Acceleration Problems

[sykopenguin]

Ok First of all some history on the car:
1994 S-10 Chevy Blazer 4.3L Vortec
180,000 Miles

a) 1 week after I bought it the Check Engine Light came on and hasn't been off since. Also started getting a rich gas smell. I was burning a fulltank of gas in 2 days driving only about 110 miles. $37 every 2 days!!!
b) 3 weeks later the gas gauge would only go up to 1/4 a tank even if I had a full tank of gas.
c) 1 week later car started having trouble starting up. It would idle up and down for about 5 secs and shut off. I'd restart it again and it would idle up and down again and smooth out and stay on. While the car is idleing up and down at start the battery meter was going up and down also from 0 - 20v. It still does this.
d) 1 week later the gas gauge totally stopped working. Still doesn't work.
e) 1 week later the car is losing acceleration at full speeds around 65 mph. I'd be driving on the interstate and all of a sudden speed drops and I can't get much power. I can keep the car going at least 40mph if i barely hit the gas pedal. This still happens.
f) 2 days later after driving the car for about 10 mins and coming to a red light and completely stopping I can barely accelerate when the light turns green. I can get to at least 10 mph thats only when barely hitting the gas pedal. If I give the car alittle more gas It starts popping (I think from the exhaust). The only way I can get the car to accelerate properly is to turn the car off and restart it back up. This practically happens everytime i come to a dead stop and want to accelerate again. Now sometimes I'll get lucky to where I can accelerate to about 25 mph and then about 15 secs later something kicks in and I can accelerate faster.
Ohh yeah the car idles fine after starting up...even at a complete stop.

What I was suggested 2 do:
1) Clean EGR Valve or Replace
2) Replace CPI / Nut Kit
3) Replace Fuel Filter
4) Check Fuel Pressure
5) Check TPS
6) Check 4 Loose pieces of internal catalytic converter
7) Check the ignition coil tower for corrosion
8) Change Distributor Cap / Rotor / Spark Plugs
9) Clean Gas Tank of Debris
10) Check O2 / Camshaft / MAF Sensors???
11) Check Exhaust Backpressure (cat)
12) Replace Cam Sensor
13) Check timing???
14) Check Idle Air Control Valve
15) Injector Cleaner in fuel tank.
16) Check coil for arching???

Now heres the deal I have about $800 to spend and I'm totally new to this car repair business and no I won't be paying for labor on the repairs. Which of these should I try and are the most important. So If anyone has any advice for me it would be greatly appreciated if you can point me in a direction on where I can get info on how to fix whatever you suggested. If not its cool to...I'll just research on google. Thank in advanced guys for your advice.

[jackass#1]

id would start cheap. tune it up first, cap rotor wires plugs air and fuel filters. check your fuel pressure.
something else you really need to do is to check your codes. you have a check engine light on, something has malfunctioned in your emmision system. go to autozone they will read your codes for free. get a haynes manual it will help with trouble shooting.

[smokey041369]

there are two different plug wire kits for that motor, pop a wire off your distribitor to see if it is a standard plug wire or if it has the small one, if it is the small one you can't switch to the regular style, these wires cost anywhere from 60 - 90 bucks.

they are the same ones i had on a 95 blazer with the vortec 4.3

[sykopenguin]

What brand parts you recommend I should get and do you know any cheap places online to order them?

[blazee]

You have limited funds to fix this, so don't throw away money. go to AutoZone get them to scan the codes(for free), come back here and give them to us, that way we can zero in on the problem and save you a lot of time and money.

[sykopenguin]

Ok I went to Autozone ...heres the deal:

They had to use some special key to get flash codes.
The chic that wrote the code put 21 on a piece of paper.
Then open up the haynes manual I bought for my car and under the troubleshooting section she pointed me to #12 - Fault In Alternator. I was like ok, but then on the way home I'm thinking but I tested my alternator and it was fine. So I opened the Hanyes manual and looked at #21 under the troubleshooting section. Heres what it said:
1) Idle speed 2 high
2) Ignition timing incorrect
3) Incorrect spark plug heat range
4) Intake air leak
5) Carbon build up in combustion chambers. Remove the cylinder heads and clean the combustion chambers.
6) Valves sticking
7) Vavle Clearance Incorrect
8) EGR system not operating properly
9) Check for causes of overheating
Now these problems listed seem to me are maybe the causes of my problems im experiencing not the alternator, but I don't know how the flash codes match up with the haynes manual. Anyways hopes this info helps you decide what I should do. Thanks

[blazee]

The troubleshooting section is not where you look up the codes. My Haynes manual is for the newer model but should be laid out the same as yours. Look under chapter 6. should be page 6-4. The trouble code 21 indicates a problem with the Throttle Position Sensor or it's circuit. Read further into this chapter and it will tell you how to test it and replace it. It is very possible that this one sensor is the cause of your problems.

If your book is laid out differently, look up "trouble code" in the index in the back. That will be the right chapter....it is chapter 6 in mine but may be different in yours.

[blazee]

If the TPS is your problem, please report back so others having similar problems will know what to check.

[BlazerLT]

Jesus, this guy needs to get focused.

clean and reinstall EGR valve.

Check CPI and nut kit for washing. Remove the top IMTV valve to gain access and look inside with a flashlight and look for golden washed spots and pools of gas.

[blazee]

Before he does any thing else, he needs to address the trouble code.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by blazee

Before he does any thing else, he needs to address the trouble code.

Code 12: Normal Diagnostic code done at the start of all code retrievals.

Code 21: TPS High Voltage (Change the TPS)

[BlazerLT]

Post in the original thread and don't post multiple threads again!

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...20#post2770120