finished installation...car running like crap

[99BlackW68]

well i finished the installation of my powerdyne, and my car cant hold its idle unless i give it some gas before the rpm's drop down and the car dies. sometimes it will idle on its own, but it is really rough and goes up above 1k then drops down to almost nothing, then back up over 1k, then back down. anyone know what the problem is? nothing is wrong with the belt, or intake setup. i also ran a boost gauge and a 6:1 FMU. my car is running very lean too. any input is helpful, thanks

[Crazed98Camaro]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

First thing that comes to my mind is vacuum leak.

[Shirl]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

I was going to say check the connections, but you did that. I'd pull a plug and see if they are getting fouled. Then you'll know if it's a fuel issue.

[99BlackW68]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

ill check the boost gauge and FMU hookups as far as vacuum leaks, im changing my spark plugs today to one step colder, and if my plugs are getting fouled what will that tell me as far as fuel? and how will i fix that problem?

[97rs4life]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

what fuel line did you take off and hook to the fmu? Also check your tee connection for the boost and fmu vacuum line connections.

[99BlackW68]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

ok so where do you tap into the vacuum source at for the FMU. i have found 3 different sources as to where to tap into, and all three are different. MCAANDA says to go into a vacuum source at the TB, the writeup by spoon95 says to tap into the fuel pressure regulator, and the guy i bought this system from said to tap into an elbow comming off of the intake manifold. so which one is correct?

[99BlackW68]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

well i found out the TB vacuum source is for 98 and older cars, so kicks that out, but one write up still says to use the fuel pressure regulator as a vacuum source, and another says to use some elbow coming off the passenger side of the intake manifold.

[99BlackW68]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

also, i havnt done the TB PCV bypass yet because i dont have a new TB gasket yet, no one in town has one and its on order from advanced auto now and itll be here tomorrow. i dont know if not doing this would make my car run this poorly or not.

oh and we got the air to fuel ratio hooked up now and my car is running EXTREMELY lean, even at idle. so my FMU isnt doing jack. i think i just have the vacuum source hooked up in the wrong place.

[99BlackW68]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

and i connected the FMU to the fuel rail on the drivers side where those two are, i connected it to the one closer to the rear of the vehicle

[99BlackW68]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

not like anyone is replying so i guess im talking to myself :P but heres an update. i got my FMU hooked up to the proper vacuum source, fixed vacuum leaks, and the car is idling well. only problem now is that i still think im running REALLY lean. my air to fuel ratio gauge says lean, and my tailpipes are covered in a black soot that they did not have on them yesterday. any help?

[97rs4life]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

black soot would be rich.

get the PCV mod done before getting on it.

what kind of gauge are you using to read a/f?

[ssms5411]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

Same as above, don't run it without the PCV mod done with the valve cover breather or you will blow gaskets out. I hope you run it with the NGK TR6 plugs. For the wideband I hope it is a true wideband not the kind that taps into your exsiting O2's. Also do you have a scanner of some type to make sure you don't get any KR. ? I know most say you should be fine with 6lbs, but in higher temps you will see KR. I know I did here in AZ, but I used the TRC-1 to reduce the timing back then. I had to set it on like 1 or 2 something like that so I wouldn't see any KR.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

did you unhook the battery for a few minutes? this cause the fuel trims to relearn

[Mighty Thor]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

This might not be it, or may it is, but I want to say that if you remove your MAF screen the idling is all over the place and it can sometimes cause the engine to die. That's what happened to mine when I removed it.

[99BlackW68]

Re: finished installation...car running like crap

nah i havnt removed the MAF ever. and sure i can post pics. ill get as many angles as possible for ya. thanks for your help guys. i fixed the vacuum leaks and all is well :D