got running problems... checked for codes... got a 42. book says distributor control mod... ecm bad.. etc taking the dcm to auto store to get checked out tomarrow. its so weird.. ran ok one day then next day spits carries on and esp backfires.. now cant get out of my driveway.... this all happened after i adjusted the timing too. it was at a -1 and i put it up to 6 like book says and wow my problems started... also the wire to disconect to adjust timing... i rhought when u unplug it the rpms would drop but my idle stays the same when its unplugged or plugged back in... any thoughts?

 

Did you reset the ecm by disconnecting the battery afterwards? I believe disconnecting the est to set the timing will trigger a code 42 which can be erased by disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it after a few minutes. The proper procedure is to unplug the est, set timing and then disconnect the battery so the ecm can re-learn and adjust to the new settings.

 

You should disconnect the wire BEFORE starting the car, then set the timing, then shut off car and reconnect (the EST wire).

Have you checked to make sure the connector hasn't busted for the knock sensor?

Have you checked to make sure the ESC module is plugged in and no scorch marks on it's connector?

Have you tried replacing the knock sensor?

 

That is correct, that is also what i said.

 

Code 43 is actually the code for a knock sensor.

 

got my speedo sensor unplugged right now cause i switched gears.... was gonna change gears after this problem is fixed... or is this causing a problem...computer needs speedo info for car to run correctly? car was a dog cant spin tires ever! changed timing to 6 now cant even get out of the drivway... very frustrating

 

Do you really have the timing at 6 degrees? The biggest dip on the timing pointer is Zero, six is the next one. In between each pointy part of the timing pointer is two degrees.

 

yes sire at 6... mines so clean and easy to see.. car runs worse at 6 than it did at -1 has to be just dumb luck and something is wrong etc cant be that i set it to proper timing.. i set it to 8 first like the mech at work told me.... i couldnt get out of the drivway, car backfired and popped and no power... then set it to 6 car ran good ,went down road seemed good then all a sudden ran crappy.. popped backfired no power.. got it home set it to 6 ran it for a month or so.. seemed ok but i dont think it has the power it should have, then it happened again took it to work and had to turn around and limp it home.... poppin and backfiring now idles good but nothing else... im thinkin of turning timing back to -1 and drive a slug this sucks

 

typo.... first set it to 8 ran crappy THEN 7 ran ok for alittle then crappy then 6 good for a month or so seems like a slug then ran crappy have done all new tune up etc last summer... car was ok (but a dog) till i adjusted the timing to where it should be... and like i said a 205 hp 305 with 373 rear should light up the tires pretty well.. my friend had a 91 305 firebird? with 273s and it could lay a nice patch of rubber. how come when i disconnect the battery to clear codes it runs so much stronger till about 5 min in the its the same old embarrasing camaro my gti vw would kill it in a race.

 

Could very well be a bad ecm.

 

I had a bad ecm for 2 years and didn't realize it. Couldn't datalog and the car never ran consistently.It almost sounds like it is not advancing the timing like it should. Let me ask you this also: How rich is your car running?

 

ha funny u say the timing advance thing... thats what i was thinking after today. changed my speedo gears... retimed the car to 8 everyone tells me u can get alittle out of the car going to 8... so i did it as you said... car runs better i think the speedo had to be hooked up so the ecu could get feedback since it was sensor not cable. car seems good and more powerfull than before... but a second later car is barly running usually when i try to pull out and when im driving along and step it down it gains speed slowly and if i let off the throttle alittle car takes off with power.... like theres a bad section of gas pedal... or timing advance..??? what u think? since cars speedo is now correct and hooked up it doesnt seem to backfire either... it was very rich but not to sure now .. had lazy flames out the exhaust when you rev it up hard.. but not now... no codes since speedo work... but had power one second none a second later... its killing me.. i lit the tires up sweet today ... next intersection... barely pull out and keep it running

 

What car are we talking here? 305,350? I am really leaning toward a bad ecm. Another culprit could be the ignition control module,but i think it's a bad ecm. Hard to say.

 

305... control modual is good according to autozone

 

hey thanks for your help... guess what alot of the problem was..... seen the alt gauge flutter allover the place at times...then finally dead.... seems the alternator was dieing and the voltage varying must have affected the ecu.... but now... car drives good seems alittle gutless yet but throws a code 32..

 

code 32 should not effect performance.