Help 99 GT Problems

[schwoogies]

I have a 99 GT with 79K on it. Yesterday I drove it less than a mile and it was very slightly sputtering. Today I drove it a mile and when I stepped on the gas it was really sputtering badly. When I pulled in the driveway it started to stall out and the check engine light came on. Could it be my timing belt?

Thanks for helping me out!
Jen

 

[trinity_gt]

I have a 99 GT with 79K on it. Yesterday I drove it less than a mile and it was very slightly sputtering. Today I drove it a mile and when I stepped on the gas it was really sputtering badly. When I pulled in the driveway it started to stall out and the check engine light came on. Could it be my timing belt?

Thanks for helping me out!
Jen

You don't have a timing belt. Your car has two chains that are internal to the engine, bathed in oil and not regarded as maintenance items.

Sounds like the problem is spark or fuel. Get a code scanner on it. You may have a bad coil or plug; if so, the scanner can tell you which cylinder is giving the problem.

 

[schwoogies]

Thanks I wasn't sure if it had a belt or chains. I will have to find a mechanic that has a scanner.

 

[bucstang1]

go to your local auto parts store they will usually read codes for free

 

[trombonedemon]

Autozone or Advanced will only give you so much info. Get your-self an OBD2 adapter, down-load the free software to read the OBD2 codes. You can find the USB port OBD2 reader on Ebay. 20 dollars. Thats if you have a Laptop.

 

[Doomedfailure]

I want this software. Can anyone link where to dl the software? And possibly a link for exactly what part it is for the usb connection

 

[SiahNyde]

I'd suggest that you pull the spark plugs and see if they are scorched or look white, cracked, etc...
I'm not familiar with that software, but if you're going to buy anything, you should get a handheld like a sct xcalibur or diablosport tuner... not only will you be able to read and turn off codes, but you can do alot more for performamce or gas mileage...depending on the device and you're specific application...do you have aby mods or future plans for the car?

 

[SiahNyde]

.

 

[Doomedfailure]

I'd suggest that you pull the spark plugs and see if they are scorched or look white, cracked, etc...
I'm not familiar with that software, but if you're going to buy anything, you should get a handheld like a sct xcalibur or diablosport tuner... not only will you be able to read and turn off codes, but you can do alot more for performamce or gas mileage...depending on the device and you're specific application...do you have aby mods or future plans for the car?

I dont understand why they dont make a tuner programer for your laptop and then just give you a usb adapter. Or do they? not to hijack this thread but what tuner is best and offers the most bang for your buck. and do they make a laptop programmer?

 

[schwoogies]

Thanks everyone!

 

[SiahNyde]

I dont understand why they dont make a tuner programer for your laptop and then just give you a usb adapter. Or do they? not to hijack this thread but what tuner is best and offers the most bang for your buck. and do they make a laptop programmer?

Most tuners will come with the ability to connect to your computer to allow you to download tunes. it's not a super straight forward process (It took me the better part of two hours to figure out the right format for my tuner) but to my knowledge, there are none that you just plugin to your computer that can replace a real life dyno tuner. I personally have a sct livewire and it allows me to monitor many engine parameters, view and deactivate error codes, remove the rev limiter, and adjust for larger tires, just to name a few. it's a great option to dyno tuning if all you have is light mods like cold air or injectors. SCT makes some good stuff and a really popular model they sell is the SCT X3. If you like fancy they also have a touch screen. depending on your needs you might be fine with an x3 or you may want something that gives you alot more control. Diablosport also makes some great stuff! just do some shopping and read reviews. American muscle gives you some free tunes via their tuner, Bama.
In my situation, I got a handheld, picked a preloaded tune to get me to the dyno once I got there, the tuner got some tunes set up for me, the he loaded them on my hand held. what kind of mods you have/plan to do?

 

[stephensc]

There are stand alone ECUs for your vehicle that you can plug into your USB port on your laptop. They are not easy to tune if you aren't experienced with tuning not to mention the risk of damaging your vehicle while you figure out how to properly tune the vehicle. But if you really want to "fast and the furious" it up, then you can get an stand alone ECU and plug your laptop into it while you drive, type, and blow your manifold all over the floor board with washers bouncing around. lol

 

[schwoogies]

Still Broken

The sputtering issue is intermittent. The mechanic replaced the mass air flow sensor on Friday, when I drove it home I noticed it was running just a little sputtery. I called the mechanic and he said to bring it back on Monday (today). When I started it, the check engine light was on and it back fired when I rev'd the motor it was running real rough, barely got it there. The computer code was for a misfire on cylinder 8. But the thing is all cylinder are randomly misfiring. The mechanic had already replaced all the plug and made sure there were no issues with the coil. Any ideas I could tell him? This is a weird one for sure. Could it be a common ground problem? He said the common ground is on the firewall, he has to locate it tomorrow. Help!!!

.

 

[joshjwc9]

Has be tried moving the coil to another cylinder? It still may look good but may have gone bad. I would consider just buying a coil pack and installing it yourself on the driverside closest to the firewall..since that is cylinder number 8.

 

[schwoogies]

Thanks Josh!

I'll ask him to try that. As soon as the issue is found I will post the update. Thanks again.

 

[Deleted member 38176]

Sounds like the fuel filter. Would a fuel filter throw a code though?

 

[schwoogies]

Still not fixed.

My mechanic replaced the #8 coil, the fuel filter and the spark plugs, still sputtering and misfiring on all cylinders.... I'm starting to think I bought a lemon.

 

[trinity_gt]

All cylinders being involved suggests something common to all of them: the crankshaft position sensor, for example.

Have you put on underdrive pulleys recently or had the damper off the front of the crank snout for any other reason?

 

[schwoogies]

That would make sense, but no work was done to the car. My mechanic just called and he said he replaced 4 coils and now it is running fine...

 

[trombonedemon]

That would make sense, but no work was done to the car. My mechanic just called and he said he replaced 4 coils and now it is running fine...

Four coils going out at the same time? What are the odds?!