automatic TPI 350 no power
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 90
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From: Vegas
Car: 1989 Chevy Camaro IROC Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Stock
automatic TPI 350 no power
Hi guys, I just bought a new 1989 IROC and I'm starting the trouble shooting process. It is having a bit of a strange issue. It is behaving like an absolute dog. It idles ok, however it seems not to hit right through the rpm range. Also after driving for about 15 min, it continues to run rougher until stalling out on deceleration or while at full lock. The steering is also fairly heavy. It has a new L98 crate motor and new injectors.
here is my Plan
1) replace spark system (off old motor with 225k)
2) check spark plug gap
3) adjust timing
3.5) check power steering fluid
4) check fuel pressure
5) ensure that injectors are not miss wired.
6) replace EGR
beyond that do you guys have any suggestions? I know the Smog diagrams for this car like the back of my hand, and everything seemed perfect. I also sprayed starter fluid around the intake, RPMs stayed steady which makes me think the intake manifold is mated to the block correctly. I also listened with a tube for vacuum leaks and heard nothing.
Suggestions?
Edit: I did have a manual before TPI 305, So I have never worked on an automatic. If there is anything I should know, assume I'm ignorant. I heard it may also be the torque converter or the auto's vacuum line.
here is my Plan
1) replace spark system (off old motor with 225k)
2) check spark plug gap
3) adjust timing
3.5) check power steering fluid
4) check fuel pressure
5) ensure that injectors are not miss wired.
6) replace EGR
beyond that do you guys have any suggestions? I know the Smog diagrams for this car like the back of my hand, and everything seemed perfect. I also sprayed starter fluid around the intake, RPMs stayed steady which makes me think the intake manifold is mated to the block correctly. I also listened with a tube for vacuum leaks and heard nothing.
Suggestions?
Edit: I did have a manual before TPI 305, So I have never worked on an automatic. If there is anything I should know, assume I'm ignorant. I heard it may also be the torque converter or the auto's vacuum line.
Last edited by Mayt13; 05-31-2014 at 03:10 AM.
#3
Senior Member
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 823
Likes: 1
From: erlangen, Germany
Car: 1991 Z28 1LE
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
Great looking car!
Your list looks good to me, I would go ahead and give it a full tune up with new fuel filter and air filter, and it's never a bad idea to change all fluids on a newly purchased vehicle.
When it stalls out will it start right up again?
Your list looks good to me, I would go ahead and give it a full tune up with new fuel filter and air filter, and it's never a bad idea to change all fluids on a newly purchased vehicle.
When it stalls out will it start right up again?
#7
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Vegas
Car: 1989 Chevy Camaro IROC Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
I'll do that. May be a fuel filter now that I think on it.
After it stalls out, it will start, but the RPMs drop until it dies. You can keep it running by giving it gass (which seems like a lack of spark or fuel to me).
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#8
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Vegas
Car: 1989 Chevy Camaro IROC Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Stock
#9
Senior Member
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 823
Likes: 1
From: erlangen, Germany
Car: 1991 Z28 1LE
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
Thanks! It was a really great find. I only paid $2800! xD
I'll do that. May be a fuel filter now that I think on it.
After it stalls out, it will start, but the RPMs drop until it dies. You can keep it running by giving it gass (which seems like a lack of spark or fuel to me).
I'll do that. May be a fuel filter now that I think on it.
After it stalls out, it will start, but the RPMs drop until it dies. You can keep it running by giving it gass (which seems like a lack of spark or fuel to me).
I would do the tune up with the things on your list and check fuel pressure when the sympto s start.
#10
Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Car: 1989 Camaro Iroc Z
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt Borg Warner/ 2.77 gear
#11
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Vegas
Car: 1989 Chevy Camaro IROC Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
Update:
Just changed out the entire spark system, still running rough and having no power under load. Will check fuel filter then fuel pressure and report back.
Thanks for the input.
Just changed out the entire spark system, still running rough and having no power under load. Will check fuel filter then fuel pressure and report back.
Thanks for the input.
#13
Senior Member
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 823
Likes: 1
From: erlangen, Germany
Car: 1991 Z28 1LE
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
I had a tbi car a few years ago that the previous owner had done the timing, but with the EST wire still connected so it ran like garbage.
