Ive done so much to this thing and I keep having problem upon problem.

First it began having idle problems...hesitation and misfiring...and it ran really rich.

I replaced the MAP sensor, 02 sensor, plugs and wires several times, coolant temperature sensor..ugh.alot.

As of now, I just got inside from my garage. I hadn't driven the car for a day or two because I can hardly shift with my synchros going out and now when I start it up it seriously sounds like it's running on 2 cylinders or even one. It's been running rich...maybe my plugs are fouled again...but it is REALLY missing. It sounds like a go kart at best...and hesitates. My EGT's at idle arnt going over hardly 200 degrees...it like the other cylinders arent even firing - the engine is jittery as it idles in the engine bay... though it is odd my digital A/F is pegged at idle. Sometimes its stuck at like... .022 sometimes it just sits on .587 or around there... it certainly is not cycling properly. Raising my FP with the FPR doesn't do anything for me.

I hate this fucking thing. Im ready to move on with my life and Im burdened by these problems every day and I simply can't afford it as a daily driver. Any idea what my car would go for on ebay? Any ideas on how to fix my problem?

Im replacing the plugs tomorrow...but I doubt it helps.

If I was you, I would double check to see if that o2 sensor you put in isnt bad too. With the car running, rather, if you can get the car running, check the signal wire on the o2 sensor with a multimeter to make sure its cycling properly. If the car doesnt run, pass the a flame from a torch across the o2 sensor element while its out of the car and test with a multimeter. Have you checked your timing lately? Coil pack? Reset your computer by disconnecting the battery?

Originally posted by Ryan_Hes
when I start it up it seriously sounds like it's running on 2 cylinders or even one. It's been running rich...maybe my plugs are fouled again...but it is REALLY missing. It sounds like a go kart at best...

A buddy of mine, deadman, had similar problems with his car, Ryan. It turned out that one of his injectors had failed and was stuck open. At idle, it would just dump fuel into that cylinder, causing a nasty idle (almost like a Harley).

Two ways you can pretty much tell an injector is shot are to listen to each injector at idle with a mechanic's stethoscope (or long screwdriver held to your ear) to see if any of them sound different. They will have a soft clicking sound coming from them when you listen to them.

The other way we checked it was to take a thermocouple from my $20 Sears multimeter and check temperature of the exhaust runners on his header. The one running rich was at least 200* cooler than the others. This might be a bit tough with the short, HRC manifold, but with what you said about your EGTs at idle, it really made me wonder. If you have the EGT probe at #4 like most people, you might try getting a temperature reading at the other end of the manifold.

The only other symptom I can recall from this situation deadman had, was a finely atomized fog of fuel wafting out the tail pipe after the engine was shut off.

It definitely sounds like you've got a fuel metering problem to me. If you're running your original injectors (or upgrades you bought used), it might be worth looking into.

do a power balance test

check that coil pack, those things can make a car idle like pure shit. When i took out my motor for the 4th time in 3 months, the coilpack somehow got damaged. When everything was back together, the idle was horrible, i couldn't even keep the car on long enough, cuz it seemed like it was going to blow up or something. Thought my timing was shit, but it was dead on. Checked everything, replaced a sensor, but nothing. Finally just decided to swap out my stock coil with th msd i had lying around, and it fixed the problem.

Originally posted by 96rs-t
check that coil pack, those things can make a car idle like pure shit. When i took out my motor for the 4th time in 3 months, the coilpack somehow got damaged. When everything was back together, the idle was horrible, i couldn't even keep the car on long enough, cuz it seemed like it was going to blow up or something. Thought my timing was shit, but it was dead on. Checked everything, replaced a sensor, but nothing. Finally just decided to swap out my stock coil with th msd i had lying around, and it fixed the problem.

Good idea. Did you try a new coil pack, Hes?

And turby, thanks for making me use Google on a Monday morning. :P

http://autos.yahoo.com/maintain/repairqa/engine/ques090_3.html

Basically, and I only skimmed the article, you get the car idling, then yank a spark plug wire. If the engine runs unaffected, then you know you've got your problem cylinder. Then you would check for spark at the wire. (Since, pulling a plug wire would result in things running like shit, if you're running like shit, pull a wire, and it runs worse, then reconnect it and try a different one.)

I'd wear thick gloves for this one. :P

It would go along with the coil pack theory, Ryan. If you replaced the plugs and wires, but the coil wasn't sending spark...

Give it a shot and let us know, man. :thumbsup

http://smccd.net/accounts/mcafee/LabWorksheets/PowerBalanceWorksheet.html

since our cars have a computer controlled idle (IAC) you'll have to disconnect it in order to get better (more accurate) rpm numbers when a cylinder drops off.

also you can perform an injector balance test if you have the right tools, it'll tell you if something is up with the injector

heres a good read too
http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/aug2004/techtotech.cfm

Dont worry everyone, it's over. I had serious mechanical transmission failure today. Tranny is fucked. The car does not drive. I have been having synchronizer problems...couldnt afford to fix it fast enough.

Check the for sale section for the listing.

Originally posted by Ryan_Hes
Dont worry everyone, it's over. I had serious mechanical transmission failure today. Tranny is fucked. The car does not drive. I have been having synchronizer problems...couldnt afford to fix it fast enough. Check the for sale section for the listing.

What failed?