camaro_tim81

i have a 89 z28 350 5.7 and i drove it frist time today and my eng has no power can any 1 help me and tell what i need to look if and my it has no power thank you

IROCmonkey

Is the SES light on? By no power I am assuming you mean poor acceleration? Does it run smoothly, does the tranny shift smooth and firm?

If the car is new to you and you don't know much about the history of the car, assume no maintenance has been done.

A basic tune up is in order: plugs, fluids, filters, wires, cap, rotor, pcv valve, o2 sensor. If you are mechanically inclined, check the base timing or recruit someone who can do it. If the car has been sitting any length of time with fuel in the tank, treat the fuel with stabilizer and mix some fresh fuel in.

camaro_tim81

It has fresh gas, a new MAF, a new ignition coil and there is no acceleration when you push on the gas. I get past first gear and the pedal is all the way on the floor. Any suggestions?

Darkshot

iTrader: (4)

Change the fuel filter. It's under the car under where the driver side back seat is. If it doesn't fix it, change the plug wires, spark plugs, cap, and roter. Even if the fuel filter does fix it change these things anyway. Even if none of this stuff fixes it it's all stuff that should be done anyway. Do this stuff and let us know how it feels

camaro_tim81

i change the plug wires, spark plugs, cap, and roter. and it still has no power in the acceleration would it be cad convetor? mine sounds like its clogged up.

Darkshot

iTrader: (4)

That's also possible and very common. You can take it off or gut it to see if that will make any difference. Does it glow red or get abnormally hot after you try to drive the car for awhile at temperature? At this point I'd be looking at the cat or fuel filter. Fuel filter is $9 at any auto parts store, I would try that first.

How does the car idle?

IROCmonkey

I would replace fuel filter as well...it won't hurt, and may do some good.

Unbolt the cat flange from the ypipe and seperate them a little and see if the power picks up.

Be warned tho, it will be really loud and the exhaust will be dumping CO in the passenger cabin.

camaro_tim81

i drove my car today and it would only go 5 miles hour. i go no acceleration at all. it idles good and i dont got a fuel filter any where on my car i look under the car under where the driver side back seat is. i dont see 1 but i got a new one if i need to put one on..

Darkshot

iTrader: (4)

Somebody would have to go way out of their way to hack the car in such a way as to eliminate the fuel filter, and for what reason? I find that highly unlikely. There are 4 hard lines going along the underside of the car. Trace them and you should find it. It's a cylinder about 2.5" in diameter and about 4" long in-line with one of the lines. Did you even find where it *should* be?

slow_90firebird

Sounds like a clogged cat to me. Take it out, and if it drives better, gut it with a broom handle and put it back on the car.

IROCmonkey

uhm only 5mph? ok is the car an auto? if its a stock 5.7 it should be an auto.

does it shift gears at all? is the engine revving but you arent going anywhere or is it bogging down and you don't get any revs?

camaro_tim81

yes it a auto.. sometimes it will go past frist gear but the pedal will be on the floor and sometimes it will olny go 5 miles hour. i have no acceleration and no power
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it idles and runs good but no acceleration and no power

IROCmonkey

yes but do you hear the engine racing? hi RPMs? or is it just mashing the pedal and nothing happens?

camaro_tim81

is it just mashing the pedal and nothing happens? it will go but it takes it a long time to get pass frist gear clogged cat? but i dont think thats it a clogged would not stop it from haveing acceleration

IROCmonkey

ok maybe im not being clear..when you hit the gas does it chug along at low rpm and gradually accelerate...or does the engine rev up and start screaming and the car barely moves?

camaro_tim81

it chug along at low rpm and gradually accelerate...

Uglybronco

iTrader: (2)

Ummm... How about SOME MORE INFO. Like: runs rough. runs smooth. does not rev with no load. does not rev only under a load. spits and sputters when you stomp on it but not when you ease on the throttle. Or any other description. or any combination of things. & how much noise does it make?

Possible very simple answers: Your throttle linkage is not adjusted so you're only getting very little action from the pedal. Clogged filter. Bad pump not putting out pressure. parking brake (or regular brakes) sticking. clogged exhaust... car tied to something heavy...

IROCmonkey

ok...then that sorta rules out a transmission problem

so what we are looking at is either a fuel/air problem or a ignition problem.

even with a clogged cat it should run more than 5mph. does it idle OK?

i know you siad you did plugs/wires/cap/rotor, has the timing been checked? what about the coil or the ignition module? TPS? did you take care of the fuel filter? or hell just for giggles start it, put it in park, pop the hood, grab the throttle assembly and manual run the throttle...does it spool up or just chug along at idle speed?

IROCmonkey

camaro_tim81

its got a new a new ignition coil, it sit and idle good and a new maf.

IROCmonkey

simple thing to check would def be throttle response, try and operate the throttle by hand and see if the motor spools, if it does then your throttle linkage needs some attention...if it doesnt, you need to check TPS voltage.

camaro_tim81

TPS voltage? how do i check that ?

IROCmonkey

do a there is tech article that explains how...also I think the chiltons manual explains how too

Superfro

sounds like a rusty coil or somthing to that effect

VenomX-87

umm didn't see anyone ask this but i may have just missed it

With the car in neutral can you rev it up easy or is there nothing there?

If it will rev in "N" but not in "D" could the handbrake be locked on?

Uglybronco

iTrader: (2)

It was part of my post... Actually happened to my sister in her S-10 Blazer... but it was stuck because the pedal was still down... She had been calling me to have me come look at it for a few days & when I finally got a chance to go I got in, backed out the driveway, looked down, pulled the cord and told her problem solved...

camaro_tim81

i have been thinking how does the TPS have anything to do with the no acceleration problem

camaro_tim81

it will rev n and in d it when i drive and push on the gas it will go...its theres no power really

Uglybronco

iTrader: (2)

You should try reading back over what you typed before you click the post button. Because that made NO SENSE.

IROCmonkey

Throttle Position Sensor, tells the ECM how much you are pushing the gas. No or Low TPS voltage will cause the computer to think that you arent pushing the gas, and will not increase fuel through the injectors and will not advance timing.

NEWMAN1786

check the throttle cable and make sure you dont have a blown head gasket ddo a compression check

camaro_tim81

well i put a new tps on now.. my ses light is off thats good. and i cut my cat off today. but when i go and put in drive the car dies i know i have a spark pulg wire off i seen it when cloes the hood so i will put the back on tomoerrow it run alot better with the cat off any thing i sound look at when i start wotk on it tomorrow.

IROCmonkey

Well, check you plug wires then. Make sure that you have the firing order right. Then let us know what if any progress has been made.

camaro_tim81

i have more power but i am still missing some i cant power brake.

BluFBdy

iTrader: (1)

Dont. "power braking" shouldnt be done until you're sure you've fixed everything so you dont bust anything up. IMO a spark plug wire is a huge deal to just be off, check the firing order, get some spark plug boot grease and get'r done, make sure they make a CLICK not just pushed on there. Fix the car, check that fuel filter like everybody has said, its a round little can like thing, its a good thing to change, when you rev in N does it sputter or does it respond like it has power behind it? "Like it should sound" And when you put it in D now does it still chug along and sputter ?
The filter will look something like this:

*NOTE* this isnt off a camaro, this is just a general idea of what it will look like except those rubber hoses holding it on will actually be metal tubing

KamikazeIroccy

iTrader: (1)

my fuel filter's lines are rusted where it connects, can I hack a job like whats in the picture?

threepointone

lol, this thread is great to read through!

i have a similar problem- going to change the fuel filter tomorrow and adjust the timing.