Thread: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore.

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  1. #1 Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
    SE Level Member wickedfrisone's Avatar
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    So my engine isn't technically misfiring anymore after changing plugs and wires, but there's still this general lack of power no one can explain.
    I noticed over a year ago when I got the rack & pinion and one outer tie rod end replaced that whenever accelerating or attempting to I'd feel a slight lack of responsiveness and also hear what sounded like dirt/sand being kicked up or circulating somewhere from the front end.
    Last Monday I took my car to get inspected and failed because apparently both inner tie rods had too much play and I also needed new front pads. So I took him to my mechanic who found the other outer tie rod that wasn't previously replaced was also shot. So he did both inners, the one outer, front pads and resurfaced front rotors for me as well. Mechanic did say that when he did the inners and removed the dust boots, they had fluid in them and showed me a photo - so we don't know if the 'new' rack is leaking or what.

    Well, taking my car home Monday night it felt nearly perfect - not even pulling to any side the slightest bit (though not having been aligned). I even swear that the car felt like he had all of his boost and responsiveness back and literally felt like-new.
    I took the car back to the inspection facility (which is just a small shop at a Shell gas station nearby) and he passed inspection. Fast forward to this morning, I've slowly felt the car getting back to the previous not-so-responsive state and that stupid dirt/sand sound when under acceleration. (actually, Saturday afternoon after the inspection I drove to the shooting range with my boyfriend and when we were getting ready to leave found us a nice CEL : cylinder #4 was misfiring and you could hear it when we got home and parked in the driveway- which the code and misfire has since gone away but I've got my eyes peeled in case it happens again)
    Anyhow- this morning I had to get off the highway before I even got to work because of all the noise coming from the front end that I was feeling in the steering column as well. Was going to have the car towed to the shop when my mechanic suggested I check if my front wheels were loose and sure enough...front left wheel: ALL lugs were loose AF and I tightened them the best I could and got on my way to work.

    That inspection shop's mechanic nearly got my arse potentially killed.

    Anyway...it's been a week since I had the tie rods done and it felt perfect then with smooth responsiveness, and now I have this flying dirt noise and lack of response/boost again. I also feel like the p/s pump might be whining a slight bit so I have to check if it's low again (I have had to top it off maybe twice last year).

    Can anyone explain how this is happening or even possibly connected? Because I can't and I'm so tired of my car just not feeling 100%.
    2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G, aka Pumpkin
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  2. #2 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    come buy my regal next month lol its gonna need a good home......

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  3. #3 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
    Turbo is the way to go. BillBoost37's Avatar
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    To do the tie rods etc, the battery should not have been unhooked. If it were...it would relearn everything over time which it kind of sounds like. The sand sound you mention..I'm almost wondering if that's knock that you are hearing. You are using 91-93 fuel all the time correct? Knock might be loud enough to hear and would reduce power. It's odd thought because you seem to know about these cars and their quirks.

    I'm unsure why the inspection station would loosen a tire, I've never had one loosen a wheel to do anything. I'd think the mechanic last working on the car forgot to torque the wheel (aka air gun them on.) You've had a bunch of issues going on in the past, some stuff seems to make sense and some doesn't.
    I drink..so consider that when reading my posts.

