Rough Idle and loss of power

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Old May 15, 2015 | 06:21 PM
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Default Rough Idle and loss of power

Hi All,

I've got a 1995 v6 3.4 Manual Tranny Camaro. Had it for quite awhile and it's treated me well. A few months back I started getting a rough idle and when I would accelerate I would get some sputters like it was trying to go and just would not. So I did what anyone would do, and did a fuel pressure test and saw it was low so I replaced the fuel filter/pump with the OEM part. That fixed the issue up until yesterday.

I started having the same exact issue, except when I checked the fuel pressure it was normal (right in the 40 psi range). No codes on my computer. Since i'd recently done a tune up I wasnt sure what it could be. I called over a mechanic buddy and he saw that my cat converter had stuff rattling around inside it so I replaced that today. It didn't fix the problem. I started checking all the connections for the spark plugs/wires but the engine is still hot. I'm really stumped as to what else it could be? Help!!
 
Old May 15, 2015 | 07:43 PM
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Did you look into the outlet end of the cat to see if any parts were missing? I've had it before where the innards of the cat broke apart and chunks landed themselves inside the muffler. Can you still feel a good exhaust velocity coming out the tailpipe?
 
Old May 15, 2015 | 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Camaro 69
Did you look into the outlet end of the cat to see if any parts were missing? I've had it before where the innards of the cat broke apart and chunks landed themselves inside the muffler. Can you still feel a good exhaust velocity coming out the tailpipe?
Yes, forgot to mention that. The cat's "honeycomb" piece was whole so I didn't think anything would have gotten stuck in the muffler. It rattles when you shake it (the cat) around and it was really dirty, but it was whole.
 
Old May 15, 2015 | 11:38 PM
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did you test the fuel pressure when it was running good or bad? is the exhaust loud or extra quite? have you scanned for trouble codes? be a good idea to have a look at whats in the fuel filter if anything. take it out and dump contents into clear container from the tank side not the engine side of the filter. one way to check for really bad plug wires is the have a look under the hood when the engine is running in a really dark environment. if plug wires are giving you a light show they is leaking.
 
Old May 16, 2015 | 08:50 AM
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Originally Posted by craby
did you test the fuel pressure when it was running good or bad? is the exhaust loud or extra quite? have you scanned for trouble codes? be a good idea to have a look at whats in the fuel filter if anything. take it out and dump contents into clear container from the tank side not the engine side of the filter. one way to check for really bad plug wires is the have a look under the hood when the engine is running in a really dark environment. if plug wires are giving you a light show they is leaking.
we tested the fuel pressure when it was running and it was right around 40-45 psi which i'm pretty sure is normal. No trouble codes, I just replaced the fuel filter maybe 2-3k miles ago so I would hope it's clean!

I checked last night with the hood up and saw some arcing on one of the spark plug wires...I just replaced it and it seems to be running better! Still not 100% but it's running quite a bit better
 
Old May 16, 2015 | 09:18 AM
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I was going to suggest plug wires too, but you said you just did a tune up. Did that "tune up" include the wires? If so, don't buy that brand again, they're crappy.
 
Old May 16, 2015 | 09:25 AM
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if you see one sparking then I'm sure there are three or four others sparking that you dont see. replace them all like 69 is saying. i was thinking water in the fuel, thats one thing you would be looking for in the filter, also to double check for scum that may have been sturred up when pump was changed.
 
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