wnaplay1647545503 Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 car is an 02 bravada 200k+ mileage. Vortec v6 engine. Driving the other day and I notice a little rough idle when at a stop. I drive it a little agressively thinking maybe rough gas or carbon build-up. I dont notice it while stopping for the next 10mins while I make my way home. I go to drive it today and it feels very underpowered(really on freeway) and appears to be excessively using fuel. Why set on cruise control it appeared to be working harder than I remember in the past. I pull 8 codes ranging from misfire, to high fan(cant remember the rest of this code) and a few codes I believe are associated with cat converters. So I replace the camshaft position sensor and I dont notice the idle issue during test drive(not at freeway speed). I dont know if it took care of it because it comes andd goes. Up until this issue it has always ran fine. I have owned it several years and only have replaced the battery, fan/clutch(cheap ebay), ac compressor(napa) and the front hub/bearings(ebay, I know this will come back to bite me). And done regular maintenance ie. oil changes. My question is 1. I didnt think this sensors failed to often and could this be my issue? 2. Is there anything else I should be checking that could cause similar issues. I know a tune up is probably in order but not sure on this vehicle what all that consists of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMeanGreen Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 EGR valve stuck open, they were notorious for that on the 4.3. Both of my 4.3 Blazers did this, and an EGR valve fixed both of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickey4271647545519 Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 In 2002 the bravada was based on the TrailBlazer and not the regular blazer. There for it does not have the 4.3 v6 but rather the 4.2 I6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 clean the throttle body and report back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Is it the V6 or the inline-6? The vortec 4.3 I'd be checking for leaking spider injection, and the 4.2 has a camshaft phaser that can go bad or get clogged up and cause a shitty idle rough running problem. These are just a few ideas, it could always have a weak ignition coil or something stupid like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 its an I6. jason has really good drugs and doesn't always think clearly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted February 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Aj this is true. Pulled 6 codes this time after I replaced the sensor mentioned above. I really havent driven all that much in 2 years. Dont know if this has anything to do with it. Maybe sitting to long. The codes now showing are: P0495-COOLING FAN HIGH SPEED P0420-CATYLYST SYSTEM CONTROL BELOW THRESHOLD(BANK 1) P0014-CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR HELP P1345-CRANKSHAFT SENSOR P1434-REFRIGERENT TEMP CONTROL(A/C WIRES ARENT PLUGGED UP CURRENTLY) P0420-CATALYST SYSTEM CONTROL BELOW THRESHOLD (BANK 1) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwashmycar Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Think a little Seafoaming might help? loosten up some crud maybe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrsplat Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 has the cat converter been replaced? 200k miles, its probably dead. get under the car and tap it with a screwdriver. if you hear a rattle, or if it sounds full (like beating on a full trash can) it probably needs replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted February 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 Still having the issue. I am going to replace the plugs and see if I have any luck. The plastic box thing that sits on top of the motor and is in between the air filter box and the throttle body seems to have moisture in it. Not sure how or if its relevant. the filter is dry and the clamps were all tight. Any other ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted February 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 Cleaned throttle body(sprayed it with cleaner toothbrushed it and wiped down still on car), replaced plugs. starts out driving fine and 5 mins into it its worse. Plugs looked worn but nothing other than a little oil on one of the threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 Buddy at work had similar vehicle, 200k miles. "Somebody" knocked the guts out of his converter and all is well now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted February 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 This is what I am thinking/hoping, I dont even know where to start. Do you have to remove it/ is it bolted in or welded typically? Is there more than one? I havent crawled underneath it yet as the floor is cold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted February 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 Is this it? I dont even know how I would get anything back to get the stuff out. http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d87/wnaplay/CDdfl8gCWkKGrHqFiME0Hdo6VZBNOsbn2s3w0_12.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted February 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 Wheres all the mechanics at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted February 11, 2011 Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 The Mexican mechanic I referenced earlier dropped the piping, cut a larger rectangle out of the top of the converter, beat the innards out of it, and welded the top back on, and put the pipes back. And no, the set up the Mexican mechanic saw on the Bravada looked like a normal, everyday converter... bolted on. Guess your 02 is gonna look like one of these. http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1366&bih=601&q=bravada+catalytic+converter&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw#q=2002+bravada+catalytic+converter&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=ivns&source=univ&tbs=shop:1&tbo=u&ei=ga1UTfHSK4GglAfo7e24Bw&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CEEQrQQwAw&biw=1366&bih=601&fp=75c7716a34cbcf0d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted February 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 So what is that I have pictured? Other than the muffler, thats the only other thing in line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted February 11, 2011 Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 you have to take the transmission cross member out to get the exhaust off. just bolts on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SinisterSS Posted February 11, 2011 Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 Is this it? I dont even know how I would get anything back to get the stuff out. http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d87/wnaplay/CDdfl8gCWkKGrHqFiME0Hdo6VZBNOsbn2s3w0_12.jpg that looks aftermarket to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted February 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 Craig I think its original factory(delphi stamped on it). Well I gutted it today and welded it back up. Seems to be working fine. I ran the codes and didnt pull any this time. I guess time will tell. Thanks for the help and advice everbody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
351mach11647545510 Posted February 14, 2011 Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 how does knocking out a cat affect the oxygen sensor readings? Does it change gas mileage or performance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted February 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 (edited) how does knocking out a cat affect the oxygen sensor readings? Does it change gas mileage or performance? All I can do is speak about my experience's but when I started having issues I noticed a big decrease in mileage. I was going through gas much quicker as I had to give it more gas to move. I had reset my engine light and it came back on immediately. After gutting it, my mileage is back to normal, my car is running as I feel it should and no more lights. I assume as it clogged I was getting less and less mileage up until it finally clogged all the way. I have read online about people saying there are no adverse affects to the vehicle running with a gutted cat and those that say its not a good idea. Edited February 14, 2011 by wnaplay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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