Truck running poorly, need some help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Russell · 10-01-2004, 08:30 PM

Hey guys!

So I spent all last night rebuilding my distributer, the thing was putting out some fantastic spark, some sparks leaping a good inch, the truck fired right up, and after a quick timing adjustment was running like a champ. I ran the truck all day with no problems at all. I was driving home on the highway, and suddenly compeltely out of the blue the truck lost all power and started sputtering, I initally thought that maybe my dizzy had spun itself out of time, so I pulled over and checked the timing (still had the timing light in the truck from before) and it was all good, but the truck was still running really really poorly. I'm fairly sure that it is a distributer related issue, but I can't see what. I replaced all of the electronics in it less the module yesterday, and as far as I know, the truck wouldn't have run at all if the module was hooped...

I'm just so confused, the truck was running perfectly, and just out of the blue, started running poorly, and acted exactly how the truck did before I took it apart beforehand... I gotta get the thing running tip top before I can swap and break my cam in, and install my serpentine belt setup...

screwballl · 10-01-2004, 09:15 PM

i had a similar problem, sporadic starting/running and now that i've replaced the module, no problems
maybe the fuel filter or pump is getting clogged or not allowing proper flow?

Russell · 10-01-2004, 09:17 PM

I can be sure it isn't fuel related, if I floor the truck, she'll still run decently, just has a hard time keeping it's speed up, sputters and coughs a bunch. I guess I'll have to get a new HEI module, and hope that it fixes the problem...

screwballl · 10-01-2004, 09:22 PM

hmmmm
i ended up replacing alot on my truck to get mine back on the road...
including: Spark plugs (previous were gapped wrong), plus wires, dist cap and rotor, module, HEI (1st one sucked, replaced again and works beautifully)...
600cfm Edelbrock carb, fuel line and filter from pump up...
maybe your timing needs to be set back to stock or maybe 10 over....

Russell · 10-01-2004, 09:24 PM

Well, thus far I've done the following:

Spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, capacitator, pickup coil, and coil. I know the carb is in rough shape, but it just recently took me on a 8 hour round trip with no problems at all. When I first put my HEI back in, the truck ran better than it ever has, perfectly smooth idle, but now even in park, if you floor it, she'll get up to 3000 rpm, but not much further, and if you just lightly give it gas, it'll die on the spot...

screwballl · 10-01-2004, 09:27 PM

mayeb just a simple carb rebuild? a few o-rings and such? its hard to tell without digging in... i usually go piece by piece

Russell · 10-01-2004, 09:30 PM

I'm 90% sure its gotta do with the dizzy, cause the truck was running real nice all day, then just outta the blue started running poopy again...

I kinda ruled the module out thinking that it wouldn't work at all if the module was no good... I guess there is a good chance the coil may be bad too (came out of a dizzy that a board member sent me a while back)

screwballl · 10-01-2004, 09:34 PM

mine was sproadic until i replaced module.. start and run fine for a day to a week then nothing for a few days then fine for a few days.. etc... just my experience recently

MylilBowTie · 10-02-2004, 04:45 AM

Modules can do a lot of goofy things. If you replace it try to get it from the dealer. They are tons better than the autozone pieces.

PRUNEDA · 10-02-2004, 03:56 PM

My truck was doing the same, when i was on the freeway it would loose power and start popping real loud (it reminded me of popcorn) and with no cats you can just imagine how loud it sounds. People would turn and look at me like

. I replaced the control module since i had already replaced coil/cap/rotor/wires before, and now much better runs good now. No problems at all.

Russell · 10-02-2004, 06:13 PM

Well, I went ahead and bought a new module and coil for the truck, after this, it'll have an all new ignition system, which, of course, will be pulled out and up for sale in a couple of weeks as I put the TPI ignition system in, lol

leastbay · 10-02-2004, 06:15 PM

mine was doing the same thing especially at idle and i replaced the module and it went away

Russell · 10-02-2004, 08:09 PM

Well, I think that did it... It still bogs off the line, but thats due to very bad mixture from the carb (can't get it to put out enough fuel due to a vac leak)

I am hoping to get a new carb by Monday, then replace my intake gaskets so I can get my truck running tip top before I install and break my cam in...

76HighSierra · 10-02-2004, 09:28 PM

Russell, one thing to remember, if you have a spark problem, the symptoms will become more amplified by adding more fuel (flooring the throttle). If a dizzy is firing weak spark at idle, when you add more fuel, the problem multiplies because it cannot burn the excess fuel.

10-01-2004, 08:30 PM	#1
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	Truck running poorly, need some help Hey guys! So I spent all last night rebuilding my distributer, the thing was putting out some fantastic spark, some sparks leaping a good inch, the truck fired right up, and after a quick timing adjustment was running like a champ. I ran the truck all day with no problems at all. I was driving home on the highway, and suddenly compeltely out of the blue the truck lost all power and started sputtering, I initally thought that maybe my dizzy had spun itself out of time, so I pulled over and checked the timing (still had the timing light in the truck from before) and it was all good, but the truck was still running really really poorly. I'm fairly sure that it is a distributer related issue, but I can't see what. I replaced all of the electronics in it less the module yesterday, and as far as I know, the truck wouldn't have run at all if the module was hooped... I'm just so confused, the truck was running perfectly, and just out of the blue, started running poorly, and acted exactly how the truck did before I took it apart beforehand... I gotta get the thing running tip top before I can swap and break my cam in, and install my serpentine belt setup... __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

