97 Chevy k1500 5.7L running rough

My truck started idling really rough, it's hard started since I got it (roughly 3 months ago) but within the last week the hard starting has gotten a lot worse. It's never not started though. And it seems like its lost a lot of power.. a lot of hesitation when I accelerate and it's kind of boggy... I'm a newbie trying to teach myself how to work on my truck so I'm having a real hard time diagnosing this.. cause it could be a lot of different things. I'm hoping to get answers on where to start in diagnosing, what to rule out, what to check first type thing. Any help is highly appreciated!

As you mentioned it could be a lot of different things. First thing I would check is the on board diagnostics. Are any of your dummy lights on? Is the battery reading at a decent voltage? If everything there checks out, the easiest parts to check would be the intake system. Make sure the filter is clean, make sure the intake valve moves smoothly when the accelerator is applied and is clean. If that's in good order, label your plug wires and pull them and your distributor cap and check for good connection points, and the condition of the coil wire, then move to the plugs themselves. I'm assuming there's no strange noises coming from the engine compartment while idling? It could be a vacuum leak which usually has a telltale whistle. If everything so far is fine grab a fuel pressure gage and read the fuel pressure. By now you should have found the problem, anything else will likely have thrown a code. That's a bit to start with let us know what you find.

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Agreed with above. Also, to help us out, do you know the maintenance history at all? Since its new to you, did the previous owner give you any details or receipts as to what he did or are we assuming no regular maintenance has been done to it since it was brand new?

Its had 2 previous owners. Both of which maintained it very well. It had a brand new motor put in it, it's got about 5k miles on it. Shorty headers, dual exhaust.

I just cleaned the maf sensor and that helped A LOT. Still idling kinda rough and jerking when driving. And I forgot to mention that it is throwing codes. An maf sensor code, 2 o2 sensor codes and a cam/crank shaft position correlation code.

Savanah23 said:

Its had 2 previous owners. Both of which maintained it very well. It had a brand new motor put in it, it's got about 5k miles on it. Shorty headers, dual exhaust.

I just cleaned the maf sensor and that helped A LOT. Still idling kinda rough and jerking when driving. And I forgot to mention that it is throwing codes. An maf sensor code, 2 o2 sensor codes and a cam/crank shaft position correlation code.

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Well there's your problem. Did cleaning the MAF clear any codes? If not, clear the codes manually let it run or drive around the block a couple times and see which ones come back.

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RawbDidIt said:

Well there's your problem. Did cleaning the MAF clear any codes? If not, clear the codes manually let it run or drive around the block a couple times and see which ones come back.

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It did but they're right back this morning. And its slowly getting the real rough idle back and the hesitation when accelerating. I feel like I have to push the pedal really far to get it up to speed

Savanah23 said:

And I forgot to mention that it is throwing codes. An maf sensor code, 2 o2 sensor codes and a cam/crank shaft position correlation code.

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Ok, so what are the codes?

Savanah23 said:

It did but they're right back this morning. And its slowly getting the real rough idle back and the hesitation when accelerating. I feel like I have to push the pedal really far to get it up to speed

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Think cleaning the throttle body is next on the agenda

RawbDidIt said:

...make sure the intake valve moves smoothly when the accelerator is applied and is clean.

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I've never heard anyone call a throttle plate an "intake valve".

454cid said:

I've never heard anyone call a throttle plate an "intake valve".

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Trying to be helpful, the OP didn't sound like an expert. To be fair, neither am I.

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