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1990 5.7 liter gmc truck. Just tuned up. Engine is running rough.

 
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  • Answered by:fix that car
  • GMC Mechanic
  • Positive Feedback: 93.3 %
  • Accepted Answers: 47
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Customer Question

1990 5.7 liter gmc truck. Just tuned up. Engine is running rough. Sooty deposits on plugs.

 

Optional Information:
Year: 1990
Make: GMC
Model: 1500
Engine: 5.7

Already Tried:
new plugs, wires, cap and rotor, new fuel management valve.

Submitted: 1379 days and 19 hours ago.
Category: GM
Value: $23
Status: CLOSED
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Expert:  fix that car replied 1379 days and 18 hours ago.

hi ,

does this problem happen when engine is cold or warmed up?

did you have this problem before the tune up?

how is the fuel consumption on theis truck?

is the check engine light on?

Customer replied 1379 days and 18 hours ago.

Did not have the problem until after the tune up. Never got it to run right. No check engine light. Pulled plug and arced to block. Arc was yellow and not blue.

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Expert:  fix that car replied 1379 days and 18 hours ago.

ok it sounds like the plug wires are not on correctly, here is a diagram showing how they should be. hope this helps.

graphic

Customer replied 1379 days and 18 hours ago.

Wish that that was it.

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Expert:  fix that car replied 1379 days and 18 hours ago.

ok well if the problem was not there untill after the tune up then one of the componets must be faulty. does it feel like the engine is missing? if you remove one plug wire at a time is there a cylinder that with the plug wire disconnected the engine runs the same?

Customer replied 1379 days and 18 hours ago.

All of the cylinders are sooty. I can move the distributor almosr 90 degrees with no change in performance. Already changed cap again as it was causing intermittent misfires.

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Expert:  fix that car replied 1379 days and 18 hours ago.

ok this makes no sense. no problem before tune up, after tune up you can move the distributer 90 degrees? with no change? did you remove the dist. during the tune up?

Customer replied 1379 days and 18 hours ago.

Distributor was pulled. Bottom end on engine redone. Heads were not pulled. New timing chain.

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Expert:  fix that car replied 1379 days and 18 hours ago.

ah ha the plot thickins:) ok the timing is definetly off we need to bring the engine to top dead center (TDC) and make sure the distributer is set so the rotor is pointing towards #1 on the cap. if you want to play with it you can move all the wires over one spot on the cap and retest it should get better. maybe two spots depending on how retarded the timing is. did you set the timing chain? if so are you sure the marks were lined up. sorry I mean no offense to your skills just trying to cover the bases.

Customer replied 1379 days and 17 hours ago.

Triple checked tdc. Timing marks lined up just fine. I know why you are asking these things. I've torn into quite a few sbc engines and never had problems like this.

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Expert:  fix that car replied 1379 days and 17 hours ago.

have you checked for a plugged exaust sys.?

Customer replied 1379 days and 17 hours ago.

yes

Accepted Answer

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Expert:  fix that car replied 1379 days and 17 hours ago.

i'm still here. I have some info for you to check for the sooty plug conditon. hope this helps. I am turning in for the night its almost midnight here I have to be up at 4 am. if you would like I will repost this for you or we can pick it up in the morn. your choice.:)graphic

Expert TypeGMC Mechanic
Category: GM
Pos. Feedback: 93.3 %
Accepts: 47
Answered: 7/1/2009

Experience: working on all makes of GMC cars and trucks for over 15 years

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Expert:  fix that car replied 1378 days and 22 hours ago.

hey bud, any news?

 
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