Misfire under boost

Series I L27 (1992-1994 SE,SLE, SSE) & Series II L36 (1995-1999 SE, SSE, SLE) and common problems for the Series I and II L67 (all supercharged models 92-99) Including Olds 88's, Olds LSS's, Olds 98 91-96, Buick Lesabres and Park Avenue 91-96. Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.
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MattStrike
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Misfire under boost

Post by MattStrike »

'93 SE L67 again. Intermittent.

Typical drive:
Startup cold, warms up a bit, then leave. Step on the gas for a brisk acceleration and it goes fine normally. Everything gets warmed up, and I go for a WOT pull and maybe 50% of the time it will start to miss. If it starts to miss and I don't let up it just gets more severe until it backfires. With the SC on the top I can't tell if it's fuel in the intake igniting or if it's in the exhaust. After the backfire, it will continue to misfire if I maintain a cruise speed but will slowly return back to normal. Immediatly after it recovers I can hit it WOT again and about 50% of the time it pulls hard without a misfire. Sometimes I just can't get into boost without it starting to misfire, and other times it just goes on like nothing was wrong.

I can't see this as a mechanical failure, maybe fuel related, but the intermittent thing is throwing me off.
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The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67
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J Wikoff
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Re: Misfire under boost

Post by J Wikoff »

My guesses are coils or fuel pump.
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WHITE WHINE - 1992 SSE Supercharged 236.26 ci (.040 Over) 15.090 at 90.2 MPH on old engine w/ slipping trans & melted O2 sensor - Gen 3 M62 and matching TB, Gen 2 Pully, Zillamotorsports Ported LIM, YT 1.72 Roller Rockers, SII FPR & Injectors, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/ 160 Thermo, TransGo Shift Kit, Infinity/Pioneer Speakers & a 10" Alpine Type R Sub, all the watts, 140 amp Alternator, Ricepipe CAI w/ heatshield, Pilot Angel Eye Foglights, Clear Corners, '02 17" Chrome Bent 5's, Magnaflow F-Body Muffler and Hi-flo Cat, Ceramic Coated Ported Exhaust Manifolds, Fan Override, Monroe Reflex struts, red calipers
2009 G8 GT - Sport Red Metallic, loaded, SOLO Axlebacks, Rotofab Intake, Tuned, autodim mirror, removed intake manifold cover, HSV GTS triple gauge pod, two tone red-hot shifter and HSV SuperSport steering wheel, GXP rear sway bar and diffuser, 3.45 diff and various Camaro suspension bits, LED Taillights
Kajidono
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Re: Misfire under boost

Post by Kajidono »

Same thing is happening on mine but it's not throwing any related codes.
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2000Silverbullet
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Re: Misfire under boost

Post by 2000Silverbullet »

Fuel Pump.
Just did one on my 94. Similar symptoms.
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2000 SSEi - SilverBullet - 78,000 kms, 4" "straight shot" custom headlight ram air inlet, TOGs, 1.9's, Lsd, 2.9-3.4"MPS 10-15 psi, Ported GenV, EGR eliminated, OR pushrods, oil volume kit, trani cooler & shift kit, Titanium retainers, 90 lb springs, 160 Stat, 42# injectors, Fuel pump voltage increase, Wideband O2, 3" to dual 2 1/2" Magnaflows, Snow Meth/water injection, after SC temp gauge, 255/50WR17, timing commander set 15-18*@WOT, 2 speed Fan over-ride, disabled DRL, Solid motor mount, Meziere Electric water pump, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, Drilled & slotted rotors/ceramics, GXP sway bars and STB, Upgraded and rebuilt transmission with ZZP 2500 rpm stall TC, Pioneer Bluetooth stereo with sub and 800 W amps, PB 13.5 quarter, (April 2014 car of the month)
Kajidono
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Re: Misfire under boost

Post by Kajidono »

Ah, I saw your thread on the silver goose. I was hoping that wasn't it, but at 227,000 miles I guess it's had a good run.
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2000Silverbullet
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Re: Misfire under boost

Post by 2000Silverbullet »

The fuel pump on a SC L67 is specific and a higher volume than the standard NA SE pump.
Image
2000 SSEi - SilverBullet - 78,000 kms, 4" "straight shot" custom headlight ram air inlet, TOGs, 1.9's, Lsd, 2.9-3.4"MPS 10-15 psi, Ported GenV, EGR eliminated, OR pushrods, oil volume kit, trani cooler & shift kit, Titanium retainers, 90 lb springs, 160 Stat, 42# injectors, Fuel pump voltage increase, Wideband O2, 3" to dual 2 1/2" Magnaflows, Snow Meth/water injection, after SC temp gauge, 255/50WR17, timing commander set 15-18*@WOT, 2 speed Fan over-ride, disabled DRL, Solid motor mount, Meziere Electric water pump, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, Drilled & slotted rotors/ceramics, GXP sway bars and STB, Upgraded and rebuilt transmission with ZZP 2500 rpm stall TC, Pioneer Bluetooth stereo with sub and 800 W amps, PB 13.5 quarter, (April 2014 car of the month)
Bob Dillon
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Re: Misfire under boost

Post by Bob Dillon »

Sounds like fuel delivery to me. I'd watch maintaining WOT with a supercharged engine and a mixture lean enough to misfire, too. If that's what it is, it's not helping the piston tops any.

Changed the fuel filter lately? I'd check both the filter and fuel pressure first.
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MattStrike
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Re: Misfire under boost

Post by MattStrike »

Is this going to be a situation where the correct SC fuel pump isn't available anymore? Maybe I can kill two birds here by using my SSEi pump here and upgrading the SSEi pump.

