Pennington55

iTrader: (3)

I just got a 97 SS 30th anniversery car and ive been driving it for about a week. Last week the car started to buck while acelerating. so i thought it was out of fuel since i just got the car and wasnt sure if the gas gauge was right. i put fuel in it restarted it and she ran fine. just the other day i was out having some fun grabbing some gears and it started doing it again. so to the gas station i go. filled her up to full started driving down the road and and the bucking was still there. the car just falls on its face acting like its out of fuel or starving for fuel. seems like its getting worse. fuel pump is pretty loud but i have about 35 psi at startup and around 40 at idle. i let it run for about 10 minutes and the fuel pressure went to 36. then when i would rev the motor fuel psi would be around 32. a couple of people have told me the optispark has gone bad and to get rid of it and go with the coils. im not sure what the problem is or how to go about checking the optispark. anyone have the same problem or have an idea on how to solve my problem?
Thanks

TurboBob

iTrader: (1)

any trouble codes? Check Engine light?

Can you watch the fuel pressure gauge when accelerating? It needs to stay up.

Any traces of leakage on the bottom of the water pump?

Bob

VinR1

iTrader: (17)

^^what he said

also, do you still have EGR? Dont do like me a rip out a perfectly good Opti when the bucking/studdering was actually something much cheaper and easier to replace/fix - in my case, a bad ICM and torn elbow

Pennington55

iTrader: (3)

im going to go look for some leakage by the water pump. the codes ive got are P0400 EGR valve and P0441 Purge valve. i just took the car out today and it ran great. didnt give me any problems weither i was driving like normal or at WOT. no bucking it ran perfect.

Pennington55

iTrader: (3)

drove the car last night and it started acting up again. i shut the car off and started it right back up. ran perfect the rest of the way home. im going to put the fuel pressure gauge on tape it to the windshield and drive the car around untill it starts to studder. then see if i still have fuel pressure. if it was the opti wouldnt it throw a misfire code?

CRAZZ28

iTrader: (13)

Sounds more like a fuel issue to me. You should have 42 psi, much less than that i would either be looking for a wiring issue, bad pump or bad regulator.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

fuel filter

BigD383lt1

if it was coolant leaking you would most likely smell it... I don't think the opti is your problem. It is just the first place everyone always goes. Crazz28 is right you need to maintain pressure around 40-42 and if you don't have that at idle then it is more then likely your problem.... If it is search for the instructions on how to cut a door in your hatch for easier access.

Pennington55

iTrader: (3)

bought one yesterday. that will be the first thing i change when i get a chance. if that doesnt help i think ill drop the rear, pull the tank and change the pump. the pump is making a wining noise that isnt normal. im almost certain its the fuel pump. im not too crazy about cutting a hole in the floor. it just started snowing again here in indiana so i think ill have time to do the job the right way.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

This has all the signs of a dirty fuel filter. When there’s no flow, the dirt settles to the bottom of the can. When there is flow, the dirt is churned up and after a little time, slowly re-clogs the filter media.
　
This is not such an issue with newer cars as their fuel systems have no return-greatly reducing the flow through the filter.
　
If after changing the filter you still have issues, get a fuel pressure gauge on the Schrader fitting and observe it while driving around. Don’t go through all the work of accessing the fuel pump until you zero in on it as the issue.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

YUCK it just started snowing here in NYC again. We've had enough!

What color is that '71?

Pennington55

iTrader: (3)

i was planning on duct taping the fuel pressure gauge to the windshield to watch the fuel pressure while driving. but now that its snowing i think im just going to park it for a while. the 71 is **** brown right now. its going back to the origonal color of brands hatch green.

BigD383lt1

If you don't want to do the cut out make sure you check all your wiring... A buddy of mine had to replace his twice because the factory wiring went bad and was the problem of his first pump and then took out the second pump as well. That isn't a job you want to do twice the right way!

ChandlerMotorsports

iTrader: (3)

In the future make sure the people that told you it was an optispark issue don't give you advice. EEK!

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Any updates?

AChotrod

iTrader: (17)

Could also be a dirty or bad MAF. It will do exactly what your talking about if its dirty or bad.

Pennington55

iTrader: (3)

Ive got an extra maf I wanna throw on it just to see what it does. No updates... sorry guys. I havent had a chance to do anything to the car. This is how it has sat for two weeks. 24 hours before I took the picture it was sunny about 40 degrese and no snow on the ground. Theres also a car in the pile of snow under the basketball hoop.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

I'm on the way with a shovel.

Wait, no...

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

I like to start with the 'simple stuff', cause it's usually cheaper....Since the car is relatively new to you, and you don't know what kind of swill the previous owner ran it on, have you considered dumping a couple of bottles of dry gas into it? You might be simply fighting a case of water in the tank. However, I'd also replace the fuel filter, and clean the MAF sensor, as previously suggested, and probably throw in a new air filter, just to be sure.

myk

iTrader: (4)

I say it's pressure/fuel pump related-36 is too low. How're you east coast guys doing with the weather?