3.4 HUGE probs, barely runs, wont go over 3200 rpms - FirebirdV6.com/CamaroV6.com Message Board

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  • 3.4 HUGE probs, barely runs, wont go over 3200 rpms

    ok, heres the scoop. my friend jairus just bought a 94 firebird for $1160. the car is beautiful except for one dent. the interior is perfect and has all options. well the guy said is was only running on 5 cyl. we tried to take it from bellinghame to porttownsend and ended up having to get it towed by my bro.

    anyways. the reason we towed it was because it wouldnt go up a hill. the SES and check gauges light is on. the alt is bad so I think that is setting off the check gauges light. the car itself when you drive it you can hear a popping noise coming from what we think it under the passenger side. we thought the cat would be plugged but hte guy said he took it off and punched it out a little while ago.

    when you drive it it wont go over 3200 rpms WOT. it has more power low end(like 30 hp) and when you floor it it just goes slower. on the left of the engine compartment there is this thing leading to the intake and it seems to be comming from the exhaust. it has three little black things on it and some wires plugged in between them. well... after the car just went capuut i looked under hte hood to find out those black things were melting. the plastic on the bottom of them were sludge. then i looked and saw a spark plug wire that was burnt to crap. we worked with what we had and put two small spare plug wires to gether and it worked for a few miles. It died so i looked at the engine and the wire was like about to cook it self. the whole wire was so hot I almost got burnt. the guy said he did all maintenane plugs wires all filters etc. and new coil packs.

    do you think it was the smog thing that burnt the plug wire first or do you think the coil packs just made the wire hot and arced onto the smog thing and melted it that way.

    all in all the car is beautiful and is worth it without the engine. it just wont go over 3200 rpms and sounds kinda like a 4 barrel carb opening up when you floor it. you can smell gas that isnt being completely burnt and stuff.

    we probably shoulnt have drove it, but we figured a new engine would cost what a tow bill would cost unless I made it across the ferry. the car is now at my house and when I go home saturday I will continue working on it for him while he is in california(Coast Guard) sorry for the long thread, but thanks to all that will help.

    i will try to get the SES light checked and get a new alt. will the computer tell you if that little smog exhaust to intake thing is going bad(besides the fact that is is kindof melted).

    we were prepared to buy a new engine because the car was so amazingly cheap, but the guy said it had good compression..

    [ May 13, 2004, 12:15 AM: Message edited by: Die Ford V8 ]
    96 Camaro 3.8 A4 Basemodel: 8 mm wires, Shift Kit, Hollowed <br />Cat(o2 sims), RKSport exhaust, IAT 5.6K resistor, Home Depot CAI<br />&gt;&gt;&gt;15.375 @ 89.27&lt;&lt;&lt;NEW BEST TIME <a href=\"http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491\" target=\"_blank\">http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491</a>

  • #2
    P.S. its an A4.
    96 Camaro 3.8 A4 Basemodel: 8 mm wires, Shift Kit, Hollowed <br />Cat(o2 sims), RKSport exhaust, IAT 5.6K resistor, Home Depot CAI<br />&gt;&gt;&gt;15.375 @ 89.27&lt;&lt;&lt;NEW BEST TIME <a href=\"http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491\" target=\"_blank\">http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491</a>

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    • #3
      hmm well i know our cars will do weird shiet if the alt/battery dies out on us. My car was very undriveable and it felt like i had a missfire when my alt went out on me.

      I would say check the spark plug wire that melted and replace it, take off the coil packs and make sure there is no corrosion or anything there.

      Other than that i am stumped.

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      • #4
        do you understand why the plug wire got so hot. it was hot to the touch, has anyone ever had plug wires fry because of coil packs?? also I have coil packs from another newer chevy will they work on a 94?? it looks like the same setup I just never tried it before?/
        96 Camaro 3.8 A4 Basemodel: 8 mm wires, Shift Kit, Hollowed <br />Cat(o2 sims), RKSport exhaust, IAT 5.6K resistor, Home Depot CAI<br />&gt;&gt;&gt;15.375 @ 89.27&lt;&lt;&lt;NEW BEST TIME <a href=\"http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491\" target=\"_blank\">http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491</a>

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        • #5
          any clue what that smog part it on the passenger side of the engine? it goes from the exhaust to the intake. also, why would it melt?? any info about them is greatly appreciated, cost, junkyard availability, etc.
          96 Camaro 3.8 A4 Basemodel: 8 mm wires, Shift Kit, Hollowed <br />Cat(o2 sims), RKSport exhaust, IAT 5.6K resistor, Home Depot CAI<br />&gt;&gt;&gt;15.375 @ 89.27&lt;&lt;&lt;NEW BEST TIME <a href=\"http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491\" target=\"_blank\">http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491</a>

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          • #6
            anything guys,
            not to sound impatient, but i need as much info by saturday so I can figure out if I need to buy a new engine or not. i found one cheap but it wont last. thanks in advance
            96 Camaro 3.8 A4 Basemodel: 8 mm wires, Shift Kit, Hollowed <br />Cat(o2 sims), RKSport exhaust, IAT 5.6K resistor, Home Depot CAI<br />&gt;&gt;&gt;15.375 @ 89.27&lt;&lt;&lt;NEW BEST TIME <a href=\"http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491\" target=\"_blank\">http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491</a>

