Fun time today! Sudden rough running and check engine light (Page 2/2)
ArthurPeale SEP 12, 05:26 PM

quote
Originally posted by Xenoblast:


I second this. My engine used to be 30 degrees retarded when i first got it, and it didn't feel any different then it does now except maybe some more torque on the low end. I only checked it out of curiosity. And my headers did glow red after only 2-3 minutes of running in diag mode.

It didn't idle on its own in diag mode, so i had a friend keep on the gas while i turned the distributor until it idled on its own. I then had him help me set it more precisely.

the reason why i know it was 30 degrees retarded is because it showed 10 degrees of timing out of diag mode, so the previous owner must of skipped grounding the connector




Luckily, I picked up a timing light last summer. Yard sale find, five bucks.

WITHOUT the paperclip in place, it was reading ~10 degrees. WITH it in place...I couldn't even see the line, at all.

No wonder it was running like garbage with the paperclip in place.

I'm just amazed that the computer was able to compensate for things being so far off.

After I pulled the paper clip, it was COMPLETE GARBAGE, of course - the computer had old values to deal with.

Pulled the battery cable for a bit, went for a drive...I'll have to continue to play with the timing.

At one point I'd turned the distributor just right so when I hit the key she was sitting there, purring like a kitten. I've never heard her run so good.

Put, since the mark wasn't on 10, I decided to keep messing with it. That was a mistake, it was running poorly.

I finally got it to a point where I'm...happy-ish. I need a second to be able to keep the RPM at 2000
Skybax SEP 12, 08:28 PM

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Originally posted by ArthurPeale:

the tube isn't open ended; it goes directly from the air cleaner housing to the valve cover.

Interesting note: the gasket between the deck lid and rear window is still there.



That is a good thing. Most people don't realize the majority of the recall "mods" were detrimental on the V6. The most important recall you want to make sure was performed is the rubber splash guards are trimmed at the forward position of the rear wheel wells where the lower rad hoses connect to the coolant pipes. You want to make sure those splash guards are not rubbing on the rad hoses because it could wear a hole in them.

As far as the seal on the deck lid at the rear window, be glad the recall was never done, because that saved your forward exhaust manifold from cracking from cold water on hot manifold over a period of decades (also prevents leaves from falling down onto exhaust manifold between deck lid and rear window). The safety concern at the time was the seal could fall down and touch manifold, so just make sure it is secure and doesn't fall down. Mine has been on there for 36 years, still secure, rubber still flexible, and still doing the job it was designed to do. Many people nowadays put the seal back on because the benefits outweigh the risks.

Additionally, many of these recalls done back in the day were preformed quickly at dealer by hacks who didn't take the time for quality workmanship, so lots of V6 Fiero owners had their nice car molested with broken exhaust studs and other collateral damage to add the shield to the forward manifold which is not needed. All you need to do is monitor your engine for leaks, if the rear valve cover gasket starts leaking, replace it, that's all. Same goes for the breather tube, if you have a nice running engine with no blow-by and no oil is air cleaner, then no problem.

[This message has been edited by Skybax (edited 09-12-2021).]

Patrick SEP 13, 01:13 AM

quote
Originally posted by ArthurPeale:

At one point I'd turned the distributor just right so when I hit the key she was sitting there, purring like a kitten. I've never heard her run so good.



But you previously said she "ran like a top".

Sounds like you're now on the right track.
ArthurPeale SEP 13, 09:40 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

But you previously said she "ran like a top".

Sounds like you're now on the right track.



I'm just amazed how much the computer had to have been compensating for it being so far off. I stand by what I said - it's just so much better in spec. I wish I'd had a clue all of these months.

Took her for the longest drive I've done yet, yesterday, a 40 mile trip to get ice cream, back and forth. No fuss, no muss!