Sputtering problem...PLEASE help

[98blackbeauty]

Missey do you are your buddies have a volt meter? If you do measure the voltage across battery terminals before you start car, then while running check voltage across bat terminals. should be 12.5 before starting. 13.5-15.5 when running, depending on how hard the start was. Then measure the big terminal on the alt. it should read the same 13.5 - 15.5 volts. Note if there is a difference between the battery and the alt.
Normally if engine is sputtering the volt meter in the dash doesn't respond that fast because it still has the battery to suport the voltage. Besides a bad grd that I mentioned earlier, I'm thinking battery, like one cell shorting out vibration sometimes will make it go away. Alt. has built in regulator, could be acting up. You can take battery or alt. to O'rellys or Autozone and they will test them.

[Phantom409]

Yup!

The opti needs 5v signal from the computer back to the optical sensor.
If that is getting messed up then things can go funky along with miss fires and what not.

I would have the Batt. and Alt. tested.
It's FREE

[fbodyhottie]

Yup!

The opti needs 5v signal from the computer back to the optical sensor.
If that is getting messed up then things can go funky along with miss fires and what not.

I would have the Batt. and Alt. tested.
It's FREE

yeah, i may take those out when i get off work and take them to get tested. Murrays is only a few min from my house and i used to work there for 3 years.

[Phantom409]

Cool!

Let us know what you find out

[MP81]

Oooh...and the story takes an unexpected turn.

My dad just had his alternator go bad...makes me think his 11 year old stock battery could've lasted through the winter...

[fbodyhottie]

So.....another new thing...since i changed my plugs and wires,now my abs inop light comes on the first time it sputters. wtf?

[JoeliusZ28]

So.....another new thing...since i changed my plugs and wires,now my abs inop light comes on the first time it sputters. wtf?

its starting to sound like youve got an atrocious electrical gremlin somewhere...

[MP81]

Yep...I'd get that Alternator checked...

[meissen]

Might be unrelated to the plug/wire change but if the alternator is screwing with your voltage it very well could be frying stuff..

[Fbomb]

Definitely Murrays...O'Reilly's.

[fbodyhottie]

Wellll....i took the car to my buddies shop on lunch. Sputtered the whole way there. My buddy got in and drove it, made it out of the parking lot and it sputtered. They went to hook a datalogger up to it, took it for a drive...didnt sputter once. We kinda beat on it a bit and everything....gahhhhhh!

[LS1Formulation]

Isn't that a pain in the ass? It's like the car knows you want to find out what is wrong, lol.

[Plantfoam]

My '91 Z28 recentlystarted sputtering when it warms up, and a clogged fuel filter was the first thing I thought of. I needed to be replaced anyways, so I did that, but no luck. Checked for vacuum leaks, spark, you name it, everything seems fine. Yesterday it sputtered out and stopped running altogether and won't start at all.

I guess the ECM could have taken a crap....anyways, I guess I am spoiled since my dad is a master tech and he is supposed to take a look at it today....Sorry for the derail, I thought it might be somewhat related

[Plantfoam]

Ok, in my case it ended up being a shorted out injector. It ended up taking out the other injectors on the passenger side bank....so, it looks like I won't be driving it to the meet and greet this weekend. I'm not gonna bother fixing it, since my new engine is going in about a month from now.

[fbodyhottie]

So....I am dropping the z off to my friends shop after work today. They are going to drive it tomorrow all day and do some datalogging so hopefully I can figure out what is wrong with it.....wish me luck! Ill keep you guys posted!