LeoR2

Alright everyone, I need some help. Hopefully someone can help me look over these pictures and see if they can spot some abnormalities or worn out parts. In short, this is the engine bay of my 1998 Trans Am. It is my first car and I've been stoked to be it's owner. I love this car but I've been feeling it a bit week recently. Does anyone notice anything worn out or something out of place? Also if anyone has a great order to start adding performance mods I would like to know considering I want to start building up power because it's all stock. Thanks for your help and please comment if you see anything out of place or worn out or performance mods I should add! Please and thank you!

Nathan C

Any warning lights? It could be time for some normal maintenance like spark plugs, fuel filter, ect.

LeoR2

actually there are some, there's a red one with a box and an arrow pointing down into it. I have no idea what it is and I also get the low oil light. But it's weird because it turns on and off constantly. Any ideas on these two issues?

lsx4thewin

First, congrats on your car!
I would definitely do the normal maintenance like someone above suggested. What part of Texas are you from?

LeoR2

Im about an hour out from Houston if that makes sense somewhat but thanks for the congrats! As far as that maintenance I've changed the spark plugs, motor oil/filter, front brake pads and hardware(still squeak for some reason), and I've cleaned a few parts

JD_AMG

Take a picture of the said "red box" light and post it on here. Sounds like a battery light?

As for the car feeling weak, are you putting premium (91 or 93) gas in it?

Have you cleaned your MAF?

Oil low light might be a lose connection or a worn wire. You can see the sensor when you are under the car on the passenger side attached to the oil pan, its a yellowish block.

edit: forgot, everything looks normal except there is something by your fuse box, aftermarket alarm?

LeoR2

​​​​​​Well I only pump 93 Octane into the car, I don't really know how to clean the MAF and the little red tube is for the subwoofers in the car. As far as the light, I don't have the car with me right now so I can't get the photo til tomorrow

bammax

Low coolant light
https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-maintenance-repairs/1448015-low-coolant-light-keeps-coming.html

The low oil level light could be from low oil or a bad connector on the sensor or a bad sensor. Check the dipstick after the engine is warmed up and see what it says to get started on the path to answers.
​​​​

lsx4thewin

I also always do a transmission flush, but you could at least look and make sure it is fine.

LeoR2

what is a transmission flush? 😯

LeoR2

ill check the connector tomorrow... About the coolant... My coolant dipstick or whatever is weird. It's attached to the cap and I can never tell if there's any coolant or not

JD_AMG

Good. You can also try dumping a can of seafoam in the gas tank, that should clean the injectors and the combustion chambers some.
If you are really feeling adventurous you can try adding seafoam to the intake (follow the instructions! You could hydro lock if you do it wrong).

Buy MAF cleaner at the store, remove MAF, spray MAF with MAF cleaner, put MAF back on.

LeoR2

I'll put some seafoam in the gas tank and add some MAF cleaner for sure. As far as the intake goes... I feel like that's a little risky. So just dump the seafoam in at any gas level?

JD_AMG

It will say on the can how much seafoam per gas tank level. Something like a full can for a full tank of gas roughly.

LeoR2

​what happens if I put in more than i should
​​​​​​

JD_AMG

Within reason(not like you are dumping 10 cans into an empty gas tank), probably nothing.

LeoR2

Ok so nothing to worry about... Now I have another problem and I need help on figuring it out... So I used to have some play in my steering wheel/column... It would move up and down when I bumped it either way but it would go up right or down left... One day when I tried to turn it on it would not turn over what so ever and when I had someone take a look at it they completely disassembled it under the dash and said my steering column is no good and now I turn it on with a little hook thing and I insert it into a yellow box... I have a donor car and I was wondering how do I get what I need from the second car?(how do I remove the steering column?) If pictures will help clarify this ask for pictures because I need to take the steering column out of the donor car asap. Any idea on how to remove it?

Ghostinthemachine

If you put to much in it will coat everything in a white hard chalk like substance (alkalinity)
Spark plugs Valves,Piston top Stdby i have a picture
A little is good
A little more does not make it gooder

Ghostinthemachine

LeoR2

I've been looking for an answer to this question but haven't found one yet... How much seafoam in a full tank of gas?