part throttle 'lugging'/missing

I'd like to know why you got WOT in neutral/park?

Take of your air cleaner cover and see if you have a pretty spray of gasoline coming from the injectors.

Cat would cause constant lack of power IMHO....

O2 sensor should throw a code...

Any black smoke when it happens? It still sounds like EGR even though you said it looks good.

~KJ~

Wiz kid I ain't, but I'll take a stab at it. I need to know exactly what codes you pulled and under what driving conditions you got the codes. I'm guessing code 43 right?

More questions:

1. What's coming out of the tailpipe? Blue, black or white smoke?
2. What's yer' fuel economy like? You should be seeing about 15MPG with a

350 TBI

1. Pull a plug and look at it. Is it black and sooty, orangish/whitish, electrodes melted at all?
2. What is your engine vacuum at hot idle? Get the motor to misbehave by goosing the throttle in park/netutral, what does the vacuum do?
3. When timing was checked, was the EST wire UNPLUGGED? What is the timing set at?

Regards,

Doc

Doc and KJ: Doc- You are right, a code 43 when knock sensor replaced (was driving to the mountains, gave gas going up hill to try to keep up with I-80 traffic). When code 42 popped up, I was cruising on freeway (60mph or so) -changed ignition module, per Haynes manual.

1. fuel economy-honestly have not checked it lately... was 'round 12-13mpg (combined) last year. It is not that good because I do alot of in-town drivin'.
2. After driving for 1/2 hour or more, then stopping, I will get a whiff of a strange smell, not really rotten eggs, but almost 'chemical', if that makes any dang sense. my local neighborhood garage states that my cat will get really hot and start to almost "glow".
3. Plugs just changed (12/31/03). the previous ones were considered normal by all whom I had check-me, Haynes manual, dad, an auto-minded buddy, and my local neighborhood garage, worn but normal, no oil or carbon on 'em, lightish brown. Pretty clean, pleasantly surprised. Regapped, and kept 'em for spares.
4. Have not checked vacuum, will have to do that.
5. EST wire WAS unplugged when timing was checked.

KJ- I was not clear on WOT, sorry 'bout that. I only performed WOT while getting on the freeway, not in Park!

-Fuel is exiting in a similar fashion (spraying down) from both injectors -from what my ignorant ass can see...

-no smoke of any kind. burning hot exhaust out of pipe. kinda strong fumes.

Also, I forgot to mention in my original post that I did have it checked at my neighborhood garage (early Jan.) and they put it on a real-time scanner (?) and said I needed to replace my temp sensor( on intake manifold). So that is another sensor replaced. Minor reduction in part-throttle lugging for a short time, but was still there..always.

AND, to top it off, TODAY, I got a code 45 while sitting in my truck, idling in park ,for maybe 5 minutes. o2 sensor/rich condition, so KJ, you are right, the 02 sensor just threw a code! I think even my dumbass may be seeing a pattern here: code 43 - replaced knock sensor 11/03 -cleared code code 42- replaced ignition module 12/03 -cleared code code unknown- coolant temp sensor replaced by shop 1/03 (t-stat is a 195 degree unit from Napa) code 45- tellin' me to replace the damn o2 sensor 1/27/04 @ 5:15 pm - have not replaced, yet.

I am throwing away money chasin' this gremlin! Well, does any of this info help?? I appreciate any clues/hints very, very much. Thank you, and thank you for respondin', Jim Time for a beer...

I'd replace the cat. If your auto-minded buddy has a shop you might be able to (temporarily) replace it with a piece of striaght pipe. Not that you couldn't do it other wise, but it's cold soggy and generally not nice out. That way you can test to see if it stops without throwing more money at it. I know what you mean though, I HATE throwing money at a problem. I wanna find it, fix it, and be DONE.

If I'm not mistaken when a cat clogs/fails it will restrict flow and heat up ALOT. In severe cases it can sound like a bearing on a belt-driven accessory. (due to exhaust gases excaping anywhere they can) Try the truck with out/ with a new cat and see if your problem doesn't dissapear.

