Hey guys, I apparently have had an account made here for a few years but usually just use the forum for information and keeping up with new things. I must say this is a great resource for alot of info for these cars and I appreciate everything I have learned about the 420a from here.

Onto the problem:
Vehicle - '97 Eclipse GS, Auto, 236,xxx miles, 100% stock down to the factory Stero, used 90 miles highway driving 5 days a week
Problem - was running a bit rough randomly at idle the last few days, but perfectly smooth when given throttle or driving down the road. Yesterday hickuped at 60mph driving down the road but nothing afterwards on that trip. After filling with fuel (ethanol, but usually use reagular) and making 2 stops we began the return home trip, the car began to misfire violently and was difficult to keep running at a stop and required both pedals to negotiate the stop lights while in town. Once out on the highway the car would begin missing randomly and might smooth out if I eased off the throttle slightly.

What ive tried - First removed spark plug wires in an attempt to find the dead cylinder, number 4 first caused the engine to stall, restarted then found 3, then 2 also caused a severe drop in rpm, number 1 did not change a thing. Suspected number 1 injector problem. Tapped on injector and idle seemed to smooth out. Today I Ohmed the harness from the PCM connectors to each injector, to the coil, between all the injector plugs and the coil connections. All appears within spec and no shorts opens or problems while pulling and moving the harness all over.

Replaced with known good parts - All 4 Injectors, Coil, Plug Wires, New Plugs, and PCM.

What Else ive checked, compression 180-180-180-185. Vacuum gauge installed 21inhg at idle. Pulled plug wires again when missing at idle, each cylinder seems to have the same effect now. Pumped 5 gallons of the fuel out into pickle jars and looking for watter or dirt separation as i speak. Blocked the EGR tube off with a penny and now the car will idle all day long smooth as can be but may or may not run smoothly with a load on it.

I have not checked to make sure the timing belt hasnt jumped yet, my air compressor isnt working and I know what its like trying to take that crank pulley off without an impact, forget it. So my question for you guys is to throw any more ideas at me cuz this one is making me beat my head against the wall.

BTW no codes stored since the EGR blockoff but have not driven it very far. Previously it had codes for injector drivers and coil drivers and random misfires but that was probably from me pulling injector plugs and spark plug wires before the 30 mile drive home.

Thanks in advance guys, I knew the day would come with this car wher something would die and not be worth fixing but I was sure it would be the transmission before anything else.

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