Working one day, not the next? Barely runs.

[Ram From Hell]

Looking for some ideas here.

I've run the truck a few times in the process of tweaking the supercharger brackets, and had no issues starting and running smoothly. Last time I backed the truck out to make room for Tinygiants' project and did a short burnout (cuz I can ), and it was running just fine when shut down. Truck has been covered, and in mild weather outside. Otherwise it's been totally untouched.

Last night I went out to fire it up for a short drive, and it failed to start on the first two tries (backfired once). The third try it ran, but sounded as if it were running on 7-8 cylinders, and badly at that. Kind of sounded like an engine that's skipped time.

WTF?:dontknow:

 

[Slitherbeast]

are you running a vec 3?

 

[Ram From Hell]

are you running a vec 3?

No. I'm using an AEM system for my ECU.

 

[JTS VENOM PERFORMANCE]

vec probs, or tuning? I know you said you havent gotten it totally tuned yet, is there a possibility its running too rich and is flooding things out a bit?

 

[Ram From Hell]

vec probs, or tuning? I know you said you havent gotten it totally tuned yet, is there a possibility its running too rich and is flooding things out a bit?

No. Everything was running just fine. Now it's barely starts and runs like an old V-8 with the plug wires rearranged.

 

[FerrariTruck]

perhaps something in the valve train? I remember one time I did a burnout in 454 monte carlo and one of the roller rockers loosened up on me causing to backifire and run real bad

 

[Black1]

If it was outside, I would check the wiring... I bet a critter got in there and chewed something up.

 

[JTS VENOM PERFORMANCE]

thats right the aem, dang bud, not really sure?

maybe......a plug issue of some sort?

 

[tinygiants]

The weather has been a bit cooler of late. Could it be running rough due to the colder plugs? Back when mine used to run it ran rough on the cold days until it warmed up.

 

[Ram From Hell]

perhaps something in the valve train? I remember one time I did a burnout in 454 monte carlo and one of the roller rockers loosened up on me causing to backifire and run real bad

Thing is, the truck ran just fine after the burnout. It wasn't until after it had sat for a few days that things were FUBAR.

Going to look for evidence of "critter tampering" for sure, as well as going over all of my electrical connections. Could be something as simple as condensation in a connector, but who knows.

 

[Ram From Hell]

The weather has been a bit cooler of late. Could it be running rough due to the colder plugs? Back when mine used to run it ran rough on the cold days until it warmed up.

This is way beyond rough. This is like someone got the engine timing 180 degrees out.

Can't spend too much time on this. Need to get more stuff done on yours!

 

[JTS VENOM PERFORMANCE]

thats why I mentioned the vec, if mine got wet all all or damp the thing went haywire, one side would run, theother wouldnt fire, jsut caused crazy things to happen

 

[tinygiants]

Can't spend too much time on this. Need to get more stuff done on yours!

My life should really settle down after this weekend. I will be there to offer what help I can when you need it. I may not be good, but I sure am slow.

 

[Ram From Hell]

My life should really settle down after this weekend. I will be there to offer what help I can when you need it. I may not be good, but I sure am slow.

With some luck, you may just need to put fuel in it after this weekend.

You're plenty good at working on these machines, and I've seen much slower!

 

[Ram From Hell]

thats why I mentioned the vec, if mine got wet all all or damp the thing went haywire, one side would run, theother wouldnt fire, jsut caused crazy things to happen

Thanks Tony. I'm definitely starting at the AEM connections.

 

[JTS VENOM PERFORMANCE]

Thanks Tony. I'm definitely starting at the AEM connections.

but it makes no sense how it ran fine, then shut down, now is the tune you have rich?

 

[tinygiants]

With some luck, you may just need to put fuel in it after this weekend.

You're plenty good at working on these machines, and I've seen much slower!

My intent was that I would help you on yours as well. But I hope your words are prophetic in that they will both be up and running.

 

[RedSrt007]

Check grounds to aem, super sensitive. Check C1 pins on them also...

 

[Ram From Hell]

My intent was that I would help you on yours as well. But I hope your words are prophetic in that they will both be up and running.

10-4, and amen.

Check grounds to aem, super sensitive. Check C1 pins on them also...

Thanks. Will do.

Rather disheartened at this point. Tried firing it off to same result this afternoon. Saw that my AEM gauge lead was disconnected from the AEM comm cable, so I connected it. Just for S&G I tried firing it off again, and this time hear a pop and see a small amount of smoke roll out from under the near driver's side edge of the hood.

Dug in, under, and around. I find nothing obvious. No smoke trails, marks, etc., nor any blown fuses in the master box or my relay box. Then found the main engine harness had worked its way forward to the point it was touching the headers, but there aren't any obvious signs of damage. That's no guarantee though, since it's wrapped in heat shielding material. The wires could still have managed to get hot enough to be damaged beneath it.

I think I'm just going to have to pull the front wheels and wheel well liners out and go over everything with a fine-toothed comb. Whatever it is that smoked has to be the source or the result of the wiring fault, so I have to find that first.

At least I did all of the wiring myself, front to back. Not only should I be the best person for the job, but I have no one to blame but myself.


Ack! This fawking sucks!:argh:

 

[FerrariTruck]

10-4, and amen.




Thanks. Will do.

Rather disheartened at this point. Tried firing it off to same result this afternoon. Saw that my AEM gauge lead was disconnected from the AEM comm cable, so I connected it. Just for S&G I tried firing it off again, and this time hear a pop and see a small amount of smoke roll out from under the near driver's side edge of the hood.

Dug in, under, and around. I find nothing obvious. No smoke trails, marks, etc., nor any blown fuses in the master box or my relay box. Then found the main engine harness had worked its way forward to the point it was touching the headers, but there aren't any obvious signs of damage. That's no guarantee though, since it's wrapped in heat shielding material. The wires could still have managed to get hot enough to be damaged beneath it.

I think I'm just going to have to pull the front wheels and wheel well liners out and go over everything with a fine-toothed comb. Whatever it is that smoked has to be the source or the result of the wiring fault, so I have to find that first.

At least I did all of the wiring myself, front to back. Not only should I be the best person for the job, but I have no one to blame but myself.


Ack! This fawking sucks!:argh:

those damn headers, mike brady was right