07-30-2012, 09:12 PM
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#1
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GL Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 298
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Help... car running awful
Alright,
So the car has been running a bit weird for a while... you'd get a sort of metronome feel in the acceleration (the power is there, then it's not.... then it's there.... then it's not).
Well I haven't been able to find/correct any source of this problem.... today it evolved to a new level... The car is practically gutless and if you give it any real power it may go, it may fall flat on its face... Either way it has trouble..
In neutral it seems to rev just fine, doesn't miss or have trouble... under load is when it gets really bad... before you wouldn't even notice it unless on the highway or something trying to accelerate uphill....
I haven't got a clue what this is.....could it possibly be a bad CAT??? The car has been doing this for a long time and would freely rev up to wherever you want it to without issue. The car also seems louder under acceleration as well... I have no codes... 2001 Malibu 3100...
I'd appreciate any advice, pointers, tips etc... I know the horrible path going to a shop without codes and only symptoms can lead to...
You may have to listen more than you have to hear in these vids...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/6633104...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/6633104...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/6633104...in/photostream
Much appreciated,
Mike
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07-30-2012, 09:47 PM
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#2
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GLS member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 3,201
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Transmission going out? They arent made for all yhe power your throwing at it..
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The number one official sedan hater
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07-30-2012, 10:53 PM
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#3
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Aleromod part owner
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Far Northeast Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 18,199
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After driving for a while, is the cat red?
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33% ALEROMOD OWNER!!
2000 Olds Alero 3400 SFI 14.53 @ 94.93
1985 Olds Delta 88 307 SBO 17.96 @ 76.99
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07-30-2012, 11:08 PM
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#4
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GX Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 158
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Can you watch fuel trims on your scan guage?
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2004 Olds Alero 3400 v6 15.32 @ 88.69mph Bone Stock
1999 Olds Alero 2.4 to 3500 swap (running), Ported heads. totaled by a honda
2002 GAGT 3500 swap. parting out
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07-31-2012, 12:01 AM
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#5
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GLS member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 3,201
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Still dont think its the cat... Hope it is though.
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The number one official sedan hater
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07-31-2012, 12:26 AM
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#6
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Now a Ford Traitor.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Greenland
Posts: 6,996
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Sounds like cat tbh. Is it hissing/sputtering out of the intake? It's doing eactly what my Alero was doing when my cat clogged. i chopped it off at the downpipe, took it for a test drive, and had instant power back
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07-31-2012, 04:43 AM
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#7
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GX Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Parkersburg, WV
Posts: 203
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My Father-in-Law's 01 Malibu did the same thing and it ended up being a clogged CAT
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Ahhhhh!!!!!! Don't Scratch My Paint!!!!
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07-31-2012, 04:51 AM
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#8
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GL Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 298
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3500Alero
Can you watch fuel trims on your scan guage?
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Yup they're way off.... they went wonkey about a month or two ago alongside the adv.
I looked under the the car and the CAT wasn't glowing yesterday...
The worst it got was after a bit of acceleration... there's also a sort of vac leak sound that I haven't been able to track down/find and am wondering if this is said his..
Also,
I have significant doubt that it's the transmission.... when this stuff is at it's worst... you don't have the car revving heavy and not accelerating.... the motor looses the power and goes a bit quiet, etc.. I mean it could still be the case but I'm not seeing it... (also hoping it isn't it).
I'll see if I can possibly get to a shop today... but I somehow doubt it..
Am I okay to drive this thing like this or do I risk any damage?
Thanks,
Mike
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07-31-2012, 07:19 AM
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#9
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Premier V.I.P. Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1,979
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pull the upstream o2 sensor out of the exhast and see if you get your power back. thinks like "vac leak" could be exhaust pressure leaking around the manifold (if the cats clogged its gotta go somwhere). however the glowing cat could also be signs of a missfire (which could be caused by a clogged cat as well. pul lthe sensor and take it for a very quick spin. see how it acts.
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The dumbass that shows up randomly 10 years after selling the car.
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07-31-2012, 02:56 PM
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#10
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GLS member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by a.graham52
pull the upstream o2 sensor out of the exhast and see if you get your power back. thinks like "vac leak" could be exhaust pressure leaking around the manifold (if the cats clogged its gotta go somwhere). however the glowing cat could also be signs of a missfire (which could be caused by a clogged cat as well. pul lthe sensor and take it for a very quick spin. see how it acts.
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^^^ try this Mike....
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07-31-2012, 04:29 PM
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#11
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GL Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 298
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Okay cool... I'll see if I can grab the tool from somewhere tonight... I should unplug the O2s from the harness so the car runs in open loops as opposed to thinking there's a shit tonne of oxygen right?
Bloody car... just when I don't need it to run like shit.
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07-31-2012, 05:40 PM
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#12
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GLS member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: indy
Posts: 8,411
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maybe its mad at you for not putting those slick wheels on there....
really though, hope you fix the problem soon!
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Oldsnut is my Hero!
Meet Destiny, shes a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero GLS, F40 6MT swap. (#2 of 3)
2/24/14 - 200,000 miles body/motor. 22,300 on F40.
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He would Plasti Dip his pecker if he could.
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A girl touched my Pee Pee. So you can say things are getting pretty serious for me.
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07-31-2012, 06:36 PM
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#13
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GL Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 298
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Haha...if shit goes bad it may never get those wheels on there!
Well... drove home tonight.. of course I worked late so everything is closed..
I did notice at idle my exhaust barely rattles (used to rattle like hell) anymore... also... the motor is louder than the exhaust (magnaflow) but both are pretty damn quiet at idle from in the car.
I got out and listened to the exhaust after I parked....very quiet.... before it would be burbling at the very least.... I didn't feel much air coming out of it but I'm not sure how much normally comes out at idle anyway...
Tomorrow I'm going to try take it to a shop... see what they say/do.. even a temp fix to drive it around until I can buy the CAT I want (if that is actually the issue) would be great....
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08-01-2012, 02:45 AM
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#14
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Aleromod part owner
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Far Northeast Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 18,199
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In this heat, after a long drive, you shouldn't be able to hold your hand there for long, It would burn
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33% ALEROMOD OWNER!!
2000 Olds Alero 3400 SFI 14.53 @ 94.93
1985 Olds Delta 88 307 SBO 17.96 @ 76.99
2007 Volvo V50 T5 6M 15.782 @ 89.12
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08-01-2012, 10:02 AM
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#15
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GLS member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Posts: 5,529
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I also suspect a clogged cat. A clogged cat is a serious problem!
Last edited by zzyzzx : 08-01-2012 at 10:07 AM.
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08-01-2012, 06:11 PM
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#16
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GL Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 298
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Map sensor wires shorting out... unbelievable...
At least it was a cheap/easy fix..
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08-01-2012, 10:13 PM
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#17
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OSV coming soon!!!!!
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: lindsay, ontario
Posts: 2,367
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glad to hear you got it all fixed up Mike... now it's time to get those wheels on!!
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Misty: 3400, S&S headers, TCE 65mm TB, CAI, 180* TStat, Milzy motor & tranny mount, 18" BOSS 328 & much more... going osv!!
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08-02-2012, 09:49 AM
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#18
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GLS member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Posts: 5,529
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Did it give a code?
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08-02-2012, 10:14 AM
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#19
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GL Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 298
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Nope, and my psi readsings from the MAP were normal.... weird man
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08-02-2012, 01:18 PM
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#20
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GLS member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Posts: 5,529
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike The Canadian
Nope, and my psi readsings from the MAP were normal.... weird man
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Then how did you find the problem?
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