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

[MustangEater8251]

yeah they are pricey... But like I said I woudl not worry about it. unplug it. I have a friend who has his completely off and block off plates, gets an SES occasionally but for the most part his car runs strong, almost as fast as my 3.4L.

You have other more important issues with the car. Its about as important as your windshield washer fluid pump not working at the moment.

With the EGR wiring harness unpluged you shoudl be able to rev past 3200 rpms.


have you looked at the system yet? Check every part to make sure nothing got bent or pinched, and if you have time check the CAT.

I just keep suspecting the exhasut if it was enough to melt the EGR down, not sure a spark problem woudl do that...

[Die Ford V8]

I just keep suspecting the exhasut if it was enough to melt the EGR down, not sure a spark problem woudl do that...
-----------------------------------------------

thats what I was thinking, I wonder if the exhaust is pluged then shoving the hot fumes though that thing, burning it, and into the intake, making it run bad. Anyway, I will check all these things sunday and the guy that owns the car will give me $130 today. I will get wires, used alt, and give it the cheapest oil change possible. I am going to try to get that $130 to stretch as far as I can. good thing he filled up the gas tank first.

should I seafoam it or just save the money and do that later?

thanks alot you guys, I was completely stumped on the egr thing and thanks for all the ideas, tips, and good knowledge. again thanks.

[Die Ford V8]

just an FYI i just went to car quest and got some wires $14.50 so i saved some money there, but just for the heck of it I priced an EGR valve and i kid you not it was $354.27 :eek: :eek: :eek:

I know have $120 left to fix his car. Im getting oil on the way home(cheap walmart junk)$6 and probably an alt from a junkyard $45.

also, exactly how many quarts do 3.4s hold. I will buy five and would check the dipstick while i put oil in, but the dipstick wont read good on that car. I'll put 4.5 quarts in so if I should do otherwise please tell me.

oh and i didnt look to see how many 02 sensors were on the car, i think a guy in the other post said 4 but the carquest dude said it only had one and that it is $26. more info on price, # of 02s would be greatly appreciated.

[MustangEater8251]

There are only 2 O2 sensors on 3.4Ls, one for each exhaust manifold.

You are gonna need an 02 socket(some places lend them out for free like Autozone) and some extensions for your wrench.

REaons why I suspect exhasut is you the problems sound similar to when my CAT clogged. Low rpms worked fine but as soon as they climbed the exhaust coudl not handle the increased flow, and the exhaust started building up, not letting as much air back in each cylinder for the next sequence of firing. Also forcing more exhaust into the EGR messing it up to.

Another possiblility is fuel problems. The fuel filter, fuel pump, or the Fuel Pressure Regulator(FPR) might have gone bad and cannot deal with the increased flow.

But I don't see any of those causing the EGR to melt down, hence why I keep leaning towards exhasut. YOu look over the exhaust yet, and see if maybe the car bottomed out and pinched off a exhaust pipe anywhere? Friend of mine had a similar problem after he hit a tree in a 3rd gen. Turned out his left header was "pinched off" and not allowing exhaust to flow once he got in upper RPMS.

[L32Projekt]

I believe it's 4quarts of oil with a filter change.

[pontiac nino]

Originally posted by pontiac nino:
2 o2's on the 3.4 one on each manifold

use a ohmeter or what i did the 2nd time was unplug each sensor at a time to my suprise i had bought both new only to find out i had a faulty o2 don't know if you want to do this thought may get a good burning if you're not careful

btw it helps to buy a chilton's or haynes manual

^^^^^
so have you started to work on it???

[geocor]

Inspect that CAT man!That was like my problem on a 2.8 Fiero,the cat I had "shifted" the ceramic in the case.Those cats don't have 9 lives!

[Die Ford V8]

Originally posted by pontiac nino:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by pontiac nino:
2 o2's on the 3.4 one on each manifold

use a ohmeter or what i did the 2nd time was unplug each sensor at a time to my suprise i had bought both new only to find out i had a faulty o2 don't know if you want to do this thought may get a good burning if you're not careful

btw it helps to buy a chilton's or haynes manual

^^^^^
so have you started to work on it??? </font>[/QUOTE]nope, im still at college. I am packing right now and leaving tomorrow and hopefully will help this girl change her oil tomorrow morning. I will then be driving three hours from portland to Quilcene. going to dinner with friends then a high school dance(still 18, man im young) sunday I will DEFINITELY get started. First I will change the oil and check for debris. then I will change the plug wires and disconnect that EGR thing. I will try that first, but if the problem persists then I will pull off the Y-pipe and cat to see if it is plugged. then check the rest of the exhaust....exhausting lol, nevermind anyways, THe guy said that he punched it out and there is a weld in front of the cat, but I still need to make sure the exhause isnt plugged.

besides the wires being bad I could swear the exhaust is plugged because not only could it not go over 3200 rpms but it sounded like air was going swoosh when I floored it. we'll see, sorry to make you guys wait till monday or tuesday for updates.

