need some help!
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: kansas
need some help! Hey guys,
Recently, my car has been having a really bad idle, has trouble accelerating, and when I accelerate, black smoke comes out of the exhaust. The car vibrates really bad when it's in idle making the rpm needle do a little dance. When I accelerate, it stutters and sometimes I'll hear a loud pop from the exhaust.
Lots of misfiring and backfiring.
The black smoke is probably from burning oil but I don't know what's causing it.
Ever since I put on aftermarket headers, it seems that I've been experiencing problem after problem. If these problems I'm experiencing now go back to the headers, I think I'm going to go shoot myself.
(It hasn't been all bad, though. When everything's working fine, I feel like I'm on top of the world).
Recently, my car has been having a really bad idle, has trouble accelerating, and when I accelerate, black smoke comes out of the exhaust. The car vibrates really bad when it's in idle making the rpm needle do a little dance. When I accelerate, it stutters and sometimes I'll hear a loud pop from the exhaust.
Lots of misfiring and backfiring.
The black smoke is probably from burning oil but I don't know what's causing it.
Ever since I put on aftermarket headers, it seems that I've been experiencing problem after problem. If these problems I'm experiencing now go back to the headers, I think I'm going to go shoot myself.
(It hasn't been all bad, though. When everything's working fine, I feel like I'm on top of the world).
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 267
From: Halfway back on the Highway to Hell...again!
First, check for any burnt or melted wires from the headers. then, check the oil for water, milky white, and the coolant for oil. If no presence of either, then may not be a blown head gasket, but not ruled out. Mine is blown right now but is not in a water jacket or oil passage and we're still driving it, Just has a slight power loss (#8 cyl). Check the sides of the block for any fluids leaking from the cyl heads.
- check the PCV valve and any other possible vaccuum leaks.
- Scrape up a grand and get to work; Opti, plugs, wires, Ignition module (above the coil), new coil if original, buy MSD, O2's.
I'm not insinuating anything but you did hook the O2's back up, right? Also, did you replace the O2's to ensure no problems after header install.
One thing you can do is pull a couple or all the plugs, keep them in order to each cyl and tell us what they look like, white(lean), yellowish-orange(ok), real black(real rich), black, oily and large crustations on them(oil deposits).
If you need an Opti and don't have the correct tool, this site has a new full opti with the tools (deep E4 & T8 torx) www.impalasuperstore.com
- check the PCV valve and any other possible vaccuum leaks.
- Scrape up a grand and get to work; Opti, plugs, wires, Ignition module (above the coil), new coil if original, buy MSD, O2's.
I'm not insinuating anything but you did hook the O2's back up, right? Also, did you replace the O2's to ensure no problems after header install.
One thing you can do is pull a couple or all the plugs, keep them in order to each cyl and tell us what they look like, white(lean), yellowish-orange(ok), real black(real rich), black, oily and large crustations on them(oil deposits).
If you need an Opti and don't have the correct tool, this site has a new full opti with the tools (deep E4 & T8 torx) www.impalasuperstore.com
Last edited by SAPPER; Sep 24, 2004 at 06:20 AM.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: kansas
Everything was done right (as far as I could tell) after the header install (by the way, it was a year ago). The only problem was melted wires. I have since routed them over the valve covers.
No melted wires. I have not checked the oil for water or the coolant for oil.
No leaks from the cylinder heads.
No vacuum leaks.
Crap. I do not want to spend $1,000 to fix this problem. About a year and a half ago I had to replace the distributor and that wasn't money friendly. The ignition module and coil I've had since '96. Replaced the spark plug wires and plugs and o2 sensors when the headers were installed.
But I have been running rich since the header install. I'm pretty sure the plugs are black or close to it.
I have a feeling that I might need to be replacing the spark plugs and o2 sensor again... but I don't think that both would account for the black smoke. I took a look inside the exhaust pipes and they are covered with, for lack of a better word, "soot". Also, my exhaust tips are burnt.
This sucks. I've had to borrow my parents mini-van and drive it to get around.
No melted wires. I have not checked the oil for water or the coolant for oil.
No leaks from the cylinder heads.
No vacuum leaks.
Crap. I do not want to spend $1,000 to fix this problem. About a year and a half ago I had to replace the distributor and that wasn't money friendly. The ignition module and coil I've had since '96. Replaced the spark plug wires and plugs and o2 sensors when the headers were installed.
But I have been running rich since the header install. I'm pretty sure the plugs are black or close to it.
I have a feeling that I might need to be replacing the spark plugs and o2 sensor again... but I don't think that both would account for the black smoke. I took a look inside the exhaust pipes and they are covered with, for lack of a better word, "soot". Also, my exhaust tips are burnt.
This sucks. I've had to borrow my parents mini-van and drive it to get around.
Originally Posted by Flamed350
first check the plugs, then go to the 02 sensors, then if both of those are ok, i'd guess the opti. sounds more like the opti than anything especially with no burnt wires
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: kansas
Okay, update:
Thankfully, it wasn't my opti that went out. As it turns out, all the tips of my spark plugs on the right side of the engine were pitch black. I'm not sure what the cause was, but when I checked the o2 sensor on that side, the wires were exposed and scratched up pretty bad. They've been replaced and now it runs really good. I even got the computer tuned so that the car doesn't run rich any more.
Unfortunately, one solved problem begets another unsolved problem. I'm running an "SES" light. When I checked the computer for codes after the o2 and plugs switch, it wasn't throwing any codes. I haven't checked it since the SES light but if anyone reading this post knows why that light is shining down on me, please let me know!
Thankfully, it wasn't my opti that went out. As it turns out, all the tips of my spark plugs on the right side of the engine were pitch black. I'm not sure what the cause was, but when I checked the o2 sensor on that side, the wires were exposed and scratched up pretty bad. They've been replaced and now it runs really good. I even got the computer tuned so that the car doesn't run rich any more.
Unfortunately, one solved problem begets another unsolved problem. I'm running an "SES" light. When I checked the computer for codes after the o2 and plugs switch, it wasn't throwing any codes. I haven't checked it since the SES light but if anyone reading this post knows why that light is shining down on me, please let me know!
