Power-Band Lost!!

[sho-time]

I would appreciate any help on this!!!

Last fall I washed my 89 SHO and washed the engine out also. I drove the SHO home and it ran ok. When I tried to restart it after I got home it ran really poor like it was missing. When I gave it some gas it would run better, so I put something next to the accerlator to let it run at about 1800 RPM's After about 2 hours it ran better thinking that something got wet and it dried out now. Took it for a test drive and ran ok but I lost my powerband. It accerlates ok but does have that take off that it did before. Like the powerband is gone. If anyone had and idea please post it or e-mail me!

Thanks!!

 

[jthomas68]

It sounds like you`ve gotten water in the spark plug wells.Did you clean the engine too?If so,pull out on of the plug wires and look into the hole to see if there is water.
(BTW,poor Eric )

 

[94MassSHO]

jthomas68:

(BTW,poor Eric )

Seriously, what are there 3 shotimes now...sho-time, shot1me and shotime..

 

[SHO T1ME]

94MassSHO:

jthomas68:

(BTW,poor Eric )

Seriously, what are there 3 shotimes now...sho-time, shot1me and shotime..

Hehehe, I guess its time I find a new name... guess its not exactly original, ah crap! But while we are talking about cleaning the engine... whats the proper way to clean it up if its dirty -- in a Honda you just have to bag up the distributor, battery and intake filter -- use a good old can of Simple Green and spray away... obviously that isnt the same idea with the SHO?

 

[luigisho]

It is close. Simple green is a good cleaning agent. The problem is there are many sensors to look out for. You need to get familiar with the electrical components under the hood and work around them. Never hose off the engine! It's more complicated than the old wrap the dist. and hose it down method of old to be sure.

sho-time lets start with the basics. Have you checked the plug wells lately to be sure they are all dry? When you ran the motor was there still moisture in the wells? Electricity will take the path of least resistance and may have found a different path to the end of the plug and may have damaged the wires as well. I think the first thing to do is check for any codes that may be in the computer, after that new plugs and wires, and go from there. It's hard to troubleshoot without being sure these two areas are up to *****.

<small>[ April 27, 2002, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: luigisho ]</small>

 

[pjtoledo]

sho-time:
I would appreciate any help on this!!!

Last fall I washed my 89 SHO and washed the engine out also. I drove the SHO home and it ran ok. When I tried to restart it after I got home it ran really poor like it was missing. When I gave it some gas it would run better, so I put something next to the accerlator to let it run at about 1800 RPM's After about 2 hours it ran better thinking that something got wet and it dried out now. Took it for a test drive and ran ok but I lost my powerband. It accerlates ok but does have that take off that it did before. Like the powerband is gone. If anyone had and idea please post it or e-mail me!

Thanks!!

Let's clarify this,,you ran the engine at 1800 RPMs for 2 hours? With no air flow cooling the cats I would not be suprised to see some damage to them.

Perry Toledo,Ohio

 

[sdpatt]

Let's clarify this,you ran the engine at 1800 RPMs for 2 hours? With no air flow cooling the cats I would not be suprised to see some damage to them. Perry Toledo,Ohio

Especially if there was a cylinder not firing properly. The unburned fuel would be very likely to damage a cat. Are you sure that the engine is actually running on all 6 cylinders? Run a cylinder balance test. Learn how here http://www.dalidesign.com/hbook/eectest.html

 

[sho-time]

Thanks for all the replies. Also sorry about the same didnt know there were so many otherwise I would of tried another name, sorry to all the other (sho times).

But on the topic I know it wasnt really smart to run the engine like I did for so long but I thought it would dry out whatever was wrong. This is going to sound stupid, but a couple people said that I might have ruined some cats?? What is that? Shortly after all of this I took it to the local Ford Dealership to have them look at it. They checked for codes, nothing came up. They checked the spark plugs and the wires. They said they basically checked everything and nothing was showing up. They told me it was fine. But when the secondaries dont open up it is not fine. A Cavalier could beat me now! Is there anything else I should look at?

All the help is very much appreciated!

 

[naval-avi8or]

CAT=catalytic converter. It's part of the exhaust system. There are two of them one for each set of cylinders (123 & 456). They are located towards the front of the exhaust system in what is known as the Y pipe (pipe that connects the two manifolds together), they are just before were the Y comes together at the resonator. They lokk like two small mufflers. They work by creating a cheamical reaction from the byproducts of the engines combustion process which reduces the pollutants leaving your tail pipe. You indicated that your secondaries are not opening . Please let us know how you have determined this. If they are not opening you need to check for the vacuum hose that is cracked or loose. they are only actuated by vacuum so it is an easy fix. Also did you get the pics I sent you of the nostrils.

 

[sho-time]

Thanks I will check for this! I appreciate all the help! In North Dakota there are not alot of people that know alot about these cars and I am learning as well.
I know that they secondaries arent opening up cause before when they did you could hear it as well as feel it. Now there is nothing! A Cavalier could beat me now! It is bad.

Also I didnt recieve any pictures from the previous post.

Thanks

 

[pjtoledo]

sho-time:
Thanks I will check for this! I appreciate all the help! In North Dakota there are not alot of people that know alot about these cars and I am learning as well.
I know that they secondaries arent opening up cause before when they did you could hear it as well as feel it. Now there is nothing! A Cavalier could beat me now! It is bad.

Also I didnt recieve any pictures from the previous post.

Thanks

About those secondaries,,,
The proper operation of the secondaries is that they ARE OPEN when the engine is not running i.e,,no vacuum and they are open. Thats the way the spring pushes/pulls them. When the engine starts, and vacuum builds, the secondaries snap closed. Takes about 1 second for them to close when the engine starts. At about 4000 RPM, the computer signals the solenoid to release the vacuum, and they open. Moral of the story is,,if you have a vacuum leak they are open all the time. That little solenoid can fail and not close them when the engine starts, so they are open all the time. If they are open all the time you will have less power below 3000 RPM, and normal power above 4000. Hope this helps.

Perry Toledo,Ohio