NEVER GO TO A DEALER FOR HELP - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

jbird99 · 09-14-2006, 07:47 AM

OKay, so last thursday while driving to school my car broke. I started accelerating from a light and all of the sudden the car lost power and was heisitating and missing. I finally got it speeded up and it started doing the same thing around 50-60mph. I pull into the nearest parking lot and put it in park. The RPM's started jumping over 1000 while sitting in park. No SES lights or anything came on. So after getting the car taken to my mechanic, he had no idea what was wrong. He tested everything supposedly. Now he is telling me that my TPS is broke and blah blah, and that I may have to buy a new TB. I was then told to go Royal Pontiac on 23 from a friend because they supposedly "knew" what was going to be wrong. I get there and they are dazed and confused and have no idea what there talking about.

"You broke your car from putting on these intake manifolds and everything else. This is whats causing your car to have these problems."

So I asked, pretty much then thousands of kids who have put headers and a catback on there firebirds broke them too? I left soon after. Like come on, my lil sister could of given a better diagnosis than that.

/sigh

JL8Jeff · 09-14-2006, 07:59 AM

They just didn't want to work on it because of the mods. A lot of mechanics just follow along with the diagnosis program. If the car has been modified they can't be sure the diagnosis program will be correct so they don't want to even work on it. Sounds like you need a new Opti!

foff667 · 09-14-2006, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL8Jeff

Sounds like you need a new Opti!

your joking right? just making sure.

foff667 · 09-14-2006, 08:06 AM

clogged cat maybe?

jbird99 · 09-14-2006, 08:06 AM

Should not be, not even a year old.

jbird99 · 09-14-2006, 08:27 AM

Anyway to test the cat besides taking it off? and also would my computer be throwing a code if it was that?

foff667 · 09-14-2006, 08:34 AM

eh maybe maybe not...you can have someone rev the engine while you hold your hand over the exhaust tip...thats pretty much how we found out mine clogged the exhaust on my truck. We ended up pulling one of the o2 sensors in front of the cat so the exhaust could at least semi escape...loud, yet effective, temporary fix.

BigAls87Z28 · 09-14-2006, 09:02 AM

Does sound like a IAC/TPS type problem. Irratic idle, and loss of power just as you step on the gas....there is a good chance it could be related to that.

jbird99 · 09-14-2006, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Does sound like a IAC/TPS type problem. Irratic idle, and loss of power just as you step on the gas....there is a good chance it could be related to that.

yeah, if it is, that sucks. FROM what i was told you can not just buy replacement sensors for the V6 models, and instead have to replace the entire TB. From the dealer its like 631 bucks. I found it on GMPARTSDIRECT for 400.12 with shipping.

j0n · 09-14-2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbird99

yeah, if it is, that sucks. FROM what i was told you can not just buy replacement sensors for the V6 models, and instead have to replace the entire TB. From the dealer its like 631 bucks. I found it on GMPARTSDIRECT for 400.12 with shipping.

there's gotta be someone parting out a 3.8 on fullthrottlev6 thats willing to let one go cheaper than that

BonzoHansen · 09-14-2006, 10:44 AM

If the only changes are exhaust side, well, that is kind of weak.

But I can understand a dealer (and a lot of non-dealer places too) not wanting to work on modified cars – 8 out of 10 end up being nothing more than money-losing PITA jobs – ones that come back over & over again. It might be hard to believe, but some cars that get modified have other problems or are otherwise done incorrectly (bad grounds, vacuum leaks, removed parts, poor ecm edits, bad aftermarket parts, etc.).

So the tech ends up spending way too much time chasing bugs. Even if they charge the owner for every minute they work on it (and most people do not like being charged for 9 hours diagnostic labor), the business (and tech) are still losing money – especially if there are other jobs to do. Plus, the more they charge you, they more the own all the problems with that car. It is very often a no-win proposition. If I am a tech and have a choice, I’d rather do 4 brake jobs in the time I would spend on a modified car.

Yes, I know you’re thinking ‘a good tech would be able to fix it’. Well, in theory, right. But if the car ends up being a PITA, that tech knows he is losing $$ from his paycheck.

Hell, that is what your tech did. He spent enough time on it to realize he didn’t want to lose anymore paycheck looking at it and pawned you off on the dealer. He was just nice about it. I never liked attitude some guys offer in that situation - you are trying to spend money with them.

Savage_Messiah · 09-14-2006, 01:32 PM

but the fact that they said he even touched his intake manifolds shows theyve got no idea what they're talkign about

BonzoHansen · 09-14-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Savage_Messiah

but the fact that they said he even touched his intake manifolds shows theyve got no idea what they're talkign about

Agreed. Weak if he only did exhaust mods.

GP99GT · 09-14-2006, 03:41 PM

you should be able to get a throttle body WAY cheaper, look around on a v6er website. i picked up one for my GP with all the sensors for like $50

Sphinx · 09-14-2006, 05:50 PM

hahaha, i made a mistake when i was putting on my waterpump after an opti-spark install. I crushed the plug that goes into the opti spark behind the waterpump... i know i was stupid. But **** like that happens in my garage.. and 3 guys working on a car at one time. so i take the plug to the dealership, and say i need this plug asap... after telling him 45000 times what it goes to... 3 days later he calls me back and tells me he cant find one.... i lost interest in dealerships after that.

WayFast84 · 09-14-2006, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

Agreed. Weak if he only did exhaust mods.

he has a lid..

at first I thought cloged cat.. idk

IROCdan330 · 09-14-2006, 06:45 PM

Mind you...the IAC is a PCM output, so the PCM can really only monitor electrical faults...it doesnt know if the IAC is actually doing what its commanded to do...so if the motor itself was having issues, a code wouldnt pop up and the mil light wouldnt be on.

your TPS could also have a dead spot on it...which would could cause hesitation and all kinds of goofy stuff...and not throw a code because the signal is still there, the pcm just thinks youre letting off and getting back on, etc.

jbird99 · 09-14-2006, 07:10 PM

yeah ive been searching for a used TB in the mean time, nothing yet.

12secondv6 · 09-15-2006, 01:36 PM

Call f body salvage yards.... you can pick them up nice and cheap.

Hell.... I may have one lying around... but it is drilled n tapped for nitrous.....and ported.... it was my first attempt at drilling a TB.

JB weld or add nitrous... that might fix the holes

Let me know..... i think it is still at home.. I get out at 6.

GP99GT · 09-15-2006, 04:04 PM

JB weld or epoxy would fill in those holes easily

12secondv6 · 09-17-2006, 04:17 PM

My old tb is yours for $35.... let me know if you are interested.

There are 4 holes in it that were previous nitrous nozzle hook ups.... but you could buy a $5 thing of j b weld and viola....

Savage_Messiah · 09-17-2006, 04:22 PM

I hate to be a buzzkill, but james guess what i just remembered? The TB changed in 99... you and i have angled TBs with a cable opened throttle, 99 and up had the straight TB with the electronic throttle IIRC

BigAls87Z28 · 09-17-2006, 05:58 PM

They had electronic throttles?

Savage_Messiah · 09-17-2006, 06:14 PM

yeeep, 99-02

12secondv6 · 09-17-2006, 09:53 PM

Our intake manifolds are different..... angled vs straight won't make a difference.... but the cable vs electronic throttle will.... sorry