Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post your comments & questions

Moderators: FAOA Administrators, FAOA Moderators

Stringfellow
Posts: 142
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:51 am
Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Contact:

Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by Stringfellow » Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:07 pm

Now before you jump on me for doing that speed, I did this on a very long and very quiet back road out in the middle of nowhere where i live. I only put myself at the risks and am aware of them.

Anyway, I was making a quick blast and it gets upto 130mph quick and normal but once reached and trying to surpass it it seems to hit a wall and wouldn't climb anymore. Then it stumbled, and once threw a mass air code of low voltage if i recall. I cleared the code and removed the air intake track and cleared a couple bugs on the air screen then sprayed combustion chamber cleaner into the intake and throttle body and blades. let it sit for 20mins and went for a drive.
Runs and drives great but still has that stumble and difficulty up top. the revs at the problem are about 4000 in 5th but does NOT throw any codes since clearing under normal or top end, just that one initial code. Under throttle of lower gears, it'll pull rpms to limiter normally without stumble, although around town it will have a 2000-3000rpm tip in stumble which i have heard of mass air problems arising.
My only thoughts on the situation is since no more codes are thrown is its the mass air showing signs of future failure or its starving for fuel up top with those greater incoming air volumes, meaning possible fuel filter blockage or fuel pump beginning to go? As of now, the current mileage is 87 7XX miles. fuel filter is nearing 15K miles and fuel pump and plug wires and coil packs are original. Plugs were done about 4-5K miles ago

Sorry for the novel but I believe i can only receive help when you give the whole story to diagnose what the car is doing.
Thanks in advance.
ImageImage
2001 10th Anniversary M6
car # 472/10th # 110

Firehawk - Fiercest of the Firebirds
Signed Book # 472

User avatar
BLACK-HAWK
Posts: 2703
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:59 pm
Location: Somewhere in New Mexico
Contact:

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by BLACK-HAWK » Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:38 pm

change out the fuel filter. that's an easy fix if it's the problem. i don't see it being the fuel pump but if you go down that route i highly recommend the "trap door" mod. maybe injectors, coil pack, bad plug or plug wire... broken valve spring!(joking/but never know)... at least you're speed limited to 125! :lol: ... dirty air filter... i'm glad to see you aren't afraid to drive the hawk! :mrgreen:
2001#194 (Unicorn)

Stringfellow
Posts: 142
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:51 am
Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Contact:

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by Stringfellow » Sat Oct 22, 2011 6:36 pm

Thanks for the reply!
I was actually afraid of getting flamed for asking this question since its a top end problem.

Yea, ill start with the simplest and cheapest routes first and eliminate them that way. I'm not figuring on the fuel pump since i know most GM pumps for V8s make that electric whine BUT that is not a 100% true way to tell. I also eliminate the spark because under idle and hard low gears acceleration its fine all the way up.
Ill clean the air filter as it could use it but it still has lots of light visible thru it. I also put some more intake and throttle body cleaner thru it.

I love driving the car at both low and higher speeds as its an adrenaline rush, but its in the most controlled environment i can get, usually at an air strip the club I belong to that rent the place to have armdrop style drag races and the runways provide a giant area for high speed blasts and a couple nice dormant back roads around here which is nice.

Anyway. Thanks for the help and suggestions and if anyone else has some thoughts, please chime in.
ImageImage
2001 10th Anniversary M6
car # 472/10th # 110

Firehawk - Fiercest of the Firebirds
Signed Book # 472

red70judge
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2011 4:06 pm

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by red70judge » Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:27 pm

By all means change the fuel filter 1st.
Check the fuel pressure by hooking up a fuel pressure guage with hose to
top of engine, run the hose out back of hood, and tape the guage to the outside
of windschield out of line of sight. Drive car through out rev range in all gears
and up hill if available. Pressure should stay costant, believe the service manual
states 55-65 lbs. Drive for 15-20 minutes for best results. That will give condition
of fuel pump. Heard price of pump in the $700 range and GM dealer installation
service charge of $450.

Had a filter problem kill the engine one third way into Eisenhower Tunnel in
Colorado couple years back. Had to be towed out then loaded down to GM dealer.
Scared the holy cr*p out of me. Good Luck!

User avatar
96AZHAWK
Posts: 779
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 6:35 pm
Location: Mesa,AZ

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by 96AZHAWK » Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:49 pm

Does this problem happen in just 5th or in 4th or all? If it were fuel related... most likely it would happen in all gears at WOT. Granted the engine has more load on it at those speeds, but I think the problem is eslewhere. It could still be some sort of maintenance related issue. Is the MAF code the only code coming up? Are the MAF sensor wires clean?

Has anyone every messed with your computer/tune? The car should easily pull to 150mph.

