Ignition issue....?
01-03-11, 03:09 PM
#1
Ignition issue....?
1985 gs...stock (12a)
new coils, plugs, relatively new wires, cap, rotor, battery, starter wire (red lead) and ground wire to battery
strut tower ground checked, sanded down, and reattached.
new starter and alternator
The problem is that the car would lose power....intermittently. Not total power, just some (power as in hp, or whatnot). It would max out around 45 mph or so, then all of a sudden regain the power as if all plugs were not firing.
Not only this, but the rpms dropped significantly to about 500, and now it will stall out. I ended up raising the idle to counter this to run the car and test things.
Now it's where it doesn't have the power ever, always seems like its running on one rotor or something of the sort. It's getting fuel, but doesnt seem to be burning it all. Plugs were relatively dark but not fouled (all 4 seem to be firing). Coils are perfect, and I am in the process of checking the igniters.
Could this be an electrical ground problem? Or something in the distributor like the rotor? If I do take the cap off of the distributor, what are the tell tale signs of a problem in the dizzy? Wear on the edges of the rotor?.
Any help is great, thanks guys
new coils, plugs, relatively new wires, cap, rotor, battery, starter wire (red lead) and ground wire to battery
strut tower ground checked, sanded down, and reattached.
new starter and alternator
The problem is that the car would lose power....intermittently. Not total power, just some (power as in hp, or whatnot). It would max out around 45 mph or so, then all of a sudden regain the power as if all plugs were not firing.
Not only this, but the rpms dropped significantly to about 500, and now it will stall out. I ended up raising the idle to counter this to run the car and test things.
Now it's where it doesn't have the power ever, always seems like its running on one rotor or something of the sort. It's getting fuel, but doesnt seem to be burning it all. Plugs were relatively dark but not fouled (all 4 seem to be firing). Coils are perfect, and I am in the process of checking the igniters.
Could this be an electrical ground problem? Or something in the distributor like the rotor? If I do take the cap off of the distributor, what are the tell tale signs of a problem in the dizzy? Wear on the edges of the rotor?.
Any help is great, thanks guys
Last edited by dankekong; 01-03-11 at 03:23 PM. Reason: left out detail
01-03-11, 05:12 PM
#4
Waffles - hmmm good
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Sounds like leading plugs are not firing. This based on the description mostly.
How do you know the plugs are all firing? Did you try pulling one plug wire at a
time to see if it affects the running engine. Thats the easiest way I know to find
a dead plug if it at least runs. Have someone keep it running by giving it gas and
try removing each leading plug one at a time. If neither affects the way it runs then
one or both are not firing.
How do you know the plugs are all firing? Did you try pulling one plug wire at a
time to see if it affects the running engine. Thats the easiest way I know to find
a dead plug if it at least runs. Have someone keep it running by giving it gas and
try removing each leading plug one at a time. If neither affects the way it runs then
one or both are not firing.
01-03-11, 09:38 PM
#6
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1985 gs...stock (12a)
new coils, plugs, relatively new wires, cap, rotor, battery, starter wire (red lead) and ground wire to battery
strut tower ground checked, sanded down, and reattached.
new starter and alternator
The problem is that the car would lose power....intermittently. Not total power, just some (power as in hp, or whatnot). It would max out around 45 mph or so, then all of a sudden regain the power as if all plugs were not firing.
Not only this, but the rpms dropped significantly to about 500, and now it will stall out. I ended up raising the idle to counter this to run the car and test things.
Now it's where it doesn't have the power ever, always seems like its running on one rotor or something of the sort. It's getting fuel, but doesnt seem to be burning it all. Plugs were relatively dark but not fouled (all 4 seem to be firing). Coils are perfect, and I am in the process of checking the igniters.
Could this be an electrical ground problem? Or something in the distributor like the rotor? If I do take the cap off of the distributor, what are the tell tale signs of a problem in the dizzy? Wear on the edges of the rotor?.
Any help is great, thanks guys
new coils, plugs, relatively new wires, cap, rotor, battery, starter wire (red lead) and ground wire to battery
strut tower ground checked, sanded down, and reattached.
new starter and alternator
The problem is that the car would lose power....intermittently. Not total power, just some (power as in hp, or whatnot). It would max out around 45 mph or so, then all of a sudden regain the power as if all plugs were not firing.
