[JLightbourn]

I rode through some water and my car was never the same.At idle my 96 ss rpm is dropping really low and shaking the car and when you accelerate it takes a deep breathe a doesnt move and let's out a cloud of smoke and the takes off. I have changed just about every sensor even the computer and opti, everything is firing. Assistance is greatly appreciated ..my baby is sick .need help

 

[MWP]

I don't know about the water part but...

How old/many miles is your throttle position sensor (TPS) (on the passenger side of the throttle body)? I am guessing that in the Bahamas you do a lot of stop-and-go light throttle driving, which means most of the wear inside the TPS is at idle/low throttle. Two common symptoms of worn TPS are bad idle and trouble accelerating.

Also,you probably don't need a new throttle body. If you look inside the butterfly valves and see varnish/oily deposits then it's time to take it apart and clean it, including under the rectangular plate on top. Cleaning and new gaskets for the throttle body should help.

 

[Marky Dissod]

... have changed just about every sensor even the computer and opti, everything is firing.
Assistance is greatly appreciated. my baby is sick. need help.

Did you change the Opti- Vent & Vacuum Harness? How about the Opti- electrical harness?

Clean the MAF sensor? Replace the Throttle Position Sensor? Clean the throttle body?
Replace the H2Opump temp sensor & wiring?

Those are the things I'd do if I'd just driven through deep H2O. Actually, it's what I did.
(No need to change the pcm or Opti-.)

 

[stonebreaker]

How deep was the water you drove through?

One thing you can do is take apart all the electrical connectors and put dielectric grease on them.

 

[JLightbourn]

I don't know about the water part but...

How old/many miles is your throttle position sensor (TPS) (on the passenger side of the throttle body)? I am guessing that in the Bahamas you do a lot of stop-and-go light throttle driving, which means most of the wear inside the TPS is at idle/low throttle. Two common symptoms of worn TPS are bad idle and trouble accelerating.

Also,you probably don't need a new throttle body. If you look inside the butterfly valves and see varnish/oily deposits then it's time to take it apart and clean it, including under the rectangular plate on top. Cleaning and new gaskets for the throttle body should help.

Thank you soooooo much . Will get on it

 

[JLightbourn]

Did you change the Opti- Vent & Vacuum Harness? How about the Opti- electrical harness?

Clean the MAF sensor? Replace the Throttle Position Sensor? Clean the throttle body?
Replace the H2Opump temp sensor & wiring?

Those are the things I'd do if I'd just driven through deep H2O. Actually, it's what I did.
(No need to change the pcm or Opti-.)

Thank you soo much this will also be added to the to do list

 

[JLightbourn]

How deep was the water you drove through?

One thing you can do is take apart all the electrical connectors and put dielectric grease on them.

Bottom of the front bumper . Will get on this , thank you

 

[uvaldi]

Could be so many things when driving in deep water. O2 sensors popped in my mind first.

 

[JLightbourn]

Noted

 

[Z09B4U]

The 96 limits easy access to scan tools as it is a one year OBD2. A live data scanner that works with this car can be hard to find.

That said JLightbourn you need to have and use a live data scanner.

There is no reason to replace functioning parts and in the current environment of bad new parts you can add new problems.

At the point you are at check everything you can with a live data scanner.

If it all checks out you need to find a good diagnostic mechanic, not a code reading parts swaper.
The person you are looking for will have a oscilloscope, data logging OBD2 software, and a electrical data logger.
Usually this type of shop will also be able to recognize physical issues related to vacuum, pcv, egr, and other leaks.
The tools I have mentioned will help find intermittent and normal wiring issues.

These cars are approaching thirty years old and the issues they are presenting are physical as well as electronic.

One thing you can do is take apart all the electrical connectors and put dielectric grease on them.

If you have to disconnect a connector good advice.
BUT if you are just taking apart connectors with no diagnostic purpose be prepared for what happens when you break a shell.

Even the best diagnostic guys can have a blind spot.

I rode through some water and my car was never the same

How deep was the water you drove through?

Bottom of the front bumper

One unlucky splash could allow the engine to suck in enough water to do significant engine damage.
Maybe it is time to do a compression test.
Maybe it is time to check fuel pressure.

Being this guy wastes a lot of time and money. Worse It may never fix the real issue.

 

[JLightbourn]

Thank you very very much!

 

[storm9c1]

A few days late to the party but since water was involved, pop off the vent harness lines from the Opti (at the bottom) and blow some dry, compressed air through it. Both directions. Using an air compressor with a filter/dryer installed. I'd do that first. Before anything else. Sounds like typical "wet Opti" symptoms to me.