BewleyBizzIROC

I have an 89 IROC and when I push the gas I got little to no acceleration. It sounds like it wants to kick on but nothing happens. The RPM gage doesn't even move. Any help?

BewleyBizzIROC

Help anyone? Someone told me maybe the fuel pump or the air flow sensor?

bryan623

Is the car not revving? Or moving? Try to give us a little bit more detail. It's hard to make out what your problem is. What motor is in it?

BewleyBizzIROC

The car starts up, revs up, and drives. But only gets to about 20mph. I push all the way on the gas and get little to nothing. It's a 350.

bryan623

So a lot or RPM and hardly any motion? Or does it feel sluggish? Also I doubt its your MAF sensor. Sounds like not enough fuel. Or too much? Pull the plugs and check them. Also check the fuel filter.

BewleyBizzIROC

The RPM gauge doesn't even move. Yeah it feels sluggish, like it wants to pick up and go but doesn't

bryan623

RPM gauge not moving means its either broken or not getting a signal from engine. That's not really an issue for your poor performance. Does the car idle smooth or rough?

BewleyBizzIROC

It idles smooth, sounds real good

bryan623

So you are saying it isles good? No sputtering or struggling to stay running, but when you take her out for a drive it has no power? Okay when you want to accelerate does the engin rev up real high but you barely move? How does the engine run when you are driving it? Smooth acceleration? Or sputtering and sturggling? Or is the engine rpm smooth and it revs very high, but you don't get much acceleration?

BewleyBizzIROC

Yes exactly

TylerSteez

iTrader: (3)

Check fuel pressure for sure, change out the fuel filter as well, that way you can rule out pressure and start looking elsewhere

bryan623

You know it kinda sounds to me like a possible transmission issue. You are saying the car is smooth at idle and when driving the engine sounds fine, but revs high and not much acceleration. Check the transmission fluid level. You know how right? Make sure the car is warmed up to operating temperature and pull the transmission dipstick with the car running and in park and see if it's low. Also check the color. It should be red.

GVMV

iTrader: (2)

It is hard to tell, since if you read the posts he does not clearly identify his conditions, he says yes to someone else long post.

We need clear answers to these questions.

1. sitting in park can you rev up to 4500 easily?

2. When you put in park do you feel it engage? Will the car move without you hitting the accelerator?

3. at what speed does it starting not wanting to go? What RPM?

If you want help you must give us clear exact answers, vague doesn't help.

Fuel pressure, fuel filter, air filter, catalytic Converter are all places to start looking for problems inhibiting power output if that is the issue, if it's reving but no go in gear, well that is one single cause :P

BewleyBizzIROC

Sorry guys I'm new to this and don't know much about cars. Here's what's going on as much as I can tell. Sometimes the car takes 2-3 turns to fire up. Once it does it idles just fine and sounds good. The RPM gage isn't working so I'm not sure where it shoots up to. The car currently doesn't go into park. It does occasionally die, but fires back up. I can get it into drive and take off and when I push the gas I get a sound and almost no acceleration. I can floor it and get nowhere, when I floor it it sounds like it's trying to do something but gives me close to nothing. Sorry for the short answers, this was supposed to be a project with my dad but he's been super busy too. Anything helps right now and I'll try some of the options a few of you threw out! Thanks!!!

TylerSteez

iTrader: (3)

It's likely not going into park because the shifter linkage is off, it's on the drivers side of the transmission pan, search around on this site and you'll find tons of info on setting it.

As for not moving anywhere when you floor it, does the engine rev up high when you do it? If the engines revving high but the cars not moving it's completely transmission related and is most likely (and hopefully) very low on trans fluid. Start the car and let it warm up, then change it through all the gears (park, neutral, drive) and then check the fluid while the car is running.

bryan623

If it's a 350 in that Iroc then it's a TPI engine and that means 700R4 transmission. On the linkage on the drivers side of the transmission (like mentioned above) there is a lever with a single bolt holding it on. All the way back (towards the rear of the car)is park. Well... On my 89 GTA it's that way. Not sure if the Camaro was similar. If it's a 700R4 transmission it should be. Block the wheels and make sure the car WILL NOT move before you try adjusting the transmission linkage.

BewleyBizzIROC

So today I went to start it up and it sputtered a little bit before idling. The idle didn't sound too good and when I revved the engine the same thing. I've heard maybe the fuel pump or distributer. Still not too sure

mdtoren

Sounds to me like a possible trans linkage adjustment issue...since it won't go into park, its likely not in drive completely when you think it is...this is a very common issue when people install the b&m megashifter for the linkage to get messed up and the same thing happens. Like above post said...search the forum on how to set a 700r4 linkage..its pretty easy.

As far as fuel pump when it runs put your ear over the center of the rear axle...do you hear whistling/howling? If so pump is failing.

Also check the throttle position sensor with a volt meter...Google it if you don't know how..should read .45v at idle, 4.5v with the throttle open all the way and step up voltage smoothly as it opens not choppy jumps in voltage..replace that if it doesn't...its cheap. It caused similar issues for me once

bw9090

Sounds like a clogged cat. My car did the exact same thing, then i removed it and it ran like a new car.

BewleyBizzIROC

Someone told me today it might be the kickdown cable.