Forced Induction Superchargers | Turbochargers | Intercoolers

Help with sluggish running and back fire.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 12:02 PM
  #1  
onesloGTO's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Default Help with sluggish running and back fire.

Hey guys,
I have been working on the car for about a month now. It started running pretty poor. Really sluggish when accelerating. And it back fires quite a bit, even at idle. I've replaced plugs, and fuel filter. I've also tested the plug wires. All is good there. Recently started tuning to 91 octane, as it was e85 before I bought it. Fuel pressure was high, so adjusted down to around 57. 80lb injectors.

Tuner said that the tune is close and there is no reason it should be running this way. Could a vacuum leak cause this? Bad fuel injector?
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 12:33 PM
  #2  
93camaro_zzz's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,211
Likes: 3
From: San Diego, Ca.
Default

It seriously sounds like it is running really rich, but hopefully that would be something your tuner could tell. Definitely wouldn't hurt to do a boost leak test, but I don't think that is the problem.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 12:42 PM
  #3  
onesloGTO's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Default

I'm not even using boost right now. Just trying to dial motor in.
Would running rich cause my symptoms?
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 06:13 PM
  #4  
93camaro_zzz's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,211
Likes: 3
From: San Diego, Ca.
Default

Absolutely it could. If you had a bad injector, you would be able to pick that up on the wideband. Do you have a wideband in the car?
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 06:27 PM
  #5  
onesloGTO's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Default

Yes I have a wideband. How do I tell if an injector is bad. Or possibly a coil pack?
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 07:51 PM
  #6  
93camaro_zzz's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,211
Likes: 3
From: San Diego, Ca.
Default

If injector is stuck open, car will read that it is running rich. If an injector is not opening you could usually tell that by a certain primary not heating up, or checking out spark plugs. For coil packs, the easiest thing I have found to do is to sway out coils with someone else that is a known good. Fastest and easiest way to tell.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 07:53 PM
  #7  
onesloGTO's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Default

So what afr would I be looking for to notice a bad injector?
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 10:03 PM
  #8  
6669camaro's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, Ne
Default

Read the spark plugs. If they are all very black then it's running rich. If one looks real wet and smells like gas then you may have a bad injector on that hole. To test the coil packs just hook up a spark tester to the end of the plug wire and set the gap at about an inch, the coil should be able to easily jump the gap. Can't jump it then the coil is bad.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 10:34 PM
  #9  
onesloGTO's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Default

Ok, I just put the plugs in about 3 weeks ago and pulled them again to do a compression test recently. At that time they were all very black.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 11:21 PM
  #10  
6669camaro's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, Ne
Default

The motor must be running very rich for some reason. Lots of possible causes like tune, map sensor, maf sensor, coolant temp sensor, motor not warming up properly, ect.....
If you have access to a scan tool you really need to read live data and see what the computer is seeing.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 11:26 PM
  #11  
6669camaro's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, Ne
Default

Has it been retuned since you switched back to 91? If it is still putting in the same amount of fuel through the injectors as it was with e85 that could be why it's running so rich. E85 motors run much richer then 91 motors.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2015 | 11:29 PM
  #12  
G8One2's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, MI
Default

Sounds like a restricted exhaust to me..... Might want to try attaching a vacuum gauge to the intake manifold, should have 18 to 22 in.-Hg of vacuum or more at idle, then as it runs it will slowly drop if the exhaust is restricted. Disconnecting the exhaust and retesting can verify.
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2015 | 01:18 AM
  #13  
onesloGTO's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Default

I have HP Tuners. I can post my last log and tune if anyone would like to have a look.
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2015 | 01:19 AM
  #14  
onesloGTO's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Default

The exhaust dumps right behind the passenger door.
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2015 | 07:07 PM
  #15  
onesloGTO's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Default

I decided to check to see if I could pull a code one more time. I got a P0121 code.

Could this be my problem?

Thanks guys.
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2015 | 09:53 PM
  #16  
onesloGTO's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Default

Also getting a P0122 code.
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 10:16 AM
  #17  
RonSSNova's Avatar
8 Second Club
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,729
Likes: 814
From: Portland, OR
Default

Originally Posted by 6669camaro
Has it been retuned since you switched back to 91? If it is still putting in the same amount of fuel through the injectors as it was with e85 that could be why it's running so rich. E85 motors run much richer then 91 motors.
If the stoich in the tune was not changed from E85 value (9.77) to gas (14.7) it will be incredibly rich. You haven't mentioned what your Wideband is reading?
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 10:45 AM
  #18  
onesloGTO's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Default

Wideband is reading around 14 to 15.
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 12:02 PM
  #19  
93camaro_zzz's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,211
Likes: 3
From: San Diego, Ca.
Default

If the wideband is reading 14 to 15, then I would trust the wideband. It may be a different issue besides fueling.
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2015 | 12:35 PM
  #20  
onesloGTO's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Default

What do you think about the TPS? From the symptoms I've read on it, that's what is going on with my car.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:27 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE