navytech

This is my first post and I am a new LS1 owner. =)
I recently bought a 98 Trans Am lS1 and I have recently started having problems with it.
For the first minute I start it it drives normally.
Pretty much the first time I come to a complete stop it starts shaking very hard and has terrible acceleration. Also, I can smell fuel.
After about 5 minutes of it driving very poorly and shaking it will kick into normal and drive well for the rest of the time the engine is running.
The check engine light will start to flash sometimes when the car is running poorly.

Eventually the problem got so bad the engine would completely shut off.

I took it to a car shop and they pulled these codes:

WE PULLED OUT SEVERAL CODES FROM THE PCM
PO133 B1S1 OXYGEN SENSOR SLOW RESPONSE
PO134 B1S1 O2 SENSOR HIGH VOLTS
PO152 B2S1 O2 SENSOR NO ACTIVITY
PO153 B2S1 02 SENSOR LOW VOLTS
PO154 B2S1 02 SENSOR NO ACTIVITY
PO155 B2S1 02 SENSOR HIGH VOLTS
PO336 CAM SHAFT SENSOR A RANGE PERFORMANCE

WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT OUR OBD2 SCANNER IS BEING BOOTED OFF OF THE SCAN DUE TO
A AFTERMARKET COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING . WE CAN OBSIRVE THE GRAPH OF BOTH UP
STREAM O2 SENSORS , BUT CAN NOT CONDEMN THEM BAD AT THIS POINT .
I WENT OUT ON A LIMB MADE A FEW PHONE CALLS TO A FEW FRIENDS IN THE
PERFORMANCE S1 SCENE . WAS TOLD WITH THE ACT OF THE MOTOR AND THE STORED CODES
IN THE PCM WAS INFORMED TO REPLACE BOTH O2 SENSORS , 2 O2 SENSOR EXTENSIONS ,
AND REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR

CAM SHAFT SENSOR 106.95 3 HOURS TO REPLACE 225.00 IN LABOR
OXYGEN SENSOR 153.66 O2 SENSOR , EXTENSION 53.33 , LABOR 75.00 A SIDE

I payed the 600 to replace the 02 sensors.

The engine no longer shuts off, but I still have the same 02 sensor codes even though they are brand new.

The car continues to drive terribly, and shake like theirs no tomorrow for about the first 5 minutes of driving.

After researching on this sight I decided to clean the MAF sensor. I removed it and sprayed cleaner on the sensors and the problem is still there.

I want to learn about my new car. I want to fix it myself. I probably have a bad MAF sensor but I do not want to pay 100 dollars for something that might not be the problem.
Can anyone help me with my problem? Thank you.

blk/slvr02ss

iTrader: (21)

Seems you need to get w/ someone who has a ECU Tuner like LS-1 Edit or HP Tuners to see what going on w/ the aftermarket Programming to let you read what your 02 Sensors r doing that how i found out what was wrong w/ my car when i was having a problem !

Finkledbody

Title change

Please help with 'Old' 98 Trans Am LS1...have codes

Its 2012

lt1pwr1

iTrader: (1)

That's why most people prefer to buy a car that is stock- because you never know what the guy did before you. That being said, I'm assuming the car isn't stock if it has been tuned? What all is done to it? Headers? Cam?

I wish you would have made this thread before you had the o2's replaced. I'm sure whoever tuned the car didn't know what they were doing. Anytime you get codes for ALL your o2 sensors more than likely they are not the culprit. What are the chances of all of them going bad at once? Not likely at all. Start with trying to find out what was done to the car. I would then try to get a stock tune back in there if the mods aren't too extreme and go from there.

mike171562

iTrader: (4)

holy ****, u paid 600 bucks to replace the two front O2 sensors? You can test if the MAF is bad by unplugging the electrical connector, if the car runs better with it unplugged it is likely bad.

14k

You paid 600 to replace o2 sensors??? That's a 10 minute job tops!

navytech

yeah tell me about it. I got ****** robbed, but I couldn't even make it to the base auto skills shot to do it myself. So I had to pay. I never want to take Betty to a car shop again.

yeah I got ******* screwed on the O2 sensor replacement, but I couldn't even drive the car to the base auto shop to do it myself.
Even though it was completely a waste of money, the O2 sensors did need to be replaced. The old ones were covered in rust and extremely damaged.

do you think the continuing O2 sensor codes are from the MAF sensor? and the heavy car vibrations and poor acceleration?

mike171562

iTrader: (4)

If you have to replace the Cam Sensor, it can be done with basic tools, I believe you have to remove the intake to get to it. There are write ups and how-to's on this forum and others for just about everything for these cars.

I would try running it with the MAF unplugged to see if that makes a difference.

blk/slvr02ss

iTrader: (21)

Did they clear the codes after putting the new 02 Sensors in ?

IIILuisIII

iTrader: (1)

one time i had a bad vibration at idle and poor acceleration and i checked my plug wires and one was pretty much off the plug.. also you can try running with the maf unplugged, and if your car runs better then your maf is bad or still dirty.

blk/slvr02ss

iTrader: (21)

Yes that happen to my 98 Z-28 i had car ran like crap when it was raining and #8 plug wire was just barely on !!!!

udienow

iTrader: (18)

Are those all the codes, or just some of the codes? Doesn't a flashing CEL mean that there is a cylinder misifre? Plugs / wires might be your issue if I had to guess. The misfire also fits with the smell of fuel as well. Check them all and even replace them. A new set can be had for $60 shipped in the sponsor sales section of this site. That is where I would start.

FIVEPOINT7

iTrader: (2)

Nice choice
HOLY CRAP.

Adam86

iTrader: (10)

I would definitely get new plugs and wires and see what codes are left over. Misfiring cylinders can cause all sorts of codes. Also, when the car is just idling does it seem to be relatively smooth and then get worse as you drive? That would also lead me to believe it's partially a plug/wire problem as those issues don't really show until the engine is under load. A bad MAF would likely mean it idles like crap too. As udienow said usually a flashing CEL means a cylinder misfire which usually means a problem with the plugs/wires/coil packs. All of those are easy to test out. That would also explain the fuel smell as the affected cylinders are having fuel sprayed into them that isn't being ignited.
And HOLY ****! If I ever change out O2 sensors for someone remind me to charge them $75 per side.

Dwhilljr

Clogged up Cats would be my guess, my Z-71 did the same thing and it was cats