04 AM
  #54  
Morley's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,099
Likes: 2
Originally posted by Accused Normal
How do I do an ohms check?
Nev mind, I see where you replaced the wires. Did you do the wire from the coil to the cap too?

Last edited by Morley; Jul 12, 2003 at 03:07 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2003 | 10:05 AM
  #55  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
Yeah. My MSD EFI kit came with a coil wire and I just put that in about a week ago. I replaced it anyway with a new wire from my wire set.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2003 | 01:37 AM
  #56  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
Okay, so I disconnected my 6AL. Same thing. I tried octane booster. no good. My mechanic said I may need a new distributor. The car only has 70k. Can that really be a problem? He said that the rotor may have slack and wobble at high RPMs. I'm gonna pull the cap and see if the rotor has any slack. This is really pissin me off! The car is fast as hell....till I hit WOT....a heart-breaker...
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2003 | 01:38 PM
  #57  
Yarnboy's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Frederick, MD USA
I really would try decreasing the plug gap..I remember reading a while back a couple of debates over the actual performance increases of increasing gap size. I went from stock .035 to .050 and had alot of similar problems, I was using Accell 300+ and an Accell coil. Hey, it's a PITA, but it's free..
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2003 | 06:26 PM
  #58  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
Okay, changed the plug gap to 35. Runs better, but same problems. Do you think the distributor is bad?
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2003 | 08:53 PM
  #59  
NastyL98_T/A's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
From: Severn, MD.
Car: '88 T/A and '90 T/A
Engine: LB9/383
Transmission: T5/700R4
We know now that the distributor is installed correctly....now how about the timing? Has it been properly set with a light? I just got my car to quit doing the sputter thing and all I did was play with the timing.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2003 | 10:36 PM
  #60  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
Yeah, I have the timing set exact. It's at 8-9. That's what my mechanic told me would be the best. He said it isn't a timing issue.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2003 | 12:48 AM
  #61  
Morley's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,099
Likes: 2
Originally posted by Accused Normal
Yeah, I have the timing set exact. It's at 8-9. That's what my mechanic told me would be the best. He said it isn't a timing issue.
Put everything back to factory specs. Timing 6* BTDC, Plug gap .035". Also try putting the factory coil and ignition in if it can be done fairly easily. You need to get everything to where it is supposed to be and then go from there. If your base timing is 3* higher than stock, then the total timing is going to be 3* higher too and you may be running into detonation. Also check or replace the knock sensor if you haven't already, it may be reporting false knock at WOT and the ECM is pulling a bunch of timing.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2003 | 07:49 AM
  #62  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
I already removed my MSD box and coil and reduced the plug gap. I'll try the timing when I get home tonight. I bought one of those MSD timing control boxes where you can adjust the timing from in the car. I was gonna send it back since I felt I didn't need it but do you think I should try it to get the timing to the best setting? Also, where is the knock sensor located and how can I get a new one? And do you think a bad O2 sensor could be an issue. When a diagnostics was ran on the car the O2 sensor was acting funny.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2003 | 08:55 AM
  #63  
NastyL98_T/A's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
From: Severn, MD.
Car: '88 T/A and '90 T/A
Engine: LB9/383
Transmission: T5/700R4
The knock sensor is on the passengers side of the block, below the head and above the starter. Just take a wrench and thread it out. You can get a new one at Auto Zone, Pep Boys, Advance......whereever. Also get a new 02 sensor and put that in there while you're under the car.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2003 | 10:30 AM
  #64  
Morley's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,099
Likes: 2
Have the new knock sensor in your hand before removing the old one, it is in a coolant passage and will spew coolant when removed.
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2003 | 07:36 PM
  #65  
Yarnboy's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Frederick, MD USA
Extremely hot coolant if done after the car has been running
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2003 | 09:26 PM
  #66  
NastyL98_T/A's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
From: Severn, MD.
Car: '88 T/A and '90 T/A
Engine: LB9/383
Transmission: T5/700R4
Originally posted by Yarnboy
Extremely hot coolant if done after the car has been running
Definitley the voice of someone who's been there before
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2003 | 10:02 PM
  #67  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
Well...changed the 02 and knock sensors...no good. The car does feel a little better as I do these things, though. Oh, and the other night, as I drove the car at a steady speed, like on the expressway, the SES light would come on but it would go off when I restart the car. No trouble codes come up either. It's happened a few times before but not for a while.
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2003 | 02:01 AM
  #68  
Morley's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,099
Likes: 2
Originally posted by Accused Normal
Oh, and the other night, as I drove the car at a steady speed, like on the expressway, the SES light would come on but it would go off when I restart the car. No trouble codes come up either. It's happened a few times before but not for a while.
That sounds like the EGR feedback code, it will set the light but not always the code, and it seems to come on mostly when driving at a steady highway speed.
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2003 | 09:47 AM
  #69  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
This car's really starting to **** me off! Should I try to put another distributor in? I'm surprised that no one else has ever had this problem before. WTF!!!
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2003 | 02:56 PM
  #70  
davyboy04's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, Illinois
Hey accused I have the same problem. Car run good and strong, but once I give it too much gas it just stumbles. Except I think mine is worse off than yours cuz it does this way before WOT. And once it happens the doesn't run until it cools off. I think mine really is a timing issue though. I just don't know how to set it cuz there isn't a plate with the degrees marked on it. I would have to do it by ear, and having no experience... ha ya right. Plus mine has a swapped in LT1 with a carb on it. And I don't think carbed cars and TPI cars use the same timing anyway, I could be wrong.

