I just came bck from college and my car has been sitting for three weeks in the garage, and has been out of commision with a broken MAF sensor. I was running very poorly, and a loud clickin sound was being made. Now that i am back, i replaced the MAF, and thought my probs were over. Think again, now it sputters when i begin to accelerate, and the voltage id fluxuating, also the loud clickin sound. What could that possibly be? Also, the check engine light goes on and off every couple minutes. PLease help me!!


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1986 Metallic Blue IROC-Z
80k miles, 305 TPI
Mods:
-Edelbrock Hi-Flow baseplate
-Dynomax Cat-back
-gutted MAF
-K&N's
-airfoil
-shiftkit

 

First try to locate the loud clicking noise. Tell us where's it coming from approximately. Then if you know how, get the codes out of the ECM and tell us what the code is.

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1991 Z28 5.7 TPI

ZZ4 heads, ZZ4 cam, Harland Sharp roller rockers, Accel base, SLP siamesed runners, 52MM SLP Throttle Body, Hooker Headers, Flowmaster catback, MSD6A ignition, Home made ramair system, aluminum driveshaft, WC 5-speed etc

 

Jump terminal A & B(top two all the way to the right) on the ALDL connector. Have the car off with key in the on position. If codes are stored it will show up now. Watch and count the SES light. It flashes once for the first digit, quick pause, then flashes quickly for the second digit. Code 12 is normal. It will flash code 12 3 times then go into stored codes. Each code will flash 3 times, then move onto the next code. If no codes are stored, it will continue with code 12. The Haynes manual tells you alot of the codes or search the boards, I'm sure they're all here.

 

How can i get the codes from the ECM, heard u can buy some handheld thing, or u can like ground the vehicle or somethin.

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1986 Metallic Blue IROC-Z
80k miles, 305 TPI
Mods:
-Edelbrock Hi-Flow baseplate
-Dynomax Cat-back
-gutted MAF
-K&N's
-airfoil
-shiftkit

 

The Codes are 34, and 44

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1986 Metallic Blue IROC-Z
80k miles, 305 TPI
Mods:
-Edelbrock Hi-Flow baseplate
-Dynomax Cat-back
-gutted MAF
-K&N's
-airfoil
-shiftkit

 

THe 34 code means low voltage(high Vacuum) at the mass airflow sensor. what does that mean, i just bought a new one, so wht could be the prob

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1986 Metallic Blue IROC-Z
80k miles, 305 TPI
Mods:
-Edelbrock Hi-Flow baseplate
-Dynomax Cat-back
-gutted MAF
-K&N's
-airfoil
-shiftkit

 

On your drivers side of the fire wall behind the brake booster you will see 3 relays one will be the mas air power relay it is a $13 part the other two will have the same part # one is for the fuel pump and one is for the mas air bern off witch is witch is a mistory Ive seen it difrent on cars so your best bet is to replace them both they are a bought $8 a peace I would just replace all three but If you dont want to go that route replace the power first ON my origanal relay it had mas air power in big red letters so I new witch one it was but the replacement said nothing so you may have to compair part # just get the one that is diffrent. Their is one other problem that could couse this and I have found it to be very comon for some reason the wireing for those conectors right ware it goes in to the conectors tends to get shorted to gether dont know my but I have seen it a few times so check the wiring as it goes in to the connector for those relays as well. Be fore I change a mas air sensor I always change these relays and 9 outa ten times that is ware the problem is not the mass air sensor hope this helps.

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87gta 355 fastburn heads,slp headers,flowmaster exhaust, LT4 hot cam and a lot more

 

Code 44 is lean exhaust if I not mistaken. Which could be caused by the MAF problem. Check out the relays as mentioned above.

 

Ok, checked the sensor, relays, and the boxes. Got teh engine to run a lot better and all the codes to go off. IT runs perfectly except for the clickin sound. It started a few weeks ago, and it seems like it is comin from the top of the engine. You can hear it best when you are above the plenum. WHat could it be?

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1986 Metallic Blue IROC-Z
80k miles, 305 TPI
Mods:
-Edelbrock Hi-Flow baseplate
-Dynomax Cat-back
-gutted MAF
-K&N's
-airfoil
-shiftkit

 

you may have a collapsed lifter, or something in the valve train. Or I could be totally wrong. Is it at a consistent rythm with the engine speed? If so, you may want to try a STP engine flush, and then an oil change obviously, and add an additive to try to free up any sticky valve train components. Wish you luck... If you have to do the valve train work.. at least youhave a reason to put a nice cam in there

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1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA L98 5.7L, Black on Black with 114,000kms.

Best ET 14.559 @ 95.25MPH
Custom 3" Stainless Exhaust Y-Pipe back (High flow Cat and Flowmaster Mufler)

 

I just changed the oil in the car, and it seems a little better, it only makes the clickin sound sometimes now, not all the time like before. It does go along with the engine speed, too. What is an engine flush?

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1986 Metallic Blue IROC-Z
80k miles, 305 TPI
Mods:
-Edelbrock Hi-Flow baseplate
-Dynomax Cat-back
-gutted MAF
-K&N's
-airfoil
-shiftkit

 

I had a clicking once under my hood to I found a bad injector take it some ware that can hook a can of injector cleaner to the fuel rails your car will let out some black smoke then gray then wight then they are clean that may be all it take or you may need to send them out and have them cleaned or just buy the filters your self and change them. Each injector has a screan filter under neath the pinto cap I think thats what they call them If you car sat for a while it could be tht the fuel terned to lacer on you and hardend in the injectors. Carbs have this problem alot with the fuel in the fuel bowls.

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87gta 355 fastburn heads,slp headers,flowmaster exhaust, LT4 hot cam and a lot more

 

Now the car is dying a lot when i start it up. I have to try a few times to get it to go, and the clickin is constant now. Would these bad injectors really cause that, the engine is hard to start, so it would exlplain it i guess.

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1986 Metallic Blue IROC-Z
80k miles, 305 TPI
Mods:
-Edelbrock Hi-Flow baseplate
-Dynomax Cat-back
-gutted MAF
-K&N's
-airfoil
-shiftkit

 

Check for a vaccuum leak.

 

Are you positive it is a clicking noise or is it a spark nock. I would look at it in the dark and see if you see any sparks look at all the plug wires and look close at the coil you may also want to take a look at each spark plug wire at the distributer end and the plug end if they look green on the contacts at all that means their is a bad conection.

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87gta 355 fastburn heads,slp headers,flowmaster exhaust, LT4 hot cam and a lot more

 

I dont think it is spark knock, but i will check that out as soon as I get the time. If i take it to the shop, can they identify the problem before I start shellin out the cash? If there are bad injectors, maybe I will jsut get Accel Injectors, since they are better, anyway, right?

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1986 Metallic Blue IROC-Z
80k miles, 305 TPI
Mods:
-Edelbrock Hi-Flow baseplate
-Dynomax Cat-back
-gutted MAF
-K&N's
-airfoil
-shiftkit

 

Earl 87gta ,

What kind of noise where the injectors making, was it noticable when U where inside the car, and did it become faster and move with the revs when drivin?

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1986 Metallic Blue IROC-Z
80k miles, 305 TPI
Mods:
-Edelbrock Hi-Flow baseplate
-Dynomax Cat-back
-gutted MAF
-K&N's
-airfoil
-shiftkit