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Die Ford V8:
              any clue what that smog part it on the passenger side of the engine? it goes from the exhaust to the intake. also, why would it melt?? any info about them is greatly appreciated, cost, junkyard availability, etc.
              Is it on the manifold? im thinking EGR or AIR pump, but (i think) AIR pumps only come on T5's. It sounds like you're spark plug might be the prob. and the wires too for sure, you know maybe they can be crossed now that i think of it.
              ---Niño---<br /><i>95\' silver 5 spd</i>

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              • #8
                could be a sensor too, the 02's will make a 3.4 run like crap
                ---Niño---<br /><i>95\' silver 5 spd</i>

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                • #9
                  like crap is an understatement. this thing barely runs and i could get beat by a squirel in the 1/4 mile. this thing barely hit 45 downhill and wont even make it up hill. it sounds like the exhaust is plugged because it wont go over 3200 rpms floored. plug wires being crossed maybe, but im not sure.
                  96 Camaro 3.8 A4 Basemodel: 8 mm wires, Shift Kit, Hollowed <br />Cat(o2 sims), RKSport exhaust, IAT 5.6K resistor, Home Depot CAI<br />&gt;&gt;&gt;15.375 @ 89.27&lt;&lt;&lt;NEW BEST TIME <a href=\"http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491\" target=\"_blank\">http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491</a>

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                  • #10
                    Sh!t that was fast :eek:

                    im leaning towards you're wires being crossed have you checked they have been put on correctly?
                    btw when my car did that popping sound it was a o2 just to let you know
                    ---Niño---<br /><i>95\' silver 5 spd</i>

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                    • #11
                      i dont have a diagram of the engine you know were I can get one? also did the o2s cause your car to really run that bad. how do you check if they are good. we only have a limited amount of money$200 to get the thing going, unless we need a new engine. i have a bunch of spare wires that i will put on instead of some of the supposedly new wires. the guy said he just did the tuneup. i think he may have messed up and like you said put them on wrong. i am going home saturday from college to work on it. keep the info coming.

                      oh, where can I get the cheapest plugs for it. I will change those and put my wires on it(correctly) and go from there. anyone have that smog thing laying around they are willing to part with.

                      thanks pontiac nino
                      96 Camaro 3.8 A4 Basemodel: 8 mm wires, Shift Kit, Hollowed <br />Cat(o2 sims), RKSport exhaust, IAT 5.6K resistor, Home Depot CAI<br />&gt;&gt;&gt;15.375 @ 89.27&lt;&lt;&lt;NEW BEST TIME <a href=\"http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491\" target=\"_blank\">http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491</a>

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                      • #12
                        If you are looking at the coil packs from the front of the car, the cylinder numbers are (from left to right, passenger to driver's sides): 1-4-6-3-2-5.

                        Cylinder number one is the front passenger side cylinder.
                        Cylinder number two is the front driver side cylinder.
                        Cylinder number three is the middle passenger side cylinder.
                        Cylinder number four is the middle driver side cylinder.
                        Cylinder number five is the rear passenger side cylinder.
                        Cylinder number six is the rear driver side cylinder.
                        - Josh<br />If you have any questions or need installation pics/help, e-mail me: Viper98885@aol.com<br /><a href=\"http://Camaroz28.cardomain.com/id/viper98885\" target=\"_blank\">\'93 Camaro Hardtop</a><br /><a href=\"http://Camaroz28.cardomain.com/id/01lincolnls8\" target=\"_blank\">\'01 Lincoln LS8 Sport</a><br />\'00 Yamaha YZF-R6<br /><a href=\"http://www.ftpp.net\" target=\"_blank\">Full Throttle Performance</a>

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                        • #13
                          thanks viper,

                          and about the egr or air pump, how much is it??

                          and would it really make the car run like crap
                          96 Camaro 3.8 A4 Basemodel: 8 mm wires, Shift Kit, Hollowed <br />Cat(o2 sims), RKSport exhaust, IAT 5.6K resistor, Home Depot CAI<br />&gt;&gt;&gt;15.375 @ 89.27&lt;&lt;&lt;NEW BEST TIME <a href=\"http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491\" target=\"_blank\">http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491</a>

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                          • #14
                            The AIR Pump definitely would not. There was a topic in the Intake/Exhaust forum about the AIR Pump...it will help you a lot. The EGR will effect gas mileage, but wouldn't make it run like that. If the EGR is plugged for instance, then home come some 3.4 guys run with an blockoff plate between the EGR and the intake manifold and it runs fine.

                            My opinion is that it's ignition related. Replace coils, wires, plugs and go from there.
                            - Josh<br />If you have any questions or need installation pics/help, e-mail me: Viper98885@aol.com<br /><a href=\"http://Camaroz28.cardomain.com/id/viper98885\" target=\"_blank\">\'93 Camaro Hardtop</a><br /><a href=\"http://Camaroz28.cardomain.com/id/01lincolnls8\" target=\"_blank\">\'01 Lincoln LS8 Sport</a><br />\'00 Yamaha YZF-R6<br /><a href=\"http://www.ftpp.net\" target=\"_blank\">Full Throttle Performance</a>

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                            • #15
                              oh and about the coils, i have some extras from a car thats not an f body, will they hook up or do you know
                              96 Camaro 3.8 A4 Basemodel: 8 mm wires, Shift Kit, Hollowed <br />Cat(o2 sims), RKSport exhaust, IAT 5.6K resistor, Home Depot CAI<br />&gt;&gt;&gt;15.375 @ 89.27&lt;&lt;&lt;NEW BEST TIME <a href=\"http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491\" target=\"_blank\">http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/552491</a>

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