10-01-2004, 09:15 PM	#2
screwballl Tonawanda 454 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liquid Sunshine State Posts: 2,755	i had a similar problem, sporadic starting/running and now that i've replaced the module, no problems maybe the fuel filter or pump is getting clogged or not allowing proper flow? __________________ 91 Chevy Suburban Tonawanda 454 R2500 - SOLD!!! 04 Dodge Durango 5.7L Hemi 2WD, 24K miles (as of July 2011) In the past 30 years about 90% of Fords are still on the road, the other 10% made it home. -------------------

10-01-2004, 09:17 PM	#3
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	I can be sure it isn't fuel related, if I floor the truck, she'll still run decently, just has a hard time keeping it's speed up, sputters and coughs a bunch. I guess I'll have to get a new HEI module, and hope that it fixes the problem... __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

10-01-2004, 09:22 PM	#4
screwballl Tonawanda 454 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liquid Sunshine State Posts: 2,755	hmmmm i ended up replacing alot on my truck to get mine back on the road... including: Spark plugs (previous were gapped wrong), plus wires, dist cap and rotor, module, HEI (1st one sucked, replaced again and works beautifully)... 600cfm Edelbrock carb, fuel line and filter from pump up... maybe your timing needs to be set back to stock or maybe 10 over.... __________________ 91 Chevy Suburban Tonawanda 454 R2500 - SOLD!!! 04 Dodge Durango 5.7L Hemi 2WD, 24K miles (as of July 2011) In the past 30 years about 90% of Fords are still on the road, the other 10% made it home. -------------------

10-01-2004, 09:24 PM	#5
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	Well, thus far I've done the following: Spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, capacitator, pickup coil, and coil. I know the carb is in rough shape, but it just recently took me on a 8 hour round trip with no problems at all. When I first put my HEI back in, the truck ran better than it ever has, perfectly smooth idle, but now even in park, if you floor it, she'll get up to 3000 rpm, but not much further, and if you just lightly give it gas, it'll die on the spot... __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

10-01-2004, 09:27 PM	#6
screwballl Tonawanda 454 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liquid Sunshine State Posts: 2,755	mayeb just a simple carb rebuild? a few o-rings and such? its hard to tell without digging in... i usually go piece by piece __________________ 91 Chevy Suburban Tonawanda 454 R2500 - SOLD!!! 04 Dodge Durango 5.7L Hemi 2WD, 24K miles (as of July 2011) In the past 30 years about 90% of Fords are still on the road, the other 10% made it home. -------------------

10-01-2004, 09:30 PM	#7
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	I'm 90% sure its gotta do with the dizzy, cause the truck was running real nice all day, then just outta the blue started running poopy again... I kinda ruled the module out thinking that it wouldn't work at all if the module was no good... I guess there is a good chance the coil may be bad too (came out of a dizzy that a board member sent me a while back) __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

10-01-2004, 09:34 PM	#8
screwballl Tonawanda 454 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Liquid Sunshine State Posts: 2,755	mine was sproadic until i replaced module.. start and run fine for a day to a week then nothing for a few days then fine for a few days.. etc... just my experience recently __________________ 91 Chevy Suburban Tonawanda 454 R2500 - SOLD!!! 04 Dodge Durango 5.7L Hemi 2WD, 24K miles (as of July 2011) In the past 30 years about 90% of Fords are still on the road, the other 10% made it home. -------------------

10-02-2004, 04:45 AM	#9
MylilBowTie Right turn Clyde Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 2,911	Modules can do a lot of goofy things. If you replace it try to get it from the dealer. They are tons better than the autozone pieces. __________________ 1974 C25 LWB: 454 4bbl Carb / TH400 / 3.73 1992 Camaro RS 305 TBI

10-02-2004, 03:56 PM	#10
PRUNEDA '87 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 632	My truck was doing the same, when i was on the freeway it would loose power and start popping real loud (it reminded me of popcorn) and with no cats you can just imagine how loud it sounds. People would turn and look at me like . I replaced the control module since i had already replaced coil/cap/rotor/wires before, and now much better runs good now. No problems at all.

10-02-2004, 06:13 PM	#11
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	Well, I went ahead and bought a new module and coil for the truck, after this, it'll have an all new ignition system, which, of course, will be pulled out and up for sale in a couple of weeks as I put the TPI ignition system in, lol __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

10-02-2004, 06:15 PM	#12
leastbay Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Lake Charles, LA Posts: 206	mine was doing the same thing especially at idle and i replaced the module and it went away

10-02-2004, 08:09 PM	#13
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	Well, I think that did it... It still bogs off the line, but thats due to very bad mixture from the carb (can't get it to put out enough fuel due to a vac leak) I am hoping to get a new carb by Monday, then replace my intake gaskets so I can get my truck running tip top before I install and break my cam in... __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)

10-02-2004, 09:28 PM	#14
76HighSierra DAMN, I love Big Blocks! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 619	Russell, one thing to remember, if you have a spark problem, the symptoms will become more amplified by adding more fuel (flooring the throttle). If a dizzy is firing weak spark at idle, when you add more fuel, the problem multiplies because it cannot burn the excess fuel. __________________ Marc Bona Hobbs, New Mexico 1976 1/2 ton GMC High Sierra. 454 c.i.d./ TH400. *Soon to get a mild warming over.* 3.40 rear.



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