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Here�s a Thinker

Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: Technical Topics Forum
Forum Name: Technical Questions and Discussions
Forum Description: Got a technical question about your fiero? ask it here.
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2481
Printed Date: 25 April 2025 at 9:05am
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Topic: Here�s a Thinker

Posted By: 86_Fiero
Subject: Here�s a Thinker
Date Posted: 28 May 2011 at 12:17am

I posted a topic on PFF looking to get some feedback on my
lack of power. Have a look and take a stab at it?

http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/116530.html - http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/116530.html

***EDIT*** On here or PFF. Either is fine.

Cheers

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1987 Pontiac Fiero - dropped 2.5 inches - cold air intake - no cat - cherry bomb equipped
If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88MPH your gonna see some serious sh*t.

Replies:

Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 28 May 2011 at 11:13am

So the engine ran just fine in the other car and now has low power, right?

So what has changed?

If the engine idles nice and sounds normal I don't think it's a spark issue. People have already mentioned timing so I won't go there. If that doesn't change the situation I would suspect fuel. Check pressure at the Schrader valve. Maybe swap fuel filter from the "good" car.

Is the air filter clean? If there is any question then remove the filter for a moment and try it out.

Obviously check for any codes or weird readings from the computer port.

Otherwise, take for a sh*t kicking and then pull over and use your nose. Do you smell clutch or brake pad? Really bad brakes could cause problems I suppose. They would get really hot quickly though.

If the trany was that buggered it would be making noises or shifting badly.

Ok, that's just off the top of my head.

The Dawg

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You dream it up....I'll make it

Posted By: 86_Fiero
Date Posted: 28 May 2011 at 12:12pm

Yeah I don't think it's spark either but it's just good
practice. I suspect their old. My thought was the fuel.
The pump as far as I know works just fine. I hop in, turn
the key and I hear the pump pressurize the system and
turn the key and voila it starts up right away. I don't
have the "good" car anymore so that's out. If it was the
fuel filter wouldn't it just stop working altogether if
it was bad? Air filter is brand new and the housing,
hollowed out intake muffler and the rubber intake hose to
the TB was cleaned in the parts washer. I did smell a bit
of clutch on my second attempt but I was writing it off
on my steel toed work boots. My brakes haven't even been
bled so their not even making contact with the rotors
(drove without brakes). Was shifting bad but that was
just unadjusted shift linkage to the tranny.
I'll find out what's what on Tuesday. Thanks for the
ideas Dawg ^_^

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1987 Pontiac Fiero - dropped 2.5 inches - cold air intake - no cat - cherry bomb equipped
If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88MPH your gonna see some serious sh*t.

Posted By: Medic
Date Posted: 28 May 2011 at 12:16pm

How about the coil?
I had a bad coil that still functioned but had low spark. It made the car sluggish. When I changed it the power difference was remarkable.

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88 GT Northstar 6 Spd

Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 28 May 2011 at 12:30pm

No FUEL FILTERS fail over time, especially in Fuel Injected cars. The Pump can produce enormous pressure to overcome a bad filter on startup, however can't sustain anything over 1/2 throttle. I have seen a semi clogged fuel filter take away as much as 60hp away from a 140hp engine.

If anyone on a Fiero has not changed there fuel filter in over a year or 15,000kms, I can guarantee they will notice a seat of the pant difference in how the car runs. Its one of the first things I do to any Fiero when I do a tune up on it. Just because you can hear the pump run, does not mean the fuel is getting to the engine, or at the least just getting enough fuel to fire the motor.

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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.

Posted By: 86_Fiero
Date Posted: 28 May 2011 at 1:22pm

Thanks guys. More food for thought :)

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1987 Pontiac Fiero - dropped 2.5 inches - cold air intake - no cat - cherry bomb equipped
If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88MPH your gonna see some serious sh*t.

Posted By: CFoss
Date Posted: 28 May 2011 at 4:23pm

I didn't look at the thread, but it's also CLASSIC partially plugged CAT.

It happened to me!!! When the chunk got loose, I took off and the engine exhaust note dropped an octave. No other symptoms.

Chay

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86 SE 3.4

Posted By: CFoss
Date Posted: 28 May 2011 at 4:27pm

Ok, read it, no CAT. Crap.

I have also had the engine to seem to run ok, while missing the power feed (fuse) to one bank of injectors.

I second the filer deal. If you can, run a fuel pressure guage from the rail to the pass seat. Have a partner check the fuel pressure as you hit it. It should rise!

Chay

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86 SE 3.4

Posted By: 86_Fiero
Date Posted: 28 May 2011 at 4:31pm

I'll do everything else before I start manufacturing fuel
pressure lines leading to the passenger seat. Thanks CFoss

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1987 Pontiac Fiero - dropped 2.5 inches - cold air intake - no cat - cherry bomb equipped
If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88MPH your gonna see some serious sh*t.

Posted By: tk_85redgt
Date Posted: 29 May 2011 at 6:36am

My dad had a 88 S10 Blazer with a 2.8 in it and he had the same problem once with it and it was a plugged cat.