Okay, my engine light comes on very commonly. When this happens my RPMs do not stay constant, and sometimes they shoot way up to 3000 in an idle. The engine sputters, the RPMs drop to maybe 1000, and it chokes on its own vomit and dies. Then after that the engine takes a few seconds, maybe 15, to start up again, releasing a cloud of black smoke. It gurgles a lot too, with an almost diesel sound to it. I was told that its probably O2 and coolant sensors needing to be replaced. But what if it is more than just that? Where can I get my car tested for error codes, and how much does this usually cost?

BTW where are the o2 and coolant sensors located, how much do they cost, and can I replace them myself fairly easilly?

Thanks you guys, F-Body Network is down and nobody can answer my questions there anyway!

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1992 Pontiac Firebird
- 5.0L V8 TBI
- Automatic Trans

 

You can check your engine codes yourself by connecting the upper two right terminals in the socket under your steering column with a paper clip, and counting the flashing lights. Come back here to the main page to look up the codes. FREE

I think the O2 sensor is in your drivers side exhaust manifold.. The coolant temp sensor is probably near your thermostat? Just look where coolant goes =p I forget exactly, O2 sensor is about 25 bucks, not sure about cts. Pretty easy to replace yourself.

If the problem persists just post again, but both sensors have MUCH to do with fuel delivery, so hopefully they are the source of your problems.

 

There is also an article in the tech section of this site on pulling codes. Go read it, knowing what codes the ECM is throwing would greatly narrow down your problem.

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"American made baby. 100% American iron. The muscle among the masses. My hero. Yep, you can take your ergonomically designed, space age, computer controlled, 4 door, cup holding map lighted split double wishbone split fold down retractable cargo covered moon roof piece of transportation and keep it. For I have felt the thunder. And I know the difference!"
JSP Motorsports
ICON Motorsports

 

You should be able to replace these two sensors yourself. Th O2 sensor is located in the exhaust and the CTS is located on the intake manifold. You can pull trouble codes by jumping pins "A" and "B" on the ALDL.
Also, you can check these sensors yourself
with a DMM. The O2 sensor is about $25 and the CTS is about $10.
Hope this helps!
Matt

 

What do the sensors look like? anyone have a picture of an engine and can point out where they are? Im not going to pay the man up town $120 to replace two little sensors. He's nuts!

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1992 Pontiac Firebird
- 5.0L V8 TBI
- Automatic Trans

 

Pull the codes!!! It will tell you what to do next!!!

 

Where will I see the damn codes?

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1992 Pontiac Firebird
- 5.0L V8 TBI
- Automatic Trans

 

Buy a Chiltons/Haynes for your car. It will tell you how to do it. You basically short two terminals on the ALDL connector under the dash and turn the key on. Your service engine soon light will blink-out the codes to you. the manuals will show you how to do it, how to read the codes, and what each code means.

Might be a tech article here on how to do it, too...

 

it blinks 3 times slow, then 3 times fast
does that mean 33?

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1992 Pontiac Firebird
- 5.0L V8 TBI
- Automatic Trans

 

Wow okay I got these errors:
33: Mass Air Flow signal low
42: Front O2 Sensor Lean Error
61: Oxygen Sensor Failure * bingo! *

Ah hah! Just as I suspected. Oxygen Sensor is dead. Now someone show me where the oxygen sensor goes so I can replace it! Are there high performance sensors? lol

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1992 Pontiac Firebird
- 5.0L V8 TBI
- Automatic Trans

 

Just look at your drivers side exhaust manifold, its the only thing sticking out of it down there.. It will be looking right up at you. Follow the wire up and disconnect it. You need a 7/8 socket, an oxygen sensor socket is nice to have as well, it has a little slit in the side so the wire can stick out.

Its probably stuck in there pretty good, so when you put a new one in make sure its got anti seize on it. Run the car for a few minutes, enough to get the sensor warm but not burn yourself on the manifolds, that should loosen it a bit. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes.