OldsCrazy Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 I have a 95 Cutlass with a 3.4 DOHC and it started running rought one day after I washed the engine. It ran good for about 4 miles and then started running rough, it has no power and and I found I had water in the 2, 4, 6, blew out the water replaced the plugs and now help. I have noticed that the catalytic coverter gets smoking almost red hot. Thinking it was it I replaced it with no help. Replaced the cam sensor, no help. I plulled 2, 4, 6 wires one at a time and the car ran worse (if that is possible) so for me that rules out the wires and coil pack. I did check the rear plug wires but I didn't get any water back there. Does anyone have any ideas of what this could be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 God I fought similar issues for a while. I made myself up a long nozzle, pulled the plug wires out, left the plugs in, and hit it with air for like 5 minutes straight (be sure to have a dryer in your air line, or else it won't help). Next, I then completely dried the plug wires (cotton swaps to reach up inside the plug wire helped, but even something alcohol based that evaporates quickly will help too). No check engine light? Have you scanned for codes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Another suggestion, based on past experiences, start unplugging sensors and look for any moisture trapped in the sensor or the plug. Dry them out, and put a dab of dielectric grease to keep water out. Disconnect the battery and do the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 does the cat still glow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 I pulled 2, 4, 6 wires one at a time and the car ran worse (if that is possible) so for me that rules out the wires and coil pack. I did check the rear plug wires but I didn't get any water back there. Does anyone have any ideas of what this could be? I still think your problem is on cylinder 1 3 or 5... Because if its running rough, its probably misfiring... And if it runs worse with 2 4 or 6 disconnected, that means 2 cylinders are misfiring at a time... Im just thinking out loud here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 I pulled 2, 4, 6 wires one at a time and the car ran worse (if that is possible) so for me that rules out the wires and coil pack. I did check the rear plug wires but I didn't get any water back there. Does anyone have any ideas of what this could be? I still think your problem is on cylinder 1 3 or 5... Because if its running rough, its probably misfiring... And if it runs worse with 2 4 or 6 disconnected, that means 2 cylinders are misfiring at a time... Im just thinking out loud here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldsCrazy Posted September 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 The cat is still very hot, I did pull the wires on 2, 4, 6 (front of motor) and blew them out with air and this week I used contact cleaner just in case of water still in there. I have pulled all sensor wires and as I pull them I get a check engine light with each one so I assume they are working. I did a scan and it is not throwing any codes at all. I pulled the connectors off the coil pack and sensors and no water or corrosion. 1, 3, 5 did not get wet at all, and I did disconnect the battery for an hour to see if it would reset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 your cat should only get glowing when it's plugged, you have a LOT of fuel running through it, or your timing is VERY retarded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 My cat/exhaust glowed red on the Cutlass when I had a severe misfire and drove it home. I don't know if the cat is clogged but it doesn't have any power loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 your cat should only get glowing when it's plugged, you have a LOT of fuel running through it, or your timing is VERY retarded. I bet it's the excess unburned fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Right its misfiring... I bet either coils or icm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Protip: :Leave the car running when washing the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldsCrazy Posted September 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 I was thinking it was the coil pack but I did a poor job of washing it because it is still dirty. I pulled the wires on 2, 4, and 6 and the car did run worse so I didn't think it is the wires. I hate to buy more wires because they are so expensive. I know it will be something silly.. Thanks, Oldscrazy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 I accidently did this with our Buick once, washing the engine. I never figured out if it was the ICM or one of the coils, because I had the whole unit in spares, and replaced it all. I'd bet it is one or the other, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldsCrazy Posted September 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 What is the ICM and do you know where it is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 Its what the coils mount to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldsCrazy Posted September 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2010 Thank you to all that helped, it is fixed and running great. I replaced the front plug wires but no help so I removed the fans and coil packs and found water in and on the far right coil and terminals. I replaced all 3 coils and the ICM unit from one I picked up off an Impala. I ended up putting some dielectric silicone on the coil terminals to stop this problem from happening again. It is running better than it did and has a lot more pep, I would say that is due to replacing the catalytic converter because the other one was a lot heavier than the one I installed so it may have been partially plugged. Thanks for all your help. OldsCrazy again...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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