Rough running '01 WS6 TA
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
Likes: 236
From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
So I had the MAF sensor replaced and that code is gone. I also had the starter replaced, and the car starts now. HOWEVER, it still runs like crap and gets about 7-10 mpg. So I had a couple of people say that there is a vacuum leak in connection with the intake manifold gasket. One guy sprayed brake cleaner on in and, although he said it was idling up when he did it before, it did nothing when he tried to show it to me. Another guy [the guy who replaced the starter] sprayed it at various places around the manifold and it was causing the car to miss. I actually saw that happen.
Could it be the Intake Manifold gasket causing all this stuff? I already bought an O2 sensor so I guess I will just have that installed along with whatever else gets done. Or should I wait, or what? Any advice on the gasket replacement job? I've been told a few different things by different mechanics, as usual. I thought the gasket set was just one pre-cut piece, but one guy says there are actually an upper and a lower piece and that I need to do both. He also says I need to have the coils replaced or something to that effect. I'm in an area where its tough to find a reliable, honest shop for some reason. Another problem seems to be that they see a guy coming with what they consider a "special" car, and they figure I'll do anything, at any price, to get it fixed.
Could it be the Intake Manifold gasket causing all this stuff? I already bought an O2 sensor so I guess I will just have that installed along with whatever else gets done. Or should I wait, or what? Any advice on the gasket replacement job? I've been told a few different things by different mechanics, as usual. I thought the gasket set was just one pre-cut piece, but one guy says there are actually an upper and a lower piece and that I need to do both. He also says I need to have the coils replaced or something to that effect. I'm in an area where its tough to find a reliable, honest shop for some reason. Another problem seems to be that they see a guy coming with what they consider a "special" car, and they figure I'll do anything, at any price, to get it fixed.
If we know where you live, we can possibly direct you to somebody who can give you reliable advice - maybe even for free. You may also want to search the regional forums.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
There are individual gaskets for each runner, and no "upper and lower" like on many other engines. This points up why it's important to have someone who knows LS motors and operating systems advising you (basically anyone competent enough to work on 99 & up Chevy pickups).
If we know where you live, we can possibly direct you to somebody who can give you reliable advice - maybe even for free. You may also want to search the regional forums.
Best,
fastertransam
Last edited by fastertransam; Feb 2, 2020 at 01:13 AM.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
Yes, air entering the system from behind the MAF sensor would lean out the mix and could throw the code. (The Oxygen sensor could be sensing a condition different than the other sensors, including the MAF, would expect.)
If you are low on funds, I would hold back on the new O2 sensor. Change one thing at a time.
If you are low on funds, I would hold back on the new O2 sensor. Change one thing at a time.
Best,
fastertransam
Last edited by fastertransam; Feb 2, 2020 at 03:08 AM.
One thing at a time.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
It is a minimal labor job, but if you can get your money back for the part, it's worth saving your $150-$250. 99% of the time, it's a simple swap, but it is NOT without risk. The O2 sensor is under high heat and the threads have a special anti-seize compound to make sure they don't weld themselves to the headers and pipes. I had one where that didn't work... (Still not sure if a dealer doing a warranty repair took it off and didn't re-compound it or if it came from the factory with the defect.) The threads stripped when the old one came out and the 10 minute job turned into 6 hour job that required a $200 thread repair kit. (Which a mechanic would charge us back $400 for.)
The code doesn't tell you how things ARE. It tells you how things WERE. Your code means that at one point in time, the O2 sensor measured a lean condition in the exhaust. The car may be going into open loop or dumping more gas into the engine to compensate for that condition it found.
One thing at a time.
The code doesn't tell you how things ARE. It tells you how things WERE. Your code means that at one point in time, the O2 sensor measured a lean condition in the exhaust. The car may be going into open loop or dumping more gas into the engine to compensate for that condition it found.
One thing at a time.
It is been throwing codes related to the O2 sensor forever, and before the running rough weirdness. I’ve cleared the codes a zillion times and it keeps coming back with them, so its probably reasonable to think the O2 sensor is backed. I dunno. I think I could probably get it done along with the other work. But I hear you about the "one thing at a time" strategy. That’s good trouble shooting practice to figure out exactly what the problem really was. Maybe I’ll have them do the intake manifold, then check the car, and if it’s not running perfectly then do the O2 sensor. Or I guess it could go the other way around. But when the guy sprayed brake cleaner on the manifold it definitely made it miss, so there is something going on there.
The saga continues ha ha.
Best,
fastertransam
Last edited by fastertransam; Feb 3, 2020 at 03:04 AM.
