Very sick 94 Olds 88 Royale
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From: Richfield, MN
A plugged convertor is easy, and no one has mentioned this test yet. Start the car and go around back and put your hand by the pipe. Do you have a strong flow or air? Have a friend rev it up while you do this, good strong flow? If it feels weak or restricted it'* definately the cat.
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From: Purgatory
Originally Posted by alec_b
A plugged convertor is easy, and no one has mentioned this test yet. Start the car and go around back and put your hand by the pipe. Do you have a strong flow or air? Have a friend rev it up while you do this, good strong flow? If it feels weak or restricted it'* definately the cat.
The car runs better going down the road. Can feel an increase in power. However it still idles like crap! LOL. And when my foot is on the brake, with the car in drive, it lurches....like it'* missing.
And to your point, before and now after the new catalytic convertor, the tail pipe shakes vigoursly at idle. The popping noise is evident and can also be felt on your hand.
I'm beginning to think that I have a valve train problem. Thoughts?
Engine work on this car won't be practical. I'll probably just drive it as is since it needs so much other work.
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From: Enfield, CT
Possibly consider an additive that will clean deposits in the oil and then maybe some Lucas stabilizer for a while..maybe some upper cylinder/valve lubricant once it'* cleaned out well.
Has the IAC tube and TB been cleaned...sorry I haven't read teh whole thread.
Has the IAC tube and TB been cleaned...sorry I haven't read teh whole thread.
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This is getting very funky... do you have a friend with a scantool? We really need to see all of the running perameters... Maybe a crank sensor.... But thats just throwing money into the wind.. :? Does this car come equipped with a ghost? 
Vital, how about a compression test? I know that will tell us a lot about the piston rings and valves...
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Vital, how about a compression test? I know that will tell us a lot about the piston rings and valves...
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From: Purgatory
Originally Posted by jr's3800
This is getting very funky... do you have a friend with a scantool? We really need to see all of the running perameters... Maybe a crank sensor.... But thats just throwing money into the wind.. :? Does this car come equipped with a ghost?
Vital, how about a compression test? I know that will tell us a lot about the piston rings and valves...
Vital, how about a compression test? I know that will tell us a lot about the piston rings and valves...
I don't know of anyone with a scantool...one for a OBD I/II at that!
The next logical thing could be the crank sensor. Cam sensor has been done.
BillBoost...expand more on the IAC suggestion. I haven't cleaned the throttle body. However, when I open the butterfly valve, it looks clean in there (thanks to a mirror and my Halogen peeking in!
)
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Originally Posted by vital49
Originally Posted by jr's3800
This is getting very funky... do you have a friend with a scantool? We really need to see all of the running perameters... Maybe a crank sensor.... But thats just throwing money into the wind.. :? Does this car come equipped with a ghost?
Vital, how about a compression test? I know that will tell us a lot about the piston rings and valves...
Vital, how about a compression test? I know that will tell us a lot about the piston rings and valves...
I don't know of anyone with a scantool...one for a OBD I/II at that!
The next logical thing could be the crank sensor. Cam sensor has been done.
BillBoost...expand more on the IAC suggestion. I haven't cleaned the throttle body. However, when I open the butterfly valve, it looks clean in there (thanks to a mirror and my Halogen peeking in!
)Um... I think our 3800'* should do no less than 100psi and even then the lowest reading cylinder should be at least 70% of the highest reading cylinder to go no lower than 100psi... Readings of 150psi would be in the normal area
See if you can get a cheapie throttle body gasket from autozone or the like and clean the throttle body well...
Does the car just idle like complete crapp? Does it run fine once you open the throttle a bit? Or is it off color all of the time?
I'm worried about the low compression, but its almost impossible to have all 6 cylinders at 95psi... Did they do the test right? I have seen most 3.0'* 3.8'* and 3800 L C and 1 engines read between 120 and 180 with the various applications..
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From: Purgatory
I have no way to verify if they performed the test correctly since I wasn't there with them. They told me that 95 PSI was acceptable for a 3800, as "normal" is 125 PSI. This makes me doubt them now....
I think my father-in-law has a compression test kit...I'll borrow it from him and do it myself.
It runs like crap the whole time...moderate acceleration, light acceleration, WOT, and idle. Like I said, the cat did help, but it'* certainly still not right. I used to own an L27 and tall gear ratio that ran right (my 93 Bonnie) so I have a good baseline for comparison.
I will clean the throttle body this weekend and see where that leads me.
I think my father-in-law has a compression test kit...I'll borrow it from him and do it myself.
It runs like crap the whole time...moderate acceleration, light acceleration, WOT, and idle. Like I said, the cat did help, but it'* certainly still not right. I used to own an L27 and tall gear ratio that ran right (my 93 Bonnie) so I have a good baseline for comparison.
I will clean the throttle body this weekend and see where that leads me.
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Originally Posted by vital49
I have no way to verify if they performed the test correctly since I wasn't there with them. They told me that 95 PSI was acceptable for a 3800, as "normal" is 125 PSI. This makes me doubt them now....
I think my father-in-law has a compression test kit...I'll borrow it from him and do it myself.
It runs like crap the whole time...moderate acceleration, light acceleration, WOT, and idle. Like I said, the cat did help, but it'* certainly still not right. I used to own an L27 and tall gear ratio that ran right (my 93 Bonnie) so I have a good baseline for comparison.
I will clean the throttle body this weekend and see where that leads me.
I think my father-in-law has a compression test kit...I'll borrow it from him and do it myself.
It runs like crap the whole time...moderate acceleration, light acceleration, WOT, and idle. Like I said, the cat did help, but it'* certainly still not right. I used to own an L27 and tall gear ratio that ran right (my 93 Bonnie) so I have a good baseline for comparison.
I will clean the throttle body this weekend and see where that leads me.
I am seriously lost on this one... I would say MAF, But if memory serves, 94-95 3800'* should idle with the MAF unplugged and should idle smooth at that...
If you find that the cylinders are 95 psi, than I'd have to say we have a problem...
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From: Enfield, CT
The IAC cleaning I'm tlaking about is the drilled hole in the side of the TB where the IAC sits can get gummed up and not allow the IAC to work properly..while the typical problem would be surging..it'* a cheap check to pull the IAC and run a pipe cleaner or something through it.