I think I’m screwed!!! (please help)

[JonnyBoost]

thanks sliver, i really would appreciate that, but i'm up at school right now so wont be able to swing back home anytime soon but thanks anyway... what are a couple of the best scantools out there? are they all in the 200-300 dollar range or are there any cheeper alternatives

 

[NC87GN]

JohnnyBoost,
Buy the kit from Precision with wiring upgrade, relay, and pump. It is $140-150. A walbro 307 or 340 will be plenty. Also do the pump installation yourself as there is nothing to it. However even with a bad (weak) fuel pump you should still see some boost but with knock at 10# and up. SilverSleeper has brought up a very good point about the fuel filter. Try the filter first since its the cheapest thing to do. Also check the play in that turbo side to side and spinning. You should do some basic maintenance on the car like testing plug wires, coilpack, hoses to rule out any variables. Its amazing, how many problems one bad plug wire can cause... HTH

Mike Banas
87GN

 

[JonnyBoost]

UPDATE

I finally got home from school to check on the GN and look at what you guys suggested might be causing my power problems. What I noticed was this…(1) the car isn’t throwing any error codes (2) there is some oil around the plugs on cylinders #6 and #4, but it doesn’t look like I’m missing much oil on the dipstick (3) the car idles fine but when I go to accelerate the car will act normally till around 25 MPH and then it will no longer gain speed. Also after attempting to accelerate the exhaust will kick out a bunch of white smoke.

Do you guys have any suggestions? Its hard to work on the car when I’m back and forth to school ever week. Any help would be appreciated.

thanks jonny

 

[UNGN]

Fuel pump, ignition or overboost causing knock retard would cause it to stop accellerating. The white smoke could be a lot of things.

 

[JonnyBoost]

?

it could be a lack of fuel as i'm still running the stock FP

What do you think about the possibility of it being a head gasket problem?? What are some things to look out for

 

[UNGN]

A headgasket problem caused by still running the stock fuel pump is a real possibility. Pull the plugs and check them for signs of water. Change the oil and check it for water. Check the antifreeze for oil. If it starts and idles fine, I would not think the headgasket is a problem.

When you floor the car, does it go good for a while then shut off or just level off? Level off is more likely knock retard which means overboost, shut off is more likely fuel pump and/or collapsed FP sock. Level off with hammering is detonation (usually from overboost) which will destroy your engine.

Will it accellerate at part throttle normally?

There are a lot of other things to consider, too. Intercooler hoses, plug wires, plug gap, coil pack, fuel filter, fuel lines, etc. One or many of these may be causing you problems, too.

 

[motorhead]

That whine (location especially) and lack of holding power (boost build up) says one thing to me:

The front pump in the trans is toast.

JMO,

 

[JonnyBoost]

hey Mr T

is there a way for me to trouble shoot the front pump problem?? so i can see if thats whats causing my prob

UNGN thanks for the replies...
it will accelerate normal up till about 25 MPH but after that it doesnt want to pick up anymore speed...regardless of how i feather into it, or if i lay into the petal

 

[UNGN]

So it only goes 25 mph? definately sounds transmission related.

 

[gnsrule]

Sounds like you need to invest in a screwdriver first tho Have you checked the turbo and/or hoses yet ?? Driveing it around and doing brake torques is doin nuthing for diagnostics. I think the replys are right on. Some diagnostics can be done w/o a scan tool, and the turbo/hoses are one of em. I know...It's only been 2 months for 5 minuites work zzzzzzzzz

 

[JonnyBoost]

sorry 'bout that...

i never mentioned in my most recet posts that the IC hoses are all AOK. i did what UNGN suggested i do to check the turbo. and every thing checked out. thats why i was asking more along the lines of a head gasket problem. sorry for sounding like such a dumb ass but this is the first car that i've really had the oportunity to work on myself. and being at school 200 miles away from the buick doesnt help speed-up the diagnostic process

i do apreciate all the helpful replies

 

[xlr8ngn]

Check the cat converter. Mine clogged up and the car would not pull at all. I tested it by unbolting the downpipe at the turbo. Once I released the back pressure, it spooled right up.