Stringfellow
Posts: 142
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:51 am
Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Contact:

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by Stringfellow » Sat Nov 05, 2011 12:39 pm

The prob only arises in 5th and 6 at the higher speed with a more sustained throttle than a couple seconds. MASS air wires are clean no problems pulling from idle to redline in lower gears. only a MASS air low voltage code thrown but twice out of multiple test runs.
car just doesn't pull/rev passed 4 grand in 5th like it hit a governor.
it was suggested to me to test the Mass air sensor by unpluggeing it and put it in manual or standard mode to see if it'll pull that way.
ill try that and report back.
ImageImage
2001 10th Anniversary M6
car # 472/10th # 110

Firehawk - Fiercest of the Firebirds
Signed Book # 472

User avatar
BLACK-HAWK
Posts: 2703
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:59 pm
Location: Somewhere in New Mexico
Contact:

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by BLACK-HAWK » Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:13 pm

don't know if you have a manual, but if you do maybe the clutch/flywheel?
2001#194 (Unicorn)

Stringfellow
Posts: 142
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:51 am
Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Contact:

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by Stringfellow » Sat Nov 05, 2011 9:24 pm

Well i unplugged the mass air sensor and went for a drive. after start up the SES light did NOT come on and after warm up the car still drove normally and the 2-3000 rpm tip in stumble was gone and pulled normally to redline in all gears. After a stop at a store, I shut off the car. After re starting, the SES light finally came on but retained driveability. I went out a lengthy straight back road to home and found it now will pull passed my problem area as normal now so I have found the Mass Air sensor to be faulty as suspected.

Since i can get the SLP 85mm much cheaper than the OE replacement, Ill install that instead. It will only help if I decide on additional mods later on.
Thanks for your help and input guys, much appreciated and why I love this site.
ImageImage
2001 10th Anniversary M6
car # 472/10th # 110

Firehawk - Fiercest of the Firebirds
Signed Book # 472

TTOP350
Posts: 157
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:40 pm
Location: Raymond IL

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by TTOP350 » Thu Dec 29, 2011 3:51 pm

If you are running a K&N and oil it a lot, make sure your MAF wires are clean.
Always looking for SLP/Firehawk parts for 3rdgen birds.
PM me.

User avatar
'02 WS6
Posts: 71
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2011 3:40 pm
Location: White Deer, Tx

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by '02 WS6 » Fri Dec 30, 2011 12:38 pm

Save yourself the hassle and buy an 85mm truck maf over the SLP unit, if you do decide to buy one. The SLPs are identical, but they install a resistor that's a pain to tune properly, so tuners have to remove them. Truck mafs can be had on eBay for $55 then buy an adapter harness from Casper Electronics and you're set with a better maf for cheaper.
2008 G8 GT - The "Family" Car
2002 Formula Firehawk #1072
2002 WS6 - ASC #12116 Built LS6 - Sold 12/2010
1998 Formula - Sold 11/2011

1998silverbird
Posts: 117
Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:33 pm
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by 1998silverbird » Sun Mar 04, 2012 12:20 am

'02 WS6 wrote:Save yourself the hassle and buy an 85mm truck maf over the SLP unit, if you do decide to buy one. The SLPs are identical, but they install a resistor that's a pain to tune properly, so tuners have to remove them. Truck mafs can be had on eBay for $55 then buy an adapter harness from Casper Electronics and you're set with a better maf for cheaper.
Tuners cant tune SLP units? Funny they never had any problems with mine and my car has been tuned 4-5 times now with 2 different motors..
Mandee and Jeff
1995 Firehawk # 599
2002 WS6 M6
2009 G8 GT
1986 Corvette

Previous F-body Cars
1998 Firebird V6.. 370rwhp and 430 rwtq
1988 Trans am GTA
1979 Firebird Formula
1986 Chevy Camaro
1994 Firebird 3.4 V6
1991 Bandit 2 Firebird
1989 Formula WS6

1998silverbird
Posts: 117
Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:33 pm
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by 1998silverbird » Sun Mar 04, 2012 12:21 am

Stringfellow wrote:Well i unplugged the mass air sensor and went for a drive. after start up the SES light did NOT come on and after warm up the car still drove normally and the 2-3000 rpm tip in stumble was gone and pulled normally to redline in all gears. After a stop at a store, I shut off the car. After re starting, the SES light finally came on but retained driveability. I went out a lengthy straight back road to home and found it now will pull passed my problem area as normal now so I have found the Mass Air sensor to be faulty as suspected.

Since i can get the SLP 85mm much cheaper than the OE replacement, Ill install that instead. It will only help if I decide on additional mods later on.
Thanks for your help and input guys, much appreciated and why I love this site.

Is your Mass Air descreened or not? Might want to descreen it and try running it again to see if that helps?
Mandee and Jeff
1995 Firehawk # 599
2002 WS6 M6
2009 G8 GT
1986 Corvette

Previous F-body Cars
1998 Firebird V6.. 370rwhp and 430 rwtq
1988 Trans am GTA
1979 Firebird Formula
1986 Chevy Camaro
1994 Firebird 3.4 V6
1991 Bandit 2 Firebird
1989 Formula WS6

User avatar
BLACK-HAWK
Posts: 2703
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:59 pm
Location: Somewhere in New Mexico
Contact:

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by BLACK-HAWK » Sun Mar 04, 2012 1:03 am

it's a pontiac!! :lol: that's it! ... :mrgreen:
2001#194 (Unicorn)

Stringfellow
Posts: 142
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:51 am
Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Contact:

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by Stringfellow » Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:12 pm

My orig MASS AIR sensor wasn't de screened. I got the SLP 85mm sensor so ill install it this spring and see how it goes.
ImageImage
2001 10th Anniversary M6
car # 472/10th # 110

Firehawk - Fiercest of the Firebirds
Signed Book # 472

User avatar
BLACK-HAWK
Posts: 2703
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:59 pm
Location: Somewhere in New Mexico
Contact:

Re: Hawk won't pull past 130mph

Post by BLACK-HAWK » Tue Mar 06, 2012 11:15 pm

this spring, doesn't it take 10min. to r&r? come on meow! get'r done!!
2001#194 (Unicorn)

Post Reply