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

open loop (idiot mode)

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Old Feb 26, 2008 | 01:13 AM
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Default open loop (idiot mode)

what sensors/problems would cause my car to run in limp home mode after a stall?

ive replaced :

MAP sensor
coil
ICM
IAC
plugs
wires are new except one of them is heat cracked
fuel filter is fairly new but not hung on its clamp
TPS is about 8-10 months old
i cleaned the MAF because i had a K&N
EGR is new but im starting to wonder about the solenoid

im stumped. i swapped out my O2s (bosch) for my old oem ones that were sitting and it still stalls right after start up/once every drive cycle at a random idle. also the starter started grinding and spinning freely sometimes after this it goes into limp home mode and ive been driving it like this for weeks.

could the battery being 7 years old and still holding 13 volts cause it? i heard the ampage could diminish after a few years.

or the VSS?

coolant temp sensor?

Last edited by Revelation Z28; Feb 26, 2008 at 01:21 AM.
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Old Feb 26, 2008 | 01:42 AM
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are you saying this only happens in open loop?
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Old Feb 26, 2008 | 02:35 AM
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no, whatever is causing this is making the car switch back into open loop when it tries to go to closed. but only if i drive it. cold start it wont die no matter that i do, only if i drive.
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Old Feb 26, 2008 | 03:07 AM
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Open Loop is NOT Limp Mode. Unless they changed how Limp Mode is after 93 . . . Limp mode is your car is LITERALLY limping. You can't give it gas with out it falling on it's face. Imagine breaking both legs, and crawling home by dragging yourself with your arms. That's the equivalent

Anyways, a bad PCM/ECM is what'll throw a car into Limp Mode. On an ECM, remove the whole EPROM and you'll see what Limp Mode is all about.

That one wire could be bad, not sure. The starter sounds like it's got it's own gremlins, and the battery SHOULD be fine, but it shouldn't have 13vs. I think they're 12.4v. So, alternator could be overcharging. It'd have to be way overcharging I'd think to throw the whole system out of whack.

Last edited by Formula350; Feb 26, 2008 at 03:12 AM.
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Old Feb 26, 2008 | 03:52 AM
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alternator is new and isnt bad.

im thinking coolant temp sensor or o2 sensors.
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Old Feb 26, 2008 | 05:23 AM
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Did you connect a scanner and check for codes? There are some codes that will not trigger the SES light. Does the light come on during the "key on" lamp test?
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Old Feb 26, 2008 | 07:07 AM
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My car was acting stupid as hell after I did my header install... did some research and found out it was the o2 sensors... so I just unplugged them and keep it in "open loop" and it did the trick untill I could buy new ones.

check your o2s
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Old Feb 26, 2008 | 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Revelation Z28
alternator is new and isnt bad.

im thinking coolant temp sensor or o2 sensors.
Well the PCM knows when to go into closed loop off the engine temp. So that is plausable.

o2's would be a good thing to test. But not sure if the o2 would be able to make it go back into open loop (far as i kno, they won't).
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