Thread: running rich and dying...

I was having a hunting idle issue in may... i read around here on the forum and adjusted my idle at the iacv when i did my tune up (new ngk platnums, new OE plug wires, BW cap and rotor, cleaned MAF with CRC MAF cleaner, intake and tb cleaned with CRC Intake cleaner, fresh mobil 1 5w30 and wix filter).

as of late the idle started hunting again.. it would move up and down between say 500 and 1000rpm eventually settling at 750. drivability was fine so i didnt worry about it so much. This week the car would just die when i started it as if it were starving for either gas or spark... if i'd start it and hold the rpm at around 1000 for 15 seconds or so she'd stay running just fine... thi concerned me a little so i figured id check it out this weekend.

Yesterday the car would not stay running at all without me holding the gas pedal, (not so fun in "mountian rush-hour" here in upstate NY). I pulled the plugs and they were all fouled to hell ( i can post pics later on today). I replaced the plugs with new NGK Bkr6e's. The car still would not run on its own... i tried raising the idle, this too did not help... after about 10 minutes I pulled one of the new plugs to take a peek and they were fouled already... massive amounts of dry carbon. And the car smelled as if it were running rich as hell.

I'd love to re-check the timing but i can't get the car to idle... I'm leaning toward it needing a new dizzy and/or o2 sensor... any ideas? Mods are listed below.

Thanks

Also.. the car still runs very strong at wot and burns less then half a qt in 3-4k miles...

how are ur coolant temps?

i don't have a real guage installed to give you true reading but the factory one hasn't gone past halfway.

well te reasn i ask is normally when you having a fouling issue like that, its from a sensor going bad, causing the ecu to think there are higher temps, or more air going in, and then the ecu richens up the mixture, like when you start up, or idle, the ecu will gie more fuel to compinsate for higher either air flow or ir temps, or coolant temps.

i had the exact same thing you are taking about but mine turned out to be a cooant temp sensor issue, the coolant temps were seeing rather low voltages at stat up, so the ems automaticy richened up the fuel compinsation so make up for the low volts which = higher colant temps, even tho the coolant hadnt even warmed up....problems li these can be a pain

i am still batling a problem like this, i have ouled 5+ sets of plugs now,its really annoying.

i personally would try checking the coolant temp voltage at start up, hen when warmed up and see if the voltage changed.

can aso be a fuel problem, i had a problem like this also after i fixed the coolant temp sensor, my adjustale FPR went bad and it wasnt allowing adjustability to be changed in the fuel pressure and it was dumping too much fuel

are you getting a CEL?

if you could get it to idle, and check the timing that would help, cause you could determine waether or not you are pulling timing or retarding timing

I dont have an adjustable FPR but maybe i should try that... I'll check the voltage on the coolant temp sensor... i'd guess it is changing though since the guage moves.

No CEL...

Also, you might check your TPS (why not?)

And GT28 is right, definitely check your timing and fuel pressure!!

Even if you don't have a CEL, you can test for codes (they don't all trigger a CEL).

Here's how to do it:
http://www.sr20-forum.com/showthread.php?t=2152

List of codes:
http://www.sr20-forum.com/showthread.php?t=360&highlight=ECU+code

Thanks for the input guys...i'll check the TPS too... how should i check the fuel pressure?

I am suspect of the timing but dont know how to check it if i cant keep the car idling...

FWIW.. it seems my dizzy seal/o-rings may be bad.. there is a small oil leak there.. i'll pull the cap off today after work and see if any oil got in there.

You can pick up a cheap fuel inline pressure gauge at the parts store.. I have one installed permanently under the hood!

As far as the timing, maybe you could get a friend to keep it running or brace the throttle open a little?

can you take a pic of that set up man