I just got this car and the guy told me that it was in great condition. Needless to say it isn't. Anyways, right now I'm just trying to get the car running decently. It sounds like it's missing. When I removed all of the plugs, all of the passenger side ones were very black.

I performed a tuneup, new AC Delco wires, plugs, Accel Cap and rotor, new 180 degree thermo, 200 degree fan switch, and charged the A/C.

The car still sounds and runs very rough like it is missing. I am going to pull one of the passenger side plugs and see what it looks like but I am baffled (and pissed) to say the least.

Right now I am letting the car cool down, along with the garage. It's about 106+ outside right now. I also tried a different coil with no difference.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. TIA!

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1991 B4C Camaro 305/5-speed, loaded, black, and running like crap

 

I have almost the same car (1991 Z28 305/5 speed).

Since all the plugs are fouled on the passenger side, that would lead me to look at something common to that side - the fuel injectors (uhhh, you do have tpi, right?).

Check both fuses for the injectors. One fuse is for the left bank, the other is for the right bank.

I'm probably wrong, but at least it'll give you something to do while waiting for a real reply. I'm sure that there are many others here with more or better ideas than I have.

I sympathize with your predicament. It's not only bad that the car turned out to be bad, but you were lied to. Unfortunately, many people now days have little to no scruples. If it makes you feel any better, it's happened to me too, more than once!

Over 106°? Figures it'd be Arizona!

//Stuart

[This message has been edited by Stuart Moss (edited June 10, 2001).]

 

Thanks Stuart Moss,

I am going to check the fuses just like you said. It is TPI and is basically the same car as yours, you probably have a couple of more options than I do though, like power seat and AM/FM Cassette. I hope it's not injectors, that would totally suck! I've been there before and the runners are a real PITA to get off the manifold. UGH. Thanks though.

 

Are the plugs sooty black or oily black? I had some valve seals that were leaking enought oil into the cylinders to foul the plugs and cause a miss. The fuel injector fuses aren't blown if the car is running halfway decent, If one was blown you wouldn't have one bank of injectors, and I doubt you'd be able to get that running at all. If the plugs are sooty, that would indicate a rich condition, which could also foul the plugs enought to cause a miss. I had that happen before I converted to fuel injection. If you're getting fuel fouled plugs you might have leaky injectors on that side, and while it's unlikely for those 4 injectors to be leaky, its certianly possible. The two banks of injectors both recieve the same pulses from the ECM, so ideally they would all be delivering the same ammount of fuel.

I also ended up buying sort of a basket case car, that took some work to get going. Dont worry tho, I'm sure you will get everything worked out soon.

 

Thanks cfabe,

The plugs are a sooty black and the injector fuses are fine. I'm dreading that it is injectors. I turned the A/C on in the garage and will check all of the wires after dinner to make sure they are routed correctly.

 

Check the module under the rotor. Often the wires that connect to the pins on the module corrode and rot out. I had that problem and it is often overlooked.

 

Well, so far I've checked the module, took it and had it tested and it tested fine, checked the TPS, IAC Valve, wires, and the O2 sensor. Am I missing something? This is driving me nuts. UGH!

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1991 B4C Camaro 305/5-speed, loaded, black, and running like crap

 

What color(s) of smoke come out when you start it and under heavy acceleration?

 

ahhh man!! It sounds like fuel injectors to me.. The resistance maybe shot in some of them!! I just had mine go.. I had 4 that were way out of range... but changed all 8 100 bucks (Canadian) each... but the car has never ran better... I was burning rich constantly black coming out of the tailpipe under heavy acceleration.. just crap..

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92 z-28 G92 black with white racing stripes.
Dynomax cat back
Hypertech chip
5 speed

 

rezinn,

The smoke is black. It even smells like it
is running rich. I just cannot figure it out for the life of me. I just replaced the O2 sensor with an AC Delco and it didn't help.

 

92zeddar,

That's what I was affraid of. I might have to bite the bullet and change them. No wonder the previous owner wanted to get rid of the car. Can somebody tell me what # rating the injectors are in the 305? If I recall they are 19lb injectors?

 

I just had similar problem on my ZZ4TPI. One injector was going to ground when hot. All 8 injectors share the same ground so the bad injector was stealing voltage from all the other injectors. I replaced mine with SVO 24# and its fine now. However, if you order the SVO's get the 93 and older style. The 94 SVO injectors changed and are too short.

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Rob P
89RSconvtZZ4TPI
Edelbrock Hi-Flow Intake
SLP Dual Cold Air Intake
1 5/8" Headers
Semi-Siamesed Runners
MSD6AL/AdjFPR/IROC frnt@rear swaybar/wonderbar/steeringbox/alum drvshaft/ Alston SFC/3:23posi disc rear/MAC LCA/H.Adams Panhard Rod/KYB struts/ shocks/
92Z28convt5spd
71Impala convt 402BB
BETTER DRIVING THRU SUPERIOR HORSEPOWER!

 

Can somebody tell me how to test the injectors? Can I use an ohm meter?

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1991 B4C Camaro 305/5-speed, loaded, black, and running like crap