#14
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Vegas
Car: 1989 Chevy Camaro IROC Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
Coil, wires, rotor, cap and re - gaped plugs to .35, also timed it to about 15 degrees advanced, where my last camaro ran best.
#15
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 90
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From: Vegas
Car: 1989 Chevy Camaro IROC Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Stock
#17
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
Make sure the egr valve isn't open at low engine speed, this will cause it to stall/run rough. It could be the egr control solenoid is allowing vacuum through.
Make sure the timing advances when you rev it.
Check the ecm grounds, these are at the back of the engine.
Make sure the timing advances when you rev it.
Check the ecm grounds, these are at the back of the engine.
#18
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Vegas
Car: 1989 Chevy Camaro IROC Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
Update:
OK so I just changed the fuel filter (which he had in backwards), and checked the fuel pressure. The fuel pressure seemed fine. 42 ish while idling and 36 ish when revved. Stayed at 46 with the regulator disconnected. Seems congruent with what I have seen on previous threads. Checked the injectors, none are sticking. Now I'm letting it idle with a tone of injector cleaner in to see if that helps.
OK so I just changed the fuel filter (which he had in backwards), and checked the fuel pressure. The fuel pressure seemed fine. 42 ish while idling and 36 ish when revved. Stayed at 46 with the regulator disconnected. Seems congruent with what I have seen on previous threads. Checked the injectors, none are sticking. Now I'm letting it idle with a tone of injector cleaner in to see if that helps.
#19
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Vegas
Car: 1989 Chevy Camaro IROC Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
With the way the wiring harness is designed, the injectors leads for any two adjacent cylinders leave the harness at the same point, making it difficult to tell. When I swapped the injectors on my last iroc, I took a sharpie and wrote the cylinder number on the lead.
#20
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 98
From: Huntsville AL
Car: 88GTA
Engine: 5.7TPI
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
"Now I'm letting it idle with a tone of injector cleaner in to see if that helps."
You said earlier you had "brand new" injectors from O' Riellys ??????
You said earlier you had "brand new" injectors from O' Riellys ??????
#21
Supreme Member
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,178
Likes: 46
From: Tracy, CA
Car: '87 IROC
Engine: LB9
Transmission: TH700R4
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
Mixed up connectors shouldn't be an issue. Unless they somehow got swapped over to the opposite side of the engine, which is unlikely.
#22
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Vegas
Car: 1989 Chevy Camaro IROC Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
The fuel filter was in backwards, idk if it even works backwards. And he was trying to run it on 3 year old gas. God knows what might have gotten into them. Just trying to eliminate all possible factors.
#23
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Vegas
Car: 1989 Chevy Camaro IROC Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
I just read this in the injector swap article, can someone post a tech article on how this works? How can all injectors on one bank be fired simultaneously if not all the pistons are at bdc for their intake stroke. Doesn't that cause bogging the same way improperly timed spark would?
#24
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Vegas
Car: 1989 Chevy Camaro IROC Z28
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: automatic TPI 350 no power
Update:
With the EGR plugged off. It runs, but just barely. It still had no power and has trouble off launch.
To date I have:
1) replaced the entire spark system
2) timed it (roughly, about 10 degrees advanced)
3) changed the fuel filter and ran injector cleaner through it
4) I checked the pcv valve, it's fine (not relevant to the lack of power)
I have ordered new K&N air filters, will install them tomorrow and check the exhaust pressure before the cats to make sure their not clogged.
Other than that I will have to check the TCS (revving with a timing light, making sure it advances), do a tap test on the ecm and check it's ground. And change the EGR, if that doesn't solve it. Other than that, I'm out of ideas. Suggestions?
With the EGR plugged off. It runs, but just barely. It still had no power and has trouble off launch.
To date I have:
1) replaced the entire spark system
2) timed it (roughly, about 10 degrees advanced)
3) changed the fuel filter and ran injector cleaner through it
4) I checked the pcv valve, it's fine (not relevant to the lack of power)
I have ordered new K&N air filters, will install them tomorrow and check the exhaust pressure before the cats to make sure their not clogged.
Other than that I will have to check the TCS (revving with a timing light, making sure it advances), do a tap test on the ecm and check it's ground. And change the EGR, if that doesn't solve it. Other than that, I'm out of ideas. Suggestions?
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