Sputtering
 

Took z out today to a car show but before I got there put 11 gallons of fuel(premium) car was running perfect got to the car show and car felt like it was shaking at idol ,gave it gas and was sputtering. So I stayed at show 2 hrs left,while driving was sputtering threw out all gears not so bad at high rpms ,has any one come across this,88000 miles,don't know last time fuel filter was changed i know injectors have been changed I can see a rc sticker on them. Cars been running perfect maybe bad gas. Thanks

Re: Sputtering
 

I am having the same issue, I just replaced the fuel filter and my injectors are good. could be computer chip not allowing enough fuel, the only other thing I can think of is the pumps... any other thoughts?

Re: Sputtering
 

could be a vac issue, could be fuel. the only way to know for sure is to attach gauges and drive around with them to see what the car is doing

Re: Sputtering
 

Can not stress enough the need to have the spark plug wire boots filled with Di-Electric grease.

The spark can violently bounce to the cam cover causing the issues you both describe. My car did it the very first week of ownership.

Once I filled the boots with the grease the symptoms immediately ceased. the car was idling and running better all the way around.

Re: Sputtering
 

Thanks for input guys, tried replacing fuel filter and couldn't do it nut was to tight, couldn't get leverage with jack under car so I will bring to a friends shop and replace it there and see if filter works & try di electric . Thanks I'll keep you guys posted.

Re: Sputtering
 

I actually bought bad gas this summer...it happens. My symptoms were a hunting idle when rolling to a stop and occasional stalls on the roll. coasting idle stumble at 2600 when transitioning back to the throttle at very light loads. It was weird- I think it was too much ethanol water contamination at the gas station.

Re: Sputtering
 

Having had experience with spark tracking on my friend's car a few years ago, let me add to Z06scentair's post. If you decide to fill the spark plug wire boots with dielectric grease--and it's always important to do so when you remove them--you should probably consider replacing the spark plugs at that time. If you think that you have a spark jump issue like we did and you look very, very closely at the spark plug insulators from top to bottom outside, you will no doubt see where the "misguided" spark has created a track from the top of the spark plug to the base on one or more of them. Using plugs that have this "defect", even though you've added the grease, will probably result in your having the same symptoms as before. For a few bucks, it's well worth considering. This, by the way, was Marc Haibeck's suggestion to us when my friend had the problem...and we had just replaced his plugs too!

Re: Sputtering
 

SP wire arc-ing also causes EMI emmission, same as a nuke, and solid state sensors and nukes don't play well together...

Re: Sputtering
 

Ok put new fuel filter and still same problem,next step new plugs,in the mean time I'm letting it run & driving it to get rid of gas so I can put new fuel in to see if this whole time it was bad gas.

Re: Sputtering
 

When taking off in 1st gear it sputters until 1500-2000 rpms,if I ease into gas pedal to reach higher rpms 5-6000 it's fine,but soon as I give it half to full throttle it sputters. Maybe that I'll shine a little bit of light,thanks

Re: Sputtering
 

Have you checked the plugs yet for Tracking as Joe described?

Keep us posted as to your outcome.

Re: Sputtering
 

Loy's of problems can 'hide' under high rpms.

Re: Sputtering
 

Ok changed plugs, fuel filter, put new fuel and still sputters. Drove 5 miles with new fuel don't know if that's enough time to mix in.

Re: Sputtering
 

New DIS installed as well?

Re: Sputtering
 

If you mean distributer cap,no. Taking off plenum looks like a nightmare?

Re: Sputtering
 

I thought the same thing but once you get into it, it isn't that hard. drain some coolant, 10 bolts, some connectors and you're there. the zr-1 doesn't have a distributer cap.

Re: Sputtering
 

What's (Dis)? What does it have?

Re: Sputtering
 

Me thinks there are 12 bolts ;)

Removing Plenum (including the 10 minute Plenum Removal)

Re: Sputtering
 

Ok they have coils,is there a way to check if there bad? It almost seems it cuts out while sputtering.

Re: Sputtering
 

theres one in every crowd ;)

Re: Sputtering
 

Is there a way to check if I have a bad coil?