[TheV6Bird]

Originally posted by L32Projekt:
I believe it's 4quarts of oil with a filter change.

Actually it is 4.5 quarts with an oil change; check your manual [img]smile.gif[/img]

[L32Projekt]

Oops, sorry I didn't run out to the parking lot to confirm, which is why I didn't say "It's 4 quarts, God has spoken." [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ka50]

Get codes scanned, find out which cylinder(s) are bad, replace plugs, wires, coil for that cylinder and check cat.

Sound which you're saying comin from the car might be exhaust leak due to clogged cat = blown manifold gasket.

[camarofan]

I agree with everyone that has mentioned exhaust.

Every symptom you described is consistent with a restricted exhaust. You said there is a weld in front of the cat, that could pose a slight problem for disconnecting the exhaust pre-cat(other than dropping the y-pipe), but at the same time explain one of your complaints of "popping". If the weld is not solid and there is a restriction the popping could be coming from there.

From everything you have said I am guessing the cat although it was punched out was not completely gutted, or chunks remained inside when the exhaust was reconnected. The cat itself could be clogged or anywhere from there back to the muffler, not likely to be the tailpipe, but stranger things have happened.

I'd almost bet that if you ran the car for awhile at night either your exhaust manifolds or cat would start glowing red. This would explain melting of wires and such around the manifolds.

Disconnect the exhaust as far forward as possible,and as mustangeater suggested, look for damage to the pipes.

If this is the case, replace what you need to get the exhaust flowing, 02s should probably be replaced as well, plugs, wires and check over all other wiring harnesses in the vicinity of the exhaust manifolds.

[Die Ford V8]

OK GUYs

I changed the wires and id didnt do a thing. So, I checked to make sure the guy put them on right(i just mimicked the way they were on before I did it my way) I found out the #4 and 6 wires were backwards. I started it up and it ran and idled. woohoo. ok so it runs now alot better and actually moves. I then drive it around and still cant make any power over 3000 rpms. I change the oil and while Im down there bang on the CAT(like you all said and I kinda suspected) the thing had like two sections of screening in it and the one section closest to the engine was broken up and the last half was still intact. so yes it was a cloged cat.

now the thing makes power throughout rpm range. the thing runs so so so much better now. I punched out the cat completely and put it back on. found out what I glimpsed at and thought was a weld was dirt. it was easy about half hour for cat and same for oil change. the thing is still only running at about 90%. when you floor it it goes from 100% power to 90 then to 100 etc. it keeps going vroom da vroom vroom vroom da shift da vroom.

vroom=100% power
da = 90% power. (like the typed sound effects)

the battery is good because I have been currently using it in my camaro. I put it in his car and it goes dead in about 20 minutes(BAD ALTERNATOR)

I am going to go to the junkyard soon to get one, I would go new, but my buddy has limited amounts of cash. i think I can find one for $45.

oh yeah, I tried to reset the computer to kinda reset the computer(I know it still has memory but you know what I mean, no ses light) anyway it would barely start. I mean it cranked over good but I had to keep giving it gas to keep it running. then the SES light came on and it ran good again. I think the computer is going into limp mode or something and is picking up something that is going wrong.(which the diag computer should easily pick up if the computer is doing that)

while it was running I also plugged that EGR back in and that caused it to start running way bad. could you guys tell me whether my engine would run at 90% then 100 if the egr was opening and closing on me or whatever it does???

as soon as I get an alternator i will go to a mechanic and hook it up to the computer to see exactly whats wrong.

my friend how has $1160(car), $14.50 (wires) $8 (oil/filter)=$1182.50(i think) for a beautiful fully loaded running almost perfect firebird.

the guy thought he needed a new engine and sold it for cheap. his lose, Jairus's gain....i am kinda jealous he got this car for that cheap...it is niiiice.

p.s. i am now back in Northwestern washington so i will have to go to friends houses to check this site and emails. only once or twice a week...


THANKS x 1,000,000,000 guys. you all r a big help. will keep you posted on the rest. the car I think is pretty much going to be fixed this week. later

jeremy

[Die Ford V8]

P.S. JAIRUS if you are reading this you owe me a full day of helping me wash, wax, and completely detailing my car...just an FYI

[94birdfire]

This is Jairus, the guy with the $1160 Firebird. THANK YOU all SO MUCH! I really appreciate the help/input/advice. The last time I talked to Die Ford V8, he still hadn't gotten an alternator or an EGR (which is fine with me, I didn't ask him to help me out and I'm stuck in central CA for the next 12 weeks). I have more regular access to the internet than he does, so I will let you guys know once she's finished and working fine.
Jeremy, I'll help you detail your car, but I'm doing mine that same day (being the day I get back)