What model is the Walbro pump everyone is using? http://walbrofuelpumps.com/1992-1993-po ... -3-8l.html
Boost addict
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The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67
User avatar
J Wikoff
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Posts: 17080
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 7:01 pm
Year and Trim: 1992 SSE
2009 G8 GT
Location: Central Illinois
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Re: Misfire under boost

Post by J Wikoff »

Check willwren's posts to see which one he used on his 93. It might be in his signature.
Image
WHITE WHINE - 1992 SSE Supercharged 236.26 ci (.040 Over) 15.090 at 90.2 MPH on old engine w/ slipping trans & melted O2 sensor - Gen 3 M62 and matching TB, Gen 2 Pully, Zillamotorsports Ported LIM, YT 1.72 Roller Rockers, SII FPR & Injectors, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/ 160 Thermo, TransGo Shift Kit, Infinity/Pioneer Speakers & a 10" Alpine Type R Sub, all the watts, 140 amp Alternator, Ricepipe CAI w/ heatshield, Pilot Angel Eye Foglights, Clear Corners, '02 17" Chrome Bent 5's, Magnaflow F-Body Muffler and Hi-flo Cat, Ceramic Coated Ported Exhaust Manifolds, Fan Override, Monroe Reflex struts, red calipers
2009 G8 GT - Sport Red Metallic, loaded, SOLO Axlebacks, Rotofab Intake, Tuned, autodim mirror, removed intake manifold cover, HSV GTS triple gauge pod, two tone red-hot shifter and HSV SuperSport steering wheel, GXP rear sway bar and diffuser, 3.45 diff and various Camaro suspension bits, LED Taillights
Kajidono
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Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:57 pm
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Re: Misfire under boost

Post by Kajidono »

Rockauto has the fuel pumps.
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2000Silverbullet
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Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 5:06 pm
Year and Trim: 2000 SSEi, 79 Firebird, 88 Jeep, 11 Yukon Denali
Location: Powell River BC - 7 time WCBF Survivor

Re: Misfire under boost

Post by 2000Silverbullet »

I bought the complete unit from RockAuto including the level float. It comes complete with ring and rubber gasket all wired plug and play for $130.
Image
2000 SSEi - SilverBullet - 78,000 kms, 4" "straight shot" custom headlight ram air inlet, TOGs, 1.9's, Lsd, 2.9-3.4"MPS 10-15 psi, Ported GenV, EGR eliminated, OR pushrods, oil volume kit, trani cooler & shift kit, Titanium retainers, 90 lb springs, 160 Stat, 42# injectors, Fuel pump voltage increase, Wideband O2, 3" to dual 2 1/2" Magnaflows, Snow Meth/water injection, after SC temp gauge, 255/50WR17, timing commander set 15-18*@WOT, 2 speed Fan over-ride, disabled DRL, Solid motor mount, Meziere Electric water pump, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, Drilled & slotted rotors/ceramics, GXP sway bars and STB, Upgraded and rebuilt transmission with ZZP 2500 rpm stall TC, Pioneer Bluetooth stereo with sub and 800 W amps, PB 13.5 quarter, (April 2014 car of the month)
User avatar
MattStrike
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 4760
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:32 pm
Year and Trim: '99 Montana
'04 Dirtymax
'97 Camaro
'92 Trofeo
Location: SE Michigan

Re: Misfire under boost

Post by MattStrike »

*reviving from the dead for closure*

Guess what it was? A bad ignition coil. It would spark good at idle, but could drop out under boost. It wasn't until the last few weeks that it got bad enough that it was always dropping out that I was able to find it. With good weather on the horizon, we had taken the car to the carwash and I sprayed down the engine bay. Of course the weak coil stopped firing on one cylinder due to the water, which is how I found it. Swapped out the coil and now it screams like a banshee again.

It's odd, because I've swapped out the entire ICM and all 3 coils already without finding this, so it means I've got another bad coil on the shelf to root out.
Boost addict
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The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67
Kajidono
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 53
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:57 pm
Year and Trim: 1997 Bonneville SSEi

Re: Misfire under boost

Post by Kajidono »

Mine turned out to be the intake manifold, so ¯\(ツ)/¯
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J Wikoff
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Re: Misfire under boost

Post by J Wikoff »

What did we learn here?

If I make two guesses and everyone goes with the second, it was guaranteed to be the first. Lol!
Image
WHITE WHINE - 1992 SSE Supercharged 236.26 ci (.040 Over) 15.090 at 90.2 MPH on old engine w/ slipping trans & melted O2 sensor - Gen 3 M62 and matching TB, Gen 2 Pully, Zillamotorsports Ported LIM, YT 1.72 Roller Rockers, SII FPR & Injectors, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/ 160 Thermo, TransGo Shift Kit, Infinity/Pioneer Speakers & a 10" Alpine Type R Sub, all the watts, 140 amp Alternator, Ricepipe CAI w/ heatshield, Pilot Angel Eye Foglights, Clear Corners, '02 17" Chrome Bent 5's, Magnaflow F-Body Muffler and Hi-flo Cat, Ceramic Coated Ported Exhaust Manifolds, Fan Override, Monroe Reflex struts, red calipers
2009 G8 GT - Sport Red Metallic, loaded, SOLO Axlebacks, Rotofab Intake, Tuned, autodim mirror, removed intake manifold cover, HSV GTS triple gauge pod, two tone red-hot shifter and HSV SuperSport steering wheel, GXP rear sway bar and diffuser, 3.45 diff and various Camaro suspension bits, LED Taillights
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