fuel pump? optispark? something else? Help me out
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fuel pump? optispark? something else? Help me out
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?
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.