LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

misfire diagnosis help.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 30, 2007 | 02:00 PM
  #1  
transambandit's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Default misfire diagnosis help.

94 trans am pacesetter headers(with ERG/AIR emissions)/ory/borla meziere electric water pump, when i replaced the headers i installed new plugs and taylor OTVC wires. Has a brand new opti on it. I did a spark plug/wire test and all the wires are getting spark. Fuel pressure is perfect at 43 key in "on", idling drops 3 to a 40. I am getting a bad misfire at both idle and at acceleration. I have checked and double checked all of my wires and everything seems fine but i have no idea what the problem is, this is pissing me off, i finally get the damn opti replaced and i cant drive the damn thing because of the misfire.
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2007 | 04:35 PM
  #2  
transambandit's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Default

Anyone? Would it run that way because it needs a tune?
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2007 | 06:40 PM
  #3  
transambandit's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Default

Come on guys, give me some ideas, it has a brand new coil, would not have a LT4 knock module cause the misfires? I seem to be running sluggish like im running on 7 cylinders but every plug/wire looks good and are clamped in tight. Would bad O2's cause this? im not throwing any codes, would i need a tune or something? Come on guys im getting desperate here.
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2007 | 06:42 PM
  #4  
Formula350's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,564
Likes: 4
From: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
Default

Fuel filter, and yes the LTs usually cause a knock from clanging against stuff. O2s also would cause it. So many things to do, but w/o having it scanned and/or data logged, it's hard to tell.
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2007 | 07:25 PM
  #5  
transambandit's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Default

would the lack of an lt4 knock module cause it to run like this?
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2007 | 07:32 PM
  #6  
fergymoto's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (129)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,810
Likes: 3
From: Rock Hill, SC
Default

Check your firing order then check it another 3 times. Then go out in the dark and start it up and look for sparks, could have burnt a plug wire.
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2007 | 07:36 PM
  #7  
transambandit's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by fergymoto
Check your firing order then check it another 3 times. Then go out in the dark and start it up and look for sparks, could have burnt a plug wire.
yup, i have checked them multiple times, even pulling them all the way back out to see, before i replaced the opti the last time i checked at night and i was getting a spark off #8 at night, after the new opti install i checked it that same night and i got 0 sparks at all. Plugs/Wires look to be A-Ok so thats why i am stumped to hell.
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2007 | 11:47 PM
  #8  
transambandit's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Default

okay here is my plan, what i think is going on is i am getting a boat load of knocking which is screwing up my timing, so i have an LT4 knock sensor on the way which hopefully will smooth things out, but i think my main problem is that the car is dumping way too much fuel in, because i can smell it and it is really rich, plus the car will idle for about 15-20 minutes without any backfires or anything and then just dies like it gets flooded or something. So i will see how the knock sensor goes and then maybe try a tune here and see how that goes.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

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

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

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

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 12:03 AM
  #9  
infinitebird's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,280
Likes: 51
From: Denver, CO
Default

Some of you guys don't understand this lt4 KM thing. The lt4 knock module (not sensor btw) is something you can use to get rid of FALSE KNOCK, i.e. there's no real knock going on, the sensor just thinks there is and pulls timing. Basically, there is no problem with your engine, the knock sensor just creates an artificial problem.

If you have a misfire that you can actually hear/feel, then you have a real issue and an lt4 knock module will do absolutely zero to help you with that.

In summary, an lt4 knock module will not fix real engine problems. i.e. misfires, rough idleling, audible knocking, etc. The only thing an lt4 knock module will do is sometimes reduce knock retard due to a false knock condition, and even in that case it's usually less effective than tuning which is the better solution.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 12:08 AM
  #10  
GGPC's Avatar
Banned
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
Default

Did you set the timing to dead center zero when you put on the opti? Even though it is slotted and can only go on one way, The #1 cylinder needs to be all the way up. Old school way of doing it.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 12:12 AM
  #11  
mike2244's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: laporte/corpus christi
Default

i had the same problem on my dads lt1 and we found that one of the pins on the opti wire harness had pulled loose and was not seating properly. just some thing you might want to look at.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 02:11 AM
  #12  
transambandit's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by infinitebird
Some of you guys don't understand this lt4 KM thing. The lt4 knock module (not sensor btw) is something you can use to get rid of FALSE KNOCK, i.e. there's no real knock going on, the sensor just thinks there is and pulls timing. Basically, there is no problem with your engine, the knock sensor just creates an artificial problem.

If you have a misfire that you can actually hear/feel, then you have a real issue and an lt4 knock module will do absolutely zero to help you with that.

In summary, an lt4 knock module will not fix real engine problems. i.e. misfires, rough idleling, audible knocking, etc. The only thing an lt4 knock module will do is sometimes reduce knock retard due to a false knock condition, and even in that case it's usually less effective than tuning which is the better solution.
yes and the header install i did could very well show a boat load of false knocks thus causing the engine to run rough, i dont intend for it to fix the misfire, i believe the misfire is probably related to needing a tune because my car is running very very rich. But the LT4 will definitely help make the car run smoother if it is not sensing a butt load of knocks from the headers. Eventually i will get a tune but i want to do an LE2 or LE3 head/cam so i would waste my money doing a tune now, unless i buy my own software and tune it myself. that is.

Mike, thanks i will check out the opti harness tomorrow.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 02:13 AM
  #13  
transambandit's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by GGPC
Did you set the timing to dead center zero when you put on the opti? Even though it is slotted and can only go on one way, The #1 cylinder needs to be all the way up. Old school way of doing it.
Yes, this is my 3rd opti, the last one i was barely 1 tooth off and it would start but would not rev and the timing was way off, when i pulled the opti back off, the spindle was jammed so hard into the opti that it would spin but i couldnt pull it out from the opti. Now i made sure i marked and lined everything up and it slipped in, it starts up and runs just misfires like crazy. But im leaning towards it needing a tune badly.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 02:31 AM
  #14  
infinitebird's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,280
Likes: 51
From: Denver, CO
Default

Originally Posted by transambandit
yes and the header install i did could very well show a boat load of false knocks thus causing the engine to run rough, i dont intend for it to fix the misfire, i believe the misfire is probably related to needing a tune because my car is running very very rich. But the LT4 will definitely help make the car run smoother if it is not sensing a butt load of knocks from the headers. Eventually i will get a tune but i want to do an LE2 or LE3 head/cam so i would waste my money doing a tune now, unless i buy my own software and tune it myself. that is.

Mike, thanks i will check out the opti harness tomorrow.
well, again if your only problem was false knock, the only thing you would notice is that the car felt slow, like you didn't have much power, due to the timing being pulled. The lt4 km is a hit or miss thing even for that. Some people swear by it and say it helped them a lot, but others have said that they really didn't notice much difference. Not saying it's not a good mod, but some people put more stock in it than they should.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 11:25 PM
  #15  
transambandit's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Default

well i started it again tonight and looked ever so closely and i did notice i am getting a slight spark from #4 on the passenger side, so either that is my problem right there and it needs a new plug/wire or im still going to be up **** creek without a paddle. I do know that it is very close to the header there so maybe that is the problem.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:51 PM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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