1993 Oldsmobile Cutlas Ciera Hesitating when Cold

[Phil Jacques]

Hey guys, I've had an issue going on here that has been baffling me.

I have a 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlas Ciera S. 3.3 V6 Automatic with just over 89k on the clock.

It's a great car and I have been fixing it up a little bit since my Family and I are moving back north. Just sold my Cobra so this is all I have right now and it needs to last us for a little while.

Anyway... this all started last week when I put a new AC compressor on the car (also had to put a new pigtail for the clutch plug on since the factory one wasn't playing nice and fell apart in my hand) I had originally neglected to disco the battery so I bumped my air ratchet on the starter and it arced off. I didn't think anything of it but disconnected the battery so it wouldn't happen again. I got the whole job done, system juiced up and running great... ICE COLD!

went to go drive it home... all of a sudden, the car which had been running perfectly before, had no power, was hesitating horribly, and falling on its face (no stalling). The car still would idle normally and free rev fine. This issue only occurred under load.

Once the car gets up to temp however, it runs fine.

So, Friday night, a buddy and I took his race car to the track and I left my car sit at his house for about 8 hours while we were gone. When we got back around 2am, I for some reason had the idea, let's unplug the Cylinder Head Temp Sensor (2 wire plug next to the temp sending unit)

Now, in this situation before, the car would hesitate and stumble because it was cold (with the temp sensor plugged in) But this time, sensor unplugged, the car ran great! Idle was high as to be expected but it had plenty of power, no hesitation etc. (I had previously hooked a SnapOn Solus scanner to the car and everything seemed to check out, the temp sensor was reading fine) Once the car came up to temp however it was difficult to start again which plugging the sensor back in fixed, and the car ran great.

Fast forward to this morning... Went to go run the trash to the dump, sensor is plugged in. Car ran great, no issues no hesitation etc...

Here is a List of stuff I have done to the car in recent weeks.

New AC Delco Plugs
New AC Delco Wires
New Delphi AC Compressor
New Gates Water Pump
Oil Change
Trans Service
Coolant Flush
Cleaned MAF
BG Engine Treatment
Cleaned the (disgusting dirty) Throttle plate

Car is running like brand new other than this hesitation bug... Could this morning's running fine, show that maybe unplugging and plugging back in the Sensor fixed it somehow?

Could my memcal chip have gone bad (GM Discontinued them so I don't know where to get another one)

Does anyone have suggestions or Ideas? I'm thinking of just replacing the Temp Sensor since it is only 15 bux through the shop at which I work but I am really just lost here.

I appreciate all and any help guys!

Thanks!

Phil

 

[hc2995]

so wait, you said you disconnected the battery? Run the car for a while, the computer needs time to relearn the trim values and such. I remember when i replaced my MAF sensor i disconnected the battery and the car ran like sh*t for about 5 days, after that it ran like a champ (1992 olds cutlass ciera 3.3L 154K miles) Try that see if it works, else, disconnect the battery for 5 minutes, reconnect it, and drive for a while, both highway and city. This lets the computer relearn the IAC position, the MAF trim, the spark timing, and such. Do some highway, then some stop and go, then back on the highway. Let me know how you turn out.

 

[Katore8105]

Same issues with my 93 3300

I was hoping to find out what the resolution to this issue was. I am having the exact same issue on my 93 3300 Ciera SE DD and was looking for an answer myself. I have not disconnected my battery recently and furthermore, the ecm resets the IAC and other info when the vehicle reaches 40 mph via the GM manual so I can't imagine that would be the solution. Was it the sensor? Anyone with experience on this particular issue, please please speak up!