To get to the point... don't feel bad. Other people do have this problem. I guess they are just smarter than us and can fix it. lol

Thanx to everybody who has posted in this thread. I am printing it and trying all this on my car too.

P.S. How hard is it to change the fuel pump? Cuz I think it still has the same fuel pump from the injection. And from my understanding, that is about 30psi too high. Alsocould this be contributing to my car dieseling really bad and then kicking over the other way and blowing exaust out the choke?
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2003 | 06:44 PM
  #71  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
I think the pump may be in the tank. But you definately should change it if you have a carb because an FI pump is way more powerful than what you need. That might even be your problem. Even if not, I would change it anyway. Hope this helped!
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2003 | 06:51 PM
  #72  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
OO, OO, OO! Almost forgot!! Just a minute ago I found a plug toward the back of my engine that was unplugged. It looks like it snapped a piece off. It has two metal points and has a gray wire and a pink wire with a black stripe. I have no clue what it plugs into, though. That might be the culprit!
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2003 | 01:53 AM
  #73  
Morley's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,099
Likes: 2
might be to the MAT sensor
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2003 | 06:26 AM
  #74  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
No, because when the MAT is unplugged the SES light comes on and the car has trouble starting. I experienced that when installing the new FI.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2003 | 07:33 PM
  #75  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
Found the plug. It was a sensor connected to the stock coil pracket. There looks to be another plug with only 1 pin connected to it that is missing. This seems to make no difference, though.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2003 | 02:38 PM
  #76  
davyboy04's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, Illinois
Hey Accused, the same exact plug is disconnected on mine... stupid me decided to plug it back in with the car running and sent some voltage through my arm. Tickled a little. But same result, didn't make a difference. Do you know where the tach wire is?
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2003 | 02:13 AM
  #77  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
Hey, I tried to reply before but the site wasn't responding. I guess I gotta type it over now. I said "Ouch!! That must've hurt" Then I said "I believe that the tach plug is one of the wires connecdted to the distributor". I firgue this bacause when I hooked up my stock coil but left my 6AL the tach didn't work. Hope that helps somewhat...
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2003 | 02:15 AM
  #78  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
Oh, and my spelling is really bad because it's 4 am and I'm really drunk
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2003 | 07:20 PM
  #79  
davyboy04's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, Illinois
lol, thanx for the help, and hope you had a good night. Cheers.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2003 | 11:05 AM
  #80  
Kingtal0n's Avatar
Supreme Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 77
From: Fl
Car: 5.3L turbo 2800lbs RWD
Engine: Prefer 3L Iron & 5.3L Aluminum
Transmission: 4l80e
Axle/Gears: 3.512
just want to throw in that im experiencing problems with the knock sensor, and i know its been mentioned but i want to point out that if the knock sensor is retarding your timing, even at idle, it will surge and run like crap at wot.

try unplugging the knock sensor see what happens.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2003 | 02:46 PM
  #81  
Accused Normal's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: New York, Long Island.....over there somewhere...
Hmmm... that's a good theory. I'll try that.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jae992
TBI
3
Aug 27, 2015 09:07 AM
db057
Tech / General Engine
4
Aug 22, 2015 08:17 PM
Feffman
Mid-West Region
0
Aug 13, 2015 07:12 AM
Feffman
Organized Drag Racing and Autocross
0
Aug 13, 2015 07:11 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:02 AM.