The 6 cylinder Z

[ghlkal]

When I purchased the Z in April it ran poorly. I figured I would have to change the injectors. In the past few weeks it started running horribly.

I finally got a Tech 1 and was eager to see what I could find out. I was hoping to do the “injector flow” test, but I can’t (subject for another thread sometime).

I ran the “injector balance” test with my Tech 1 that allows you to turn off individual injectors. When I commanded injector 1 off, there was a noticeable drop in RPM. When I commanded injector 3 off, there was no change. Hmm. As it turns out injectors 3 and 6 are dead – no change between idle speed with them on or off. I did check spark to 3 and 6 and there is spark.

I was planning on pulling the plenum and cleaning / changing everything, including all 16 injectors, over the winter. My wife and I planned a trip in mid-August and I was hoping to take the Z.

Before I jump to conclusions, could this be anything else other than 2 really bad injectors? It seems to me that I’m running on only 6 cylinders, and the car is sluggish enough and shudders enough to verify that. BTW, I did replace the plugs just because I don’t know how old they are (they had been replaced and I stuck with the AC 41-602).

We have ethanol in our gas here in WI. The car came from TX. Does TX not blend their gas with ethanol? Or, is it the fact that I’ve driven the car nearly 3500 miles since I bought it and it was time?

Thanks for sympathizing with me

Gary