Re: Sputtering
 

Using Timing Light To Check Coils TIPS
Testing coils

Re: Sputtering
 

DIS wher is it located been reading around forum and keep mentioning this DIS,I know I sound like I'm dumb but I'm trying to find out this problem it's driving me crazy :mad: so with your help the faster I get this beast on the road and kick some azz:dancing

Re: Sputtering
 

Distributorless Ignition System (DIS). The DIS is attached up under the Plenum with four bolts with Heat Sink White Grease (as batchman correctly points out in a following post) between the base of the DIS and the Plenum. The DIS is about 8 inches by 8 inches by maybe 1 inch. There are two electrical plugs in front and three in back with one BIG electrical plug having a capturing long bolt to hold it in place.

Re: Sputtering
 

Thanks everyone for all the valuable info,I'm sure I'll find the culprit by weeks end. Just out of curiosity if it or was bad gas how long would it take for new fuel to kick in? Drove till 3 bars above reserve and filled it up( premium).

Re: Sputtering
 

Exhaust smells like someone lit off fireworks,if that helps any.

Re: Sputtering
 

Tom,

Have you pulled the plenum yet?

Can you verify all injectors have been changed?

Don't worry about the DIS yet. When I posted that last-night I was thinking about another thread, and posted on yours. My apologies!

Did you check for spark tracking on the plugs?

Brad

Re: Sputtering
 

The kicker is the fact this started all of a sudden.......:dontknow:
Did anyone mention the MAP connection yet?

Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (MAP)

MAP Sensor Hose Fix TIPS
MAP sensor hose disconnected

x2 on the DIS for later.

Re: Sputtering
 

No haven't pulled plenum,no tracking on plugs,injectors have been changed. I'm leaning towards coil,will do test with timming light test on wires & pull plug and check spark color. But before that will check fuel pressure,will keep you posted:icon_thum

Re: Sputtering
 

Ok did a fuel pressure test full throttle 49-50,I assume that's good. Next I'm going to remove plenum and test coil pck

Re: Sputtering
 

Loosened this bolts on the Plenum and radiator fluid is starting to come out is there a hose to remove the radiator fluid before I take the Bolts out?

Re: Sputtering
 

Never mind figured it out, overall it was pretty easy to take off so while I was taking off the coil packs I noticed the plate the coil pack sit on the plug was off in the back so I'm wondering if that was the issue. If I use an ohm reader can I see if the coil packs are bad? And what's the reading for the ohm on the coil packs?

Re: Sputtering
 

Not sure on the coils...since your there replace them, It will cost about $200.

Clean the oil debris and tighten the pcv housing cover.

Re: Sputtering
 

There's a lot of oil down there, will be replacing with Borg Warner.I think my problem was a disconnected wire clip where coils sit

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Good I hope that does correct the problem. Clean up while its apart and tighten those 8-10 bolts I spoke of earlier. That is where the oil comes from.

Re: Sputtering
 

Humbly submit I'd expect that to be a thermal grease, as it's using the plenum as a heat sink. Different from dielectric grease.

Not trying to step on the thread, sorry!
- Jeff

Re: Sputtering
 

Ok here's the deal replaced coil packs & wires,putting wires on and I think fire order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, my problem is coil pack 5/8 or 8/5 was replaced and has no numbers to go off of. What's the wright number 5/8 or 8/5? If someone has diagram of firing order, just to safe before I put it all together.

Thanks Tom

Re: Sputtering
 

The LT5 utilizes a waste spark system, meaning 2, ignition paired cylinders receive spark at the same time. Only one of those cylinders is in the compression stroke, the other cylinder receiving the "waste spark" is in an exhaust stroke. 8/5 or 5/8 makes no difference. Both fire at the same time. Your firing order is correct

Re: Sputtering
 

problem fixed, don't know if it was the coil packs or the unhooked clip in the back or wires that I got from Jerry's gasket and my problem is gone, overall was not too bad. Thanks a lot for all the valuable information if it wasn't for you guys don't know if I would've been able to fix this:cheers:

After Plenum install when I went to go start the car it was smoking white for about 30 seconds and it went away is that normal?

Re: Sputtering
 

Could have been a bit of coolant in the intake which can happen with a plenum pull.