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  4. #4 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
    SE Level Member wickedfrisone's Avatar
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    I'm not sure if they did to thoroughly inspect pads or what but I feel like if it were previous mechanic, he worked on it exactly a week ago and everything felt perfect for the whole week of driving to and from work no issue, it's only after the inspection that I started hearing and feeling things; I just think it'd get worse sooner if they really were loose since last Monday.
    :'( really hoping it's not knock I'm hearing. I don't use the more expensive fuel, sorry but never have and the car used to be just fine before doing the rack last year (with the exception of hard starts before I did plugs) - so I don't know... I just don't get why when I first had the rack replaced I was getting what you say might be knock in the engine, and it seemed to go away after I had the tie rods done and a week later it's back. When one would think the problem I'm experiencing shouldn't have anything to do with steering linkage/the rack. Would the fluid that was found in the boots cause any issues? Just wondering since if there is a possible leak and I know when the mechanic put everything together there shouldn't have been any fluid in there anymore, but could have filled up a bit again by now. Also I noticed sometimes when getting out of the car after getting home sometimes front end does smell like it's hotter than normal, almost like the engine was overheating except unless the temp gauge is lying to me, I doubt the engine has been overheating because I no longer have that darn leaking water pump and it's been well behaved since. So...could the rack be overheating? I don't know when /if previous owners have ever done a power steering flush and I sure have yet to do one so I wonder if that is something I should do soon, regardless if it helps all my other problems
    2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G, aka Pumpkin
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  5. #5 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
    SE Level Member wickedfrisone's Avatar
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    +also forgot to mention after I posted thread and said he hasn't been misfiring, he started doing it again when I went to move him so my sister could get her car in her spot for the night. -_- no code thrown yet because didn't run it long enough - but as I sat there in park again I heard the idle sound very off just like Saturday when he threw the code for cylinder 4.
    2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G, aka Pumpkin
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  6. #6 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
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    dirt/sand sound only when moving? if ya pop the hood and goose the gas a bit can ya hear it?
    if its only when moving im wondering if it could be wheel bearings.
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  7. #7 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
    SE Level Member wickedfrisone's Avatar
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    Hm. I guess I should try checking that. I realized later on that the sound I'm talking about could also be described as somewhat of a very low hiss, so I don't know if it could be a vacuum leak somewhere. It does sound like it comes from the driver side of the engine bay too. I did look up videos of people showing that knock/pinging sounds like and from what I could make out it doesn't really sound like what I'm hearing either.
    I am thinking though when it's time to refuel (I usually do when I have 1/4 tank left) I'll try higher octane fuel to see if there is any improvement..
    2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G, aka Pumpkin
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  8. #8 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
    GTX Level Member QUICKSILVER462's Avatar
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    " I'll try higher octane fuel to see if there is any improvement"
    Well, if you have a car with the supercharger, you should already be using the highest available octane rating fuel available in your area.
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  10. #9 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
    SE Level Member wickedfrisone's Avatar
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    funny you should say that because last I checked the manual says it's not a requirement i.e. this isn't a high-end track car and I don't have a money tree in the yard to spend so much on gas either.
    2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G, aka Pumpkin
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  11. #10 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
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    I mean its not a requirement but its recommended. it will make your car knock more I was on a stock pulley with headers, intake and a tune and my dad put in 87 by mistake and my car knocked compared to 93 I would have no knock what so ever. don't get me wrong it was a small amount of knock but its doing more harm to the engine nonetheless. its also not required to change your oil every 3 to 5k miles but the difference after 100k miles is night and day haha
    2004 gtp SD headers, e85, #60 injectors, Walbroh 255lph, junkyard custom fender well intake, lq4 MAF, 2.8 Pulley, 1.95 rockers, l76 springs, ssic w/ vw rad shift kit and tranny cooler 275/45r17. BMR trailing and rear control arms, zzp STB's, tubular control arms, Dorman and Addoco sway bars, intense coilovers, all poly. avid av-20s
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  12. #11 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
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    Quote Originally Posted by tzerilli View Post
    its also not required to change your oil every 3 to 5k miles but the difference after 100k miles is night and day haha
    both this and the octane suggestions are like speed limits- not required to do the speed posted, but theres consequences for not.
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  13. #12 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
    SE Level Member wickedfrisone's Avatar
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    update; I noticed this sound normally only occurs under acceleration once the car is in 2nd gear or higher..? Also currently running 93 since Saturday, no real change yet but will try a few tanks to give it time. Just found I have leaking trans cooling lines so will have to order those from work and take care of that too *sigh*
    2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G, aka Pumpkin
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  14. #13 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
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    the pouring sand sound that you can feel in the steering column is air bubbles in your power steering fluid. I literally JUST dealt with this in my Monte SS, except mine got so bad the pump stopped working. I changed the fluid and it's good now (except I still have a leak somewhere). What fluid did you use when the rack was replaced? And let me guess, the sound is there when you're hands are off the wheel, but as soon as you start initiating a turn, the sound goes away until the wheel is straight with no steering input again, right?
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  15. #14 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
    SE Level Member wickedfrisone's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CopperGTP View Post
    the pouring sand sound that you can feel in the steering column is air bubbles in your power steering fluid. I literally JUST dealt with this in my Monte SS, except mine got so bad the pump stopped working. I changed the fluid and it's good now (except I still have a leak somewhere). What fluid did you use when the rack was replaced? And let me guess, the sound is there when you're hands are off the wheel, but as soon as you start initiating a turn, the sound goes away until the wheel is straight with no steering input again, right?
    I actually have not noticed yet if there is a difference when it comes to steering position :| since it usually happens when accelerating harder (or as hard as the car wants to) and I don't normally do that while I'm turning. I'll see if maybe later when I'm off work I can test that out. See, I feel like it has to do with steering components since it started after I initially got my rack replaced last year (can't say it was a super experienced mechanic or the worst either) - and recently when I got the inners replaced and my mechanic let that fluid out of the dust boots, it suddenly was perfect for about a week until it came back. So clearly the "new" rack must be leaking into the boots because I do get a bit of p/s noise too and have had to top the reservoir off a couple of times since the rack was installed.

