I have a problem thats driving me nuts

My exhaust manifolds are glowing red hot after I drive

Replaced maf and thats not it

Gone through 3 sets of ngk tr55s this week alone

Replaced spark plug wires

injectors maybe?

i need to fix this now!

 

Does your engine have the smog air injection tubes? The system might be pumping air into the exhaust manifolds when it shouldn't.

I'd have to look it up, but I believe air should only be routed to the manifolds under certain conditions and only until the engine reaches a certain temperature.

The other thought is if you're running really lean - possibly due to a vacuum leak?

 

Smog pump isn't hooked up.

The car runs like crap ... like it's missfiring but I know its not

 

What do you have done to the car? it sounds like your running super lean
Dave

 

Just no cat and a flowmaster
maybe a clogged fuel filter?

 

did you get a check engine light before this started happening?fuel filter a maybe, pinched fuel line, plugged pump pick up, ECM problems fault fuel pressure regulator

 

Umm if I drive for about 20 minutes or so it will eventually come on and at that point it will drive like complete crap with absolutely zero acceleration. But its off when I turn the car back on.

 

Do you have a TPI? Check fuel pressure at fuel rail. Check base timing. You are either running way lean, or your timing is too retarded. If both of these check fine, I would suspect that some of your injectors are not working properly. Even if your injectors fall within spec resistance wise, it doesn't mean they are fine. I assume that your car is also running really hot.

 

The other thing that can cause these symptoms is lack of ignition advance. did the tan wire with black stripe get disconnected?

 

I'm not sure of which wire you are talking about. I do have some updates though that may narrow this down.

Just got a new IAC no help
Just went back to brand new AC Delco plugs no help
Checked wires they are fine
It has a new MAF

Sometimes I have problems starting the car
It will turn over but have trouble actually igniting
I can start it over and over again and it will want to start more and more and then finally start
Today I opened the fuel cap right when I got home and lots of pressure was relieved and lots of smells were coming out ... it was to the point where my eyes would burn if they were within a foot of the gas cap. Also I heard a noise that I can't describe very well but it almost sounded like fuel going back into the take. Also when I pulled my last set of plugs there was some fuel on them. Any help at all I need this running. Clogged fuel filter or maybe pump is going out?

 

Does your car hold fuel pressure, you could potentially have leaky injectors, hence the fuel on the spark plugs. Excessive pressure in the tank could mean problems with the charcoal canister or the pressure relieve solenoid of the evap system. Do you have any fuel leaking out of the fuel pressure regulator vacuum port?
Check base timing? If you have a TPI car it should be at 6* BTDC. You are either starving your engine of fuel, or you don't have enough timing advance.

 

Is the canister in the front on the driver's side? I know a line coming out of that going into the side of the throttle body is pinched ... could that be hurting?

 

There shouldnt be that much pressure in the tank. Check the purge valve on your charcoal cannister.

Try this; Take your fuel cap off, start the car, drive around for a while with the cap off to see if it starts to run badly.
There are 4 lines coming from your tank.
1. Fuel pressure line
2. fuel return line
3. vapor to charcoal cannister
4. short line to pressure relief/check valve. (Located above rear axle on drivers side)
You can check the relief/check valve by removing it and blowing really hard into it (It should "Blow-off").
www.gmpartsdirect.com Has them new... 10033125 is the part number
Good luck!

 

exhaust leak at head, most likely y-pipe connections, some where at or before the connection where the cat used to be.

 

Yes, that's where the canister is. The line that is going from the canister to the throttle body is a vacuum line. You don't want that line pinched. However, I doubt that this is causing your exhaust manifolds to get so hot.

 

Ok I made sure that line wasn't pinched. I do have an update though. I ran the car without the fuel cap and I've driven it probably 30 miles with no additional problems and it seems to run a little more consistent now but my manifolds are still red hot. Maybe I have too much fuel pressure and the excess fuel is just igniting in the manifold?

 

Fuel igniting in the exhaust manifold = afterfire, or what some call backfire. Pipes can glow hot along with the afterfire.
If timing, AFR, mechanical (nothing loose, or defective,) CR, no vacuum, or exhaust leaks then back up because you've missed something.

If no air leaks then I suspect timing.

When someone mentioned the set timing connector (tan wire) you said you didn't know what he was talking about.

Without disconnecting that wire you couldn't have set the timing correctly.

 

I just got this car a few weeks ago I've never done the timing on it so I wouldn't know