*Help* My Car is running terrible!
 

Well I got my car all back together and I fire it up. Set the timing, fuel pressure, etc etc.

I let it blow all the smoke out till it runs clean.

But the car is running TERRIBLE, and I cant figure it out.

The motor feels off balance or like its missing. Its harder to start than normal and it sounds bad when I start it. AFter driving for 15min or so the check engine light came on and just stayed on.

It shuddery and missing when driving especially around 1500-3500rpm. And it has no power.

I have checked everything. MAF, Fuel pressure, timing, I reset the computer again.

I am really stumped and can't figure it out, anyone help, I am gettin pissed off! :)

Chris, what do you think?

Thanks,

Skyler

Have you checked your EGR to see if it is stuck open?

Any vaccum leaks?

When you say back together again, what do you mean? Did you have the distributor out? or timing chain? Check that plug wires are correct? Sounds like its running on 7

He's running a new motor.

I think he just got his heads ported and got the new intake, cam, exc. I think he's running the same short block.

If thats the case, I'd start by checking the timing.

Did you pull the distributor?? might have gotten it a tooth off.

did you scan for any codes??

vacuum leak??

fouled plug(s)??

May sound crazy
 

Sky,
this may sound crazy,screwy,and maybe even insane but I would check the 2 things a lot of people fail to look at.

1. I would check the O2 sensors,just a hunch there,I doubt it but it is worth the effort.

2. You may have a TPS out of whack,those are the small things I would think of.

Good luck with it and get it back together and running right.

thanks guys. EGR is fine, plugs are all fine, TPS and timing are set. Plug wires are correct and distributor is in right. Im going to check the codes tonight, and then compression test the motor tomorrow.

Skyler

That's exactly what I was going to suggest. Post the results, and we'll go from there.

Take care,
-Chris

I compression tested the motor.

1- 155
2- 155
3- 0
4- 138 (had cylinder replaced here 2 years ago)
5- 155
6- 155
7- 148
8- 165


So I pulled the vavle covers and discovered the rockers were way to tight on #3, readjusted them, and now I have 155 on cylinder #3 now.


The car runs pretty good, but its pathetic on lowend power. I guess its the holley intake and 1.72 rockers.

I crankd my timing up high to try and compensate, but its still soggy on the bottom end. and its running pretty damn hot too.

Skyler

What about the codes?

Take care,
-Chris

I dont have a code scanner.

Skyler

hmmmmmm
 

What about the o2 sensors?

they tend to lean the car out a little too much when they are out of whack,looked under mine the other day exhaust was cherry red.

Replaced them no problems,just a hunch. How does it start up? easy,hard,what thermostat you running?

:confused:

No I havnt' changed the O2's, but they have no effect on the car at FULL Throttle.

It starts pretty easy now. I have a stock thermo, cuz they screwd up at the autparts store, Im gonna go back to a 180 soon.


Skyler

Is the check engine light still on?

Take care,
-Chris

No its not, and it hasnt come on since.


Skyler

That was probably just from having a dead cylinder, then. It really just sounds like you've raised your power band rpm. Is this a new cam too, or just new rockers? If it is a new cam, did you install it straight up, advanced, or retarded, and by how many degrees? Advancing it 4 degrees would bring a little bit of low end power back, but I have a feeling that intake might be more of a factor than I would have thought.

Take care,
-Chris

Sky, glad to see you got it up and running. One thing you might want to do is re-adjust the valves again, I ended up doing that a few times on mine 3/4, 1/2 and finally 1/4 turn before I found that magic setting. That E-cam is holding you back and won't allow you do take full advantage of the Holley, why not ditch the E-cam and 1.7's and get a healthy custom cam and 1.6's. You can get some healthy grinds that will still pass emissions out there in CA. Does the Holley pull oil into your TB or Intake? If it does I have a fix for that;)

Take Care,

Rick

I had the holley on my car when I still had the stock heads/cam in it and lost almost no low end. Its prob not that.