help with 3.1

[racefamily69]

i have a 95 olds acheiva with the 3.1, it started running bad like it needed a tune up so i changed the plugs and wires. Now it has no power and will only go to about 4000rpms in park and it starts surging real bad, it sounds fine at idle but just has no power, any ideas?

[bszopi]

Probably 1 or more coils either are bad or are going bad.

[racefamily69]

thanks for the info, is there a possibility that during the plug change i knocked something loose on the backside of the engine. i did find a loose vacuum hose but i have not figured out yet where it is supposed to go.

[Carlspike]

If it started running bad after the wire change then check that they are on the right cylinder numbers. I'd check the fuel filter too.

[bracketracer]

3.1 problem

This sounds very much like the problem I had last fall on my '93 Sunbird. It began to idle and run like crap, and I couldn't get it into higher rpm range at all. I also replaced the plugs and wires with no change. Then I replaced all 3 coils and the ignition control module. These were factory original parts with over 151,000 miles on them, so I can't complain. I found that 2 of the coils had cracks that were allowing moisture into them, and as they corroded, they were splitting open wider. They are a pain to reach on the car, unless you remove the starter, but it fixed the problem.

[racefamily69]

background

okay this all started becuase the car was running like crap, at steady speeds it would start missing and load up, when you gassed it; it ran fine. So i changed the plugs and wires now it has no power and even in neutral it will not go over 4000 rps and then it starts surging almost like it is on a trans brake and stutter box. please help, i am out of ideas.

[bszopi]

Have you checked the coils yet?

[racefamily69]

yes, i have installed new coils

[bszopi]

How about the fuel filter? How long has it been since that has been changed. Since it was an issue before you started messing with it, I would look for simple maintenance issues first. There are a bunch of things that could be causing the symptoms you are describing...

[TazMan]

If it started running bad after the wire change then check that they are on the right cylinder numbers. I'd check the fuel filter too.

Did you double check the firing order when you installed the new coils? I've made that mistake more than once.

[TazMan]

So i changed the plugs and wires now it has no power and even in neutral it will not go over 4000 rps and then it starts surging almost like it is on a trans brake and stutter box. please help, i am out of ideas.

Also, my 95 3100 didn't go above 4000 rpms in neutral or park. If I hit the gas in neutral/park, it cut off at about 4000rpms and surged on and off until I let up. Some kind of saftey feature or something. I think someone told me it's called a rev limiter and it's programed into the computer, so maybe thats not even part of the problem your having.

[racefamily69]

turned out to be the ignition module, it runs just fine now. i am really glad to have it back since i bought it two years ago for 1300 dollars i have gotten used to 25mpg around town, which is a lot better than my fullsize pick up. i really bought the car to turn it and make a profit but i drive fourty miles round trip to work and it has saved me way over 1300 in gas already so i think i'll keep it. heack i might even look at some performance mods pretty soon, i just bought my wife a new dodge magnum wagon with hemi and see keep taunting me and telling me just how bad she can out run me. anyway i really would like to thank everyone for their suggestions and help in general.

[pontiac3100]

wait so when you floored it in drive at higher rpms it would act up?