Sidewinder Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 I've been having this issue for about a week now. It started out when I first got the dual exhaust on and the engine started to hesitate and lurch when you try to accelerate quickly, it also seems to do it after I make left hand turns. I decided to wait a week and see if it was just the computer having issues with the higher exhaust flow, but it is still doing it. I'm starting to wonder if my tranny is slipping and missing gears, which isn't a great sign as it seems to only do it when its shifting gears. Anyone got any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwk39018 Posted June 10, 2008 Report Share Posted June 10, 2008 year,engine and model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidewinder Posted June 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2008 Bah, can anyone tell me why my sig isn't working? Its a '96 Lumina with a 3100 in it. My buddy suggested unplugging the battery and letting the PCM reset and relearn everything, he thinks with the better exhaust flow the engine is sucking in more air than the computer is giving for fuel. Edit: Ok The text works but the picture doesn't Edit 2: Alright I got it working somehow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutlessSupreme Posted June 10, 2008 Report Share Posted June 10, 2008 I highly doubt that adding your dual exhaust added any kind of significant exhaust flow that would even remotely screw up the computer, but hey give it a shot lol. '96 has two O2 sensors for OBD2 right? check the one on the exhaust pipe, maybe it got fubared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidewinder Posted June 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Alright, I'm starting to agree that it isn't the exhaust, because the problem has got worse, not better. I actually had to throw my hazards on and drive really slow on the way home today because it wouldn't accelerate with brutally stumbling and lurching. I would think that if the computer had to change anything it wouldn't get worse. Someone on another board suggested a pinched fuel line, which could be possible. The other option is I have a fuel leak somewhere and it doesn't have pressure, they only thing that makes me think that is the needle on the gas gauge seems to be flying around a lot more than it normally does. I'm not entirely sure, but it looks like I will need to bring her into my mechanic tomorrow and see what he thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z34-5speed Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Sounds like a wicked mis-fire to me, check your plugs and wires. Any codes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidewinder Posted June 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Those were replaced recently as well, but I could have bad ones all the same. As for codes, I have no way to check them, and none of the lights have shown up on the dash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z34-5speed Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 What kind of plugs did you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidewinder Posted June 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 I'll have to figure that out tomorrow, because I don't recall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z34-5speed Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 The reason i ask is if you used one of those fancy type plugs, Bosche for example, they could cause the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidewinder Posted June 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Well the engine almost died on me today while I was out. I limped over to my mechanic being as gentle as I could with it. Well, misfire wasn't far off... The Ignition Control Module is knocking on death's door, and its going to cost me a wonderful $350 to replace (just for the part). Right now I got the car parked in my driveway and I'm trying to decide what to do with it. My mechanic told me not to drive it as it could damage the motor (if it already hasn't) and could also be dangerous if it dies while I'm on the road. Thanks for the help guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Your mechanic is an idiot. A malfunctioning ignition control module a) costs $50 TOPS at the junkyard (which is where I got mine when I had to replace it on my old car, worked fine, just pull one from a wrecked car that was known to run well) won't cause engine damage and c) isn't dangerous if it dies while driving unless you're a moron and can't shift the car into neutral, stop, and restart the car. Fix it yourself. You have a 3100, correct? It's easy as hell to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidewinder Posted June 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 Your mechanic is an idiot. A malfunctioning ignition control module a) costs $50 TOPS at the junkyard (which is where I got mine when I had to replace it on my old car, worked fine, just pull one from a wrecked car that was known to run well) won't cause engine damage and c) isn't dangerous if it dies while driving unless you're a moron and can't shift the car into neutral, stop, and restart the car. Fix it yourself. You have a 3100, correct? It's easy as hell to do. 1) My mechanic is not an idiot, in fact he is one of the best people I know and has done alot of stuff for me for free. 2) That was still on the option table, that is a NEW ignition control module, which by the way is Canadian prices and all of our parts seem to be drastically more than you guys have to pay. 3) The engine is backfiring, I think he meant damage to the exhaust, ok granted he may be wrong but I still agree that I shouldn't driving it while its lurching and stumbling like crazy. (I forget exactly what I said, so thats my fault). 4) Perhaps my car dies in an intersection while I am turning left? The fact that the car could die and possibly cause an accident if say I'm on a busy road is enough to classify as dangerous. He is looking out for my well being and I'm glad he does. That was his concern was that someone else would run into to me, but glad to see you care. My mechanic is a good friend of mine, and I know he is not trying to screw me, he laid it out for me what was wrong and what I could do and he told me to drive it home safe and decide what I want to do and let him know. He figured I should put a new one in because my engine and car are in such good shape. If you think he is trying to screw me, I actually agree with him, and he waved all the fees for looking at the car and checking to see what was wrong today. Needless to say I'm still figuring out what I'm going to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 OK, so I got carried away. There are just too many mechanics that are out to screw you on jobs that can be done easily yourself. In this case, I think you could do this yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 No one said it was a good idea to keep driving it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ns87 Posted June 12, 2008 Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 OK, so I got carried away. There are just too many mechanics that are out to screw you on jobs that can be done easily yourself. In this case, I think you could do this yourself. I agree! I replaced mine, and on my engine its below the front exhaust Yours is right on top. It shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to install Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidewinder Posted June 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2008 I apologize if I came off harsh, he is a good friend of mine so I need to defend him. Its also been a long day as you could imagine so that doesn't help. Anyway, it is true that there are a lot of shoddy mechanics out there, I was lucky enough to find one that isn't, so thanks for looking out for me. That aside I have a few options. The new route seems kind of lame at this point, it will kill any hope of me doing anything this summer to it. The thing with spending $350 for a new module is that I found an engine with accessories for $450 with only 11k on it, and I may as well get the new engine. The junkyard option at this point seems to be the best. I'm thinking about going down to a yard south of me for their $50 all you can carry parts day. If I do that I'm going to grab the module, possibly the HUD and DIC I want to install and a top swap for the engine. Just have to bring a friend with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfewtrail Posted June 13, 2008 Report Share Posted June 13, 2008 If at all possible, buy the module and replace it yourself. Here in the US, you can buy lifetime warrantied ignition modules for $80-90. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidewinder Posted June 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 Well, the ICM did the trick! It also fixed a couple other problems I was having (like the poor idle, although the seafoam helped that out too). Car is running like an absolute champ now, I actually spun the tires today. So glad its back on the road WOOOOO!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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