    I can't say I remember specifically what kind of P/S fluid we used other than it was the only one we found at the time at Walmart when the mechanic called asking for some (likely their brand, I forgot what it's called). I have also never had the p/s fluid flushed since I got the car (Oct 2017). I do remember now I believe the first winter having the car overnight during a snowstorm he did bust a p/s hose and we had to have him towed to a shop because there was no power steering at all. So I'm going to say there is a possibility of air being in the system...

    Also I think my dad's car's coils which I have on mine right now must be getting schizo on me as occasionally it'll be misfiring - and those coil packs might be original having ~200k mi on them now. Considering ordering a set of ZZP's coils..
    2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G, aka Pumpkin
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  16. #15 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
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    I wouldn't bother with the ZZP coils. You can get brand new AC Delco or Delphi coils on eBay for around 50-60 bucks. Worked wonders for my '04 GTP. Still have original AC Delco coils on the 277 K mile Monte Carlo SS.
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  17. #16 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
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    D555 ACDELCO Ignition coil FOR Buick C849 DR39 5C1058 E530C GN10123 D576 set 3 | eBay

    Just found these on eBay. Just over $40 shipped for a 3 pack.
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  18. #17 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
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    Oh, and that's the same seller I bought from, and I have only positive things to say about them. The coils are genuine and they ship relatively quick.
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  19. #18 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
    SE Level Member wickedfrisone's Avatar
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    Oh wow, didn't think I could find the OEM's for less than $40 per coil new. Also driving earlier didn't really find that turning the steering wheel whole accelerating made the noise go away :/ but I still don't doubt that there must be some air in the system. I mean, if the rack is leaking then there must be air getting in as well? Picked up my trans cooling lines, will hopefully do those over the weekend if the Temps get nicer.
    2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G, aka Pumpkin
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  20. #19 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
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    Hope the weather is nice for you! I'm hoping the same for myself, I got work to do too.
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  21. #20 Re: Tired of this, doesnt make sense anymore. 
    SE Level Member wickedfrisone's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CopperGTP View Post
    Hope the weather is nice for you! I'm hoping the same for myself, I got work to do too.
    According to forecast Sunday will be 56 here so hopefully I'll get those done then. Ordered those coils btw and they should be here Monday- thanks again for finding those for me!
    2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G, aka Pumpkin
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