1997 GTS coughing, popping and banging under acceleration?

[Viper Craig]

Hello all!

My 1997 GTS has recently had some work done, service etc but now when the car is under load it is coughing, popping and banging with a massive lack of power. The car doesn't do it on idle, so do any of you knowledgable people have any suggestions what it might be?

I'm curious if it's a lack of oil pressure or possibly a 'MAF' sensor or similar. Any ideas, suggestions or advice would be highly appreciated.

Thank you all!

[fatboy18]

Hello Craig,
Well before we go in too deep here, please could you tell us a bit more about the car.

Is it modified in any way? Or is it stock?

What work was done on the car? What's the condition of the battery?

Plugs? Leads?

[Pericoloso]

Viper Craig said:

I'm curious if it's a lack of oil pressure or possibly a 'MAF' sensor or similar. Any ideas, suggestions or advice would be highly appreciated.

I think you mean fuel pressure ,not oil....

[Viper Craig]

The work was just a general service and a bit of welding underneath. Think the plugs and leads are fine, however I brought up the oil pressure comment because he guy said he couldn't find an OEM oil filter, so I was curious if that might be causing an issue. He did say it was right for the car, but I know they can be a little sensitive over oil pressure etc.

Car has B&B Headers and K&N air filters.

Edited by Viper Craig on Monday 19th August 21:38

[fatboy18]

Was the Battery of the car disconnected at the terminals prior to welding?
If not you may have fried the PCM!

Edited by fatboy18 on Monday 19th August 21:27

[fatboy18]

Is the car supercharged?

Does it have any aftermarket Engine management controllers (AEM) ?

[fatboy18]

Viper Craig said:

The work was just a general service and a bit of welding underneath. Think the plugs and leads are fine, however I brought up the oil pressure comment because he guy said he couldn't find an OEM oil filter, so I was curious if that might be causing an issue. He did say it was right for the car, but I know they can be a little sensitive over oil pressure etc.

What is your Oil pressure Gauge reading?

[Viper Craig]

Would have thought if the PCM was gone then the car wouldn't work at all?

I'll have to check oil pressure gauge

[fatboy18]

Rule No1
Always disconnect battery at the battery terminals when doing any kind of welding which involves earthing the chassis.

Was the car running OK prior to welding and service?

What needed Wielding?

Edited by fatboy18 on Monday 19th August 21:50

[fatboy18]

You say the car was serviced, so I presume you pay someone else to work on the car?
Or do you do the work yourself?

Any engine management lights coming up on the dash gauge? (orange light showing shape of engine)

Edited by fatboy18 on Monday 19th August 22:16

[fatboy18]

Before you go shedding out on sensors and other stuff there is a simple thing you can do.
(if you are practical).

Jack up back of car, remove LHS rear wheel, remove lower wheel arch cover to reveal battery.
Disconnect Battery POSITIVE terminal.

Then take the disconnected POSITIVE terminal and ground it to the chassis for a few seconds.
(That will clear the memory in the Engine management controller).

Reconnect the Positive terminal back to the Battery. Replace cover and rear wheel.

Then take car for a drive and see if there is any improvement?

[Viper Craig]

The car was off the road for 12 months before the work was done, and yes I pay somebody to work on it for me.

The welding was done around the sills behind the front wheels.

No lights on the dash regarding engine management etc, only light on at the moment is the service light.

I'll have to ask somebody to disconnect the battery for me as i'm currently waiting for knee replacement surgery, so I don't even get to drive the car at the moment anyway

Thanks for the advice

[fatboy18]

? Service light? Picture of engine illuminated orange?

If thats the light you mean, you need to plug in an OBD II reader and read the fault codes.
the OBD Port is under the dash on the LHS of the drivers footwell (side of clutch pedal).

Where are you located?

[fatboy18]

When the wielding was done, Im wondering if the Front O2 Sensor wires were disconnected as they run close to the area?

Also If the car was off th road for a long time, did you keep the battery charged? Or is it a new Battery?

[Viper Craig]

No, not engine management light, think it actually says 'Service Engine' or something like that.

Battery has been on a trickle charger whilst the car has been off the road, so it should be good. The coughing and popping on the car has gotten worse iver the past two weeks as it has been driven from house to workshop to storage etc.

[fatboy18]

Viper Craig said:

No, not engine management light, think it actually says 'Service Engine' or something like that.

Well That's a new one on me! I have never known of a Service Engine message? My car is a 2000 model

Normally in a Dodge Viper looking at the round black message centre gauge
Top left yellow Arrow (Skip shift light) opposite that (Top Right) Blue Main Beam indicator
Next row down from L to R, Red Seatbelt light, Engine coolant light, Low Oil pressure light, Battery Light.
Next row down from L to R, Fog Light on (Green), Door Ajar, Brake warning light
Next row down from L to R, Air bag, Pic of (Engine) Malfunction Light.

Can you post a pic, I would like to see.

[Benbay001]

Viper Craig said:

The car was off the road for 12 months before the work was done

I know this is an old thread, and the problem has probably been solved by now, but maybe the fuel went bad whilst it was off the road?