Not only this, but the rpms dropped significantly to about 500, and now it will stall out. I ended up raising the idle to counter this to run the car and test things.
Now it's where it doesn't have the power ever, always seems like its running on one rotor or something of the sort. It's getting fuel, but doesnt seem to be burning it all. Plugs were relatively dark but not fouled (all 4 seem to be firing). Coils are perfect, and I am in the process of checking the igniters.
Could this be an electrical ground problem? Or something in the distributor like the rotor? If I do take the cap off of the distributor, what are the tell tale signs of a problem in the dizzy? Wear on the edges of the rotor?.
Any help is great, thanks guys
new TPS, and viola, like new.
fuel pump might be worth a test too.
01-04-11, 12:14 AM
#7
tps?
we had one come into the dealership in 2007, that intermittently did what you describe. it took a while to figure out WTF it was doing but it turned out that the TPS was bad, and would close the shutter valve, thus running on 1 rotor.
new TPS, and viola, like new.
fuel pump might be worth a test too.
new TPS, and viola, like new.
fuel pump might be worth a test too.
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01-04-11, 12:16 AM
#8
plugs
Sounds like leading plugs are not firing. This based on the description mostly.
How do you know the plugs are all firing? Did you try pulling one plug wire at a
time to see if it affects the running engine. Thats the easiest way I know to find
a dead plug if it at least runs. Have someone keep it running by giving it gas and
try removing each leading plug one at a time. If neither affects the way it runs then
one or both are not firing.
How do you know the plugs are all firing? Did you try pulling one plug wire at a
time to see if it affects the running engine. Thats the easiest way I know to find
a dead plug if it at least runs. Have someone keep it running by giving it gas and
try removing each leading plug one at a time. If neither affects the way it runs then
one or both are not firing.
01-04-11, 12:35 AM
#9
You could get one of those see through testers that go between the plug and the plug wire to check for power.
01-04-11, 06:49 AM
#13
Waffles - hmmm good
iTrader: (1)
for wires. Its not that bad if you get shocked anyway. Man up!
BTW, theres no TPS on our cars except maybe for the GSL-SE which you don't
have.
01-04-11, 09:13 AM
#14
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01-05-11, 11:31 AM
#20
Waffles - hmmm good
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Have you been able to check the spark when it actually is acting like this?
Cause it sounds like when it loses power and won't go over 45 that its just
running on the trailing or one rotor.
So heres the things it could be from minor to major:
1. Just flooding out for some reason. Do the de-flood procedure to make sure thats not the issue.
2. Rats nest issue of some sort. If you still have all the emissions crap on there it could be messing with you.
3. A stuck seal. Letting it warm up and revving to 4 or 5 k should fix it. Seafoam can't hurt either.
4. Spark issues. Check cap rotor and wires. Sounds like wires are crap already.
5. Failing ignitor(s). They usually start failing once the car gets hot and work fine when cold. FSM has procedure for checking.
6. Lost compression on one or both rotors in some fashion. Do the ghetto compression check and see if all faces bounce to the same values on both rotors.
01-05-11, 05:44 PM
#23
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1. Just flooding out for some reason. Do the de-flood procedure to make sure thats not the issue.
2. Rats nest issue of some sort. If you still have all the emissions crap on there it could be messing with you.
3. A stuck seal. Letting it warm up and revving to 4 or 5 k should fix it. Seafoam can't hurt either.
4. Spark issues. Check cap rotor and wires. Sounds like wires are crap already.
5. Failing ignitor(s). They usually start failing once the car gets hot and work fine when cold. FSM has procedure for checking.
6. Lost compression on one or both rotors in some fashion. Do the ghetto compression check and see if all faces bounce to the same values on both rotors.
01-06-11, 02:27 AM
#24
I've swapped igniters, unfortunately to no avail. I will check them this weekend. Unfortunately, the issue I'm having is and has been 100% of the time (last few weeks) so unfortunately revving the motor or letting it get warm doesn't help
01-06-11, 08:35 AM
#25
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Pull you exhaust manifold and check to see that all the apex seals move (hand turn the motor)- just push them with a finger, etc. Any rough feeling and you might have a sticking seal.