Alright guys check this out, I REALLY need some help with this one. I have a 1994 camaro z28, owned it for 3 yrs with no trouble except a replaced optispark/distributor (the whole deal) about a year or so ago. I've spent the last, at least month dealing with a what i believe to be a stubborn electrical problem. Here's what it does, it will run PERFECT for days at a time. Cold, raining, really hot, whatever it runs like it should and then outta nowhere it will stumble while driving. And it doesn't feel like a little misfire or knock it seems like the whole engine just cuts out, in and out again and again for a second or sometimes for half a minute. The thing is if i'm cruising i can keep it in gear and it will ride through usually but if i'm coming to a stop light and i can't keep the motor turning with momentum then it will die. Sometimes starting up again and running REALLY rough for a few seconds then perfect again and then sometimes it will just turn over all day. BUT, what rarely fails is leaving it sit and coming back to it in a few hours. Starts right up. I've been left stranded for hours a few times and i NEVER have the tools to do any diagnostics with me. I've had it towed home only for it to start right up as soon as it got here. Here are some things to consider:
New plugs a 1 1/2 yrs ago, new wires at the same time
New MSD billet optispark shortly after the wires/plugs because that was the real problem
With my laptop and freescan i pulled a DTC 41 (Open igintion circuit i believe) ONCE last week, and that has never appeared again. I scan it a lot, anytime i plug the laptop in which is a lot lately because sometimes i go drive around town with all my stuff
for it to die... never does.
Coil checks, not quite sure how to test the ICM, I'm not 100% sure the opti is out of question on this one but i did get shobox's test in where you get an ac current from the icm harness proving the opti is sending signals. I got that to happen while it wasn't starting, because i was beginning to think the water pump might have started leaking on it but if it was sending signlas when not starting that'd mean its working unless the distributor half of the opti is wet?? i don't know but either way i didn't get much farther in my troubleshooting because it started up shortly thereafter. Fuel pressure on the rail is fine. And this may be the most mind boggling thing about it. When it stalls out on me completely and turns over without any kind of firing, i can put the pedal to the floor and continue cranking then it will start after about 3 seconds and revs to about 2500 and dies. Its like it sparks for just a second then quits right away. During the whole time its cranking i can smell the gas thats why i'm leaning so hard on electrical. I'm stuck, I dont' know how to approach this problem. If anyone has any ideas or help i'd GREATLY appreciate it. Thanks
New plugs a 1 1/2 yrs ago, new wires at the same time
New MSD billet optispark shortly after the wires/plugs because that was the real problem
With my laptop and freescan i pulled a DTC 41 (Open igintion circuit i believe) ONCE last week, and that has never appeared again. I scan it a lot, anytime i plug the laptop in which is a lot lately because sometimes i go drive around town with all my stuff
for it to die... never does.Coil checks, not quite sure how to test the ICM, I'm not 100% sure the opti is out of question on this one but i did get shobox's test in where you get an ac current from the icm harness proving the opti is sending signals. I got that to happen while it wasn't starting, because i was beginning to think the water pump might have started leaking on it but if it was sending signlas when not starting that'd mean its working unless the distributor half of the opti is wet?? i don't know but either way i didn't get much farther in my troubleshooting because it started up shortly thereafter. Fuel pressure on the rail is fine. And this may be the most mind boggling thing about it. When it stalls out on me completely and turns over without any kind of firing, i can put the pedal to the floor and continue cranking then it will start after about 3 seconds and revs to about 2500 and dies. Its like it sparks for just a second then quits right away. During the whole time its cranking i can smell the gas thats why i'm leaning so hard on electrical. I'm stuck, I dont' know how to approach this problem. If anyone has any ideas or help i'd GREATLY appreciate it. Thanks
Comment