1997 old 88 hessitation while driving.

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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blazerk5drew
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Posts: 38
Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:31 pm
Year and Trim: 1997 olds 88. base model

1997 old 88 hessitation while driving.

Post by blazerk5drew »

Guys I need help.

The olds has been running like a champ since ive rebuilt the engine, but lately, since the harsh cold set in, it has had a hessitation under normal driving. WOT is fine.

List of things I have done

New:
-02 sensors
-ignition module
-plugs/wires
-coils
-motorvac fuel injection cleaning performed.
-fuel pressure checked and it holds
-fuel filter replaced
-MAF
-TPS
-fuel pres. reg.

Engine specs are below. Im wondering if the intense pcm is not working correctly.

One person mentioned water in the fuel tank might cause these symptoms...It does not feel like a misfire at all but rather like it isnt getting fuel (which i believe it to be). I pulled the fuel rail off and cranked the car....all injectors fire evenly and close...although im not sure how they act while driving.

ANY IDEAS??? the car is for sale but id like to have this fixed, otherwise the price might have to come down substantially.
1997 Olds 88

Performance Mod list:
Newer grand prix 17" wheels, Drilled and slotted front rotors, flowmaster dual outlet exhaust (mostly for looks), Custom intake and throttlebody heat shield.

Engine rebuilt .020 bored over, vette springs and retainers, ported LIM and exhaust manifolds, Intense S1X Cam and Intense custom PCM.

Transmission Rebuilt with shift kit, stall converter.

Other: two 12 inch kickers in the trunk w/ 1000 watt kenwood amp. Alpine head unit. Infinity kappa speakers with 700W pheonix gold amp
Jrs3800
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Year and Trim: 03 SLE, 95 SE, 95 TS SE
Location: Space Coast, or at least it used to be

Re: 1997 old 88 hessitation while driving.

Post by Jrs3800 »

What was the fuel pressure?
blazerk5drew
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 38
Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:31 pm
Year and Trim: 1997 olds 88. base model

Re: 1997 old 88 hessitation while driving.

Post by blazerk5drew »

IIRC the fuel pressure was 45 psi at idle and easily went over 50 when throttled. It does have a newer fuel pump...not that that means anything.
1997 Olds 88

Performance Mod list:
Newer grand prix 17" wheels, Drilled and slotted front rotors, flowmaster dual outlet exhaust (mostly for looks), Custom intake and throttlebody heat shield.

Engine rebuilt .020 bored over, vette springs and retainers, ported LIM and exhaust manifolds, Intense S1X Cam and Intense custom PCM.

Transmission Rebuilt with shift kit, stall converter.

Other: two 12 inch kickers in the trunk w/ 1000 watt kenwood amp. Alpine head unit. Infinity kappa speakers with 700W pheonix gold amp
blazerk5drew
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 38
Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:31 pm
Year and Trim: 1997 olds 88. base model

Re: 1997 old 88 hessitation while driving.

Post by blazerk5drew »

I went and drove the car yesterday because of the warmer weather to see if anything changed and it still bogs way down. I tried shaking wiring to the maf sensor and i checked the engine over again. Im wondering if i need to run a stock pcm to identify codes correctly.
1997 Olds 88

Performance Mod list:
Newer grand prix 17" wheels, Drilled and slotted front rotors, flowmaster dual outlet exhaust (mostly for looks), Custom intake and throttlebody heat shield.

Engine rebuilt .020 bored over, vette springs and retainers, ported LIM and exhaust manifolds, Intense S1X Cam and Intense custom PCM.

Transmission Rebuilt with shift kit, stall converter.

Other: two 12 inch kickers in the trunk w/ 1000 watt kenwood amp. Alpine head unit. Infinity kappa speakers with 700W pheonix gold amp
Tuffguy610
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SLE Member
Posts: 92
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:56 am
Year and Trim: 1997 Oldsmobile LS L36 4T60-E
New L36 @ 110K Miles

Re: 1997 old 88 hessitation while driving.

Post by Tuffguy610 »

Is the computer throwing any codes? I know you said you replaced the fuel pump, but I had the same symptoms on a car I previously owned (88' 6000) where the car would sputter on anything but full throttle. I sold the car like that and then ran into the guy a month later and he said the fuel pump blew up right after I sold it :dontknow:. Maybe you have a defective fuel pump. Reading your thread again it also seems that the MAF could be bad. They usually fail without throwing a code. You can't really shake the MAF on these cars since they are embedded into the TB. I feel your pain as I have also 97 Eighty-Eight with a rebuilt engine and it always gives me some type of problem. Good luck.
Last edited by Tuffguy610 on Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
blazerk5drew
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 38
Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:31 pm
Year and Trim: 1997 olds 88. base model

Re: 1997 old 88 hessitation while driving.

Post by blazerk5drew »

The computer throws no codes. the computer has been altered to not show some codes like egr, rear 02 and missfire. im going to try and swap in an oem computer if the fuel pump checks out. This car did sit for a long time before i bought it. Im hoping the fuel pump sock is plugged up and causing fuel volume problems. Ill get back to you guys. I Just bought a new car though so the olds has been on placed on the back burner.
1997 Olds 88

Performance Mod list:
Newer grand prix 17" wheels, Drilled and slotted front rotors, flowmaster dual outlet exhaust (mostly for looks), Custom intake and throttlebody heat shield.

Engine rebuilt .020 bored over, vette springs and retainers, ported LIM and exhaust manifolds, Intense S1X Cam and Intense custom PCM.

Transmission Rebuilt with shift kit, stall converter.

Other: two 12 inch kickers in the trunk w/ 1000 watt kenwood amp. Alpine head unit. Infinity kappa speakers with 700W pheonix gold amp
LeSabre in Buffalo
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Re: 1997 old 88 hessitation while driving.

Post by LeSabre in Buffalo »

What's your KR (knock retard) like?

Mine hesitates (/ed) a lot on light throttle application from a stop/slow sped. Turned out it was the alternator and power steering pump causing lots of false knock, as near as I can figure out. The engine quickly went from idle to about 1600-1700 RPM's, and the change caused the accessories to make more noise that got picked up by the knock sensors as knock, again as what I think was happening. Then the engine pulls timing as a protective measure, which feels like hesitation.
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