98 V6 sputtering/missing

[ronstang94]

Its my sisters car and I posted up in the V6 forums, but it got 30 reads but no replys, and I know you guys are a ton of help and some of you have V6s as your DD, so I figured I would try here.

The car sputters and misses, has a cam sensor code and a misfire detected code, p0340 and p0300.

ran some electrical tests on the sensor and it was bad. Took it out and found that it had destroyed itself, nothing but metal and plastic bits. I have no clue how the engine was still running. The syncronizer (basically the distributer shaft) was also damaged. so I replaced the entire setup. I couldnt find the alignment tool anywhere (tool to get the timing just right). so I aligned everything to the marks I had made, left the (distributer) hold down loose so I could do a little dizzy twisting to get it just right.

So I fixed one obvious problem but the engine still sputters, almost as bad as before. What now?

Thank you.

 

[earleys94gt]

p0340 and p0300

Did you find out what these codes went to?

 

[Chythar]

The V6 forums are useless for tech help, most of them are more concerned with exhaust and rims rather than helping other folks.

Never dealt with that problem on my 94 V6 (it's a Cobra clone now). Did you clear the codes in the computer? You should reset the computer afterward as well. The PCM tries to adapt to what its sensors tell it; since you have changed a sensor, it's best to let it start from scratch. Disconnect both the positive and negative battery terminals and leave it for 15 minutes or so. Then reconnect the terminals and see if the engine runs any better.

You could have fouled spark plug(s) depending on how long the cam sensor was bad. I would recommend changing the spark plugs; make sure you gap them at .054". New spark plugs should change how the engine runs, but may not fix the problem entirely.

Report back with your results and we'll go from there.

 

[Adam95GT]

Its my sisters car and I posted up in the V6 forums, but it got 30 reads but no replys, and I know you guys are a ton of help and some of you have V6s as your DD, so I figured I would try here.

The car sputters and misses, has a cam sensor code and a misfire detected code, p0340 and p0300.

ran some electrical tests on the sensor and it was bad. Took it out and found that it had destroyed itself, nothing but metal and plastic bits. I have no clue how the engine was still running. The syncronizer (basically the distributer shaft) was also damaged. so I replaced the entire setup. I couldnt find the alignment tool anywhere (tool to get the timing just right). so I aligned everything to the marks I had made, left the (distributer) hold down loose so I could do a little dizzy twisting to get it just right.

So I fixed one obvious problem but the engine still sputters, almost as bad as before. What now?

Thank you.

Sounds like the car may still be out of timing. also as others said... reset the codes b4 you do anything.

 

[ronstang94]

See this is the kind of help im talking about! :SNSign:

I had the negative off and the check engine light hasnt came back yet. didnt know the possitive should come off too, so Ill do that and Ill do the plugs and wires just incase but I dont think it will help. Its running so bad and the way that it drops cylinders is completely random. I dont think the engine is even making a full rotation without a misfire.

Ill post up after I get some more work done. Dont know how long it will be though, school is rough.

Thank you

 

[Chythar]

If you don't want to put $$$$ into it, just pull the plugs and check them. See if they look fouled or the gap is messed up.

 

[xr8d302]

As well, and I'm sure you've done this, give the plug wires a thorough check for burns. That was a problem for me for a while, small burn through the wire coating caused a wack of issues

Dizzy could still be out, but as everyone else said, have the computer reset before you attempt the deeper stuff

 

[Chythar]

As well, and I'm sure you've done this, give the plug wires a thorough check for burns. That was a problem for me for a while, small burn through the wire coating caused a wack of issues

Excellent idea, I was going to suggest the plug wires next. A nice way to test if your plug wires are worn out is to take a spray bottle and spray a mist of water around the plug wires whil the engine is running. Do this at night and pull the bulb for the underhood light. If the wires are worn out you'll see some electrical arching. The water mist increases the electrical conductivity temporarily, letting you see the electrical leakage. Without the water, the arching is still happening but not enough for you to see. New wires will not arc like that.

New plug wires are in order if you see any arching at all.