I believe Doc's O2 regimine is every 5 years or 25k miles. If within that, I'd clear the code and try the cat fix first. If after that, personally I'd clear the code and try the cat fix first and see if the code came back, but that's just because I'm cheap and lazy.

BTW if I'm not mistaken the code for a colant sensor is 14&15, one is voltage too high and one is voltage too low (short). That is if it's the OBDI system...

~KJ~ Disclaimor: Make sure to check with DOC about all I've said. Probably wont surprize me if he responds directly too me telling me what a retard I am.

Inline..........................

If it's the original, it's gunna be a bitch to get off, but it's the only way to remove the catalytic from the list of possibilities. He said the cat was running hot, that is caused from one of two things: overly rich mixture, or plugged up cat. The fact that he got an 02 rich code today suggests the former.

Good idea, but I'd troubleshoot the EFI system before I started ripping rust old exhaust parts off.

5 years, 75K miles.

Oh c'mon now, I'm not that bad....................

Doc

True. Now that I've thrown many things at cars because of codes I always clear them a few times before doing anything. Alot of times it just dissapears... Fuel system would be a better choice.

Now that you say it I would have to agree. I also didn't remember that they ran hot when they are rich. It sounded like it would solely be a cat problem to me.

Well, I was right in 1 respect. You did tell me why I'm wrong. I guess I could have said it a little differently. :-)

~KJ~

Inline.................

ICM's go out pretty frequently on these things, doesn't suprise me. KS's usually last forever.

Still sounds about right.

BINGO. You're running super rich or she's plugged up. Have some goose the throttle while you're standing at the ass end of the truck and look for smoke then. Have someone tail you in another car and try to load her up (part throttle going up hill, not enough to drop a gear) then floor it and see if you get a blast of black crud out the back end.

Hmmmm......................

Vacuum will tell us quite a bit. If you buy a mity-vac vacuum pump you get a vacuum gauge and a vacuum pump in one.

By the time it gets to the ass end it will be warm, but shouldn't be burning hot.

How old is the 02 sensor? If it's older than 5-years, 75K miles, it needs to be replaced anyways. On your truck it's a single wire, non-heated sensor, runs about $25.

Doc

Didn't say you were wrong, just offered a slightly different opinion!

Doc

5yrs 75k

I think your opinion was more correct. But at least I'm starting to learn. Have you to thank for allot of that!

~KJ~

99.5% of fuel additives nowadays are 02 sensor and catalytic convertor friendly. I doubt you hurt it. Probably just age taking it's toll.

Doc

Shows what a youngin' I be, never heard of any additive that hurt em!

~KJ~

A few of the octane boosters that have been around for ages

Well thats good to know i probably did not hurt it with the additives.I normally dont use them. Can they hurt 02 sensors? I do remember the first one was basically alcohol. I do remember when you had to check to make sure it was ok, it could not have been that long ago, could it?! Im only 35! I did end up dumping some other intake cleaners, such as 'Sea Foam' , so i was thinking it got broke up some carbon that is causing this.... I will change the 02 sensor this weekend , just because i do not know how it is and let y'all know. Any brand preference here?? jim

as

I use AC Delco for anything I can afford it for, but that's just me.

~KJ~

Some of the octane boosters (especially those with MMT) can foul up plugs pretty good and will eventually foul out an 02 sensor, but regular EFI cleaners are a safe bet.

Hit AZ and pick up a Bosch 02 sensor; they're cheap as dirt and last quite a long time.

Doc

Well, i took it in to ANOTHER neighborhood shop, and this is what they wrote up: Found ECM commanding full egr at throttle openings just off idle-normal condition. Vacuum leak at rear of intake manifold may be contributing to condition. Recommend replace intake manifold gasket set. Egr diaphragm leaking vacuum recommend replace egr valve. SHIT! james

additives.I

Jimbo,

EGR will run $70, gasket set about $20. Labor should be around 3 hours.

Doc