Thread: Sputter and other issues

I'm glad to see the forum just moved rather than dying with the buy-out

We're having trouble with our NX2000. Here are the symptoms:

* Idles at around 2k most of the time (sometimes it idles fine at around 800-900)
* Engine sputters between each shift and at around and under 2k rpm
* Revs stick high between shifts
* Engine runs at right temperature, except at highway speeds where it runs cold
* Mileage is still terrible even after the thermostat was replaced
* Heat is a lot cooler than it should be (better than before the thermostat but not by much)

Here's a bit of the back story. We traded a '91 Civic for this car and the guy who we got it from was more than a bit shady and *thought* he was a mechanic. He'd replaced the radiator in it, but didn't tighten the lower radiator hose which blew off while we had it. It had a bad thermostat from day one - whose symptoms matched thermostat and he said muffler! We just got the thermostat replaced and the belt tightened (he'd replaced the power steering/water belt but didn't tighten it). The car had sat, probably for years before we got it. It is extremely rusty and there is dry-rot in places, so somethings that might happen in those conditions might be nice to know as well.

We have some theories, but would like to hear from people who know this engine better than us - which is not hard! My bet is that it's more than one thing, but hopefully nothing we can't fix.

my guess is:

sputter, check the spark and timing.

the idle adjust the timing and try adjusting the idle in timing mode. and see where it gets you.

the running cold, COULD be a gauge problem but not 100% on that. but it could be

the problems dont seem to be major, but more so it might be that you are getting other problems from the main problems if that makes sense

Holy crap, how do you have 90 posts already? Insane!!

A nice tune-up is what i would go with. Start with spark plugs, timing, and idle.

the running cold, Does it have the stock radiator in it?

Also, how is it when you start it up cold? Does it take a few trys to get it to come to life? It sat for years.... how is the fuel?...fpr?...injectors?...filter? Things to check to get a better direction.

if cold starts are effected or idle is high i would look into cleaning the pcv,iacv,aac valve those will effect idling

If it sat for so long I can almost guarantee you at least need some new plugs. Also no one has mentioned cleaning the throttle body yet, buildup on there can also affect idle.

I was putting my money on that but then again he said the heat comes out little bit colder than it should be.

A bad coolant temperature sensor can create a lot of issues. I would also check for intake leaks, cracked vaccum hoses and like someone else mention above do a FULL tune-up.

Oil change/filter
Spark plugs
Spark plug wires
Distributor Cap
PVC valve
Fuel filter
Air filter
Set TPS to .45V
Set timing to 15 degress

Supposedly the plugs and wires are fairly new (as in last 6 months).

The radiator was replaced by the previous owner and it looks a tad large, but I don't know what the stock one would look like, but it is brand new.

When we start it up cold, it clatters a bit and it takes a bit to start - the battery seems weak, but it blasts to a start. The idle at start is normal sometimes, sometimes high and it seems almost random. After we've driven it, turned it off and start it again an hour later the idle is always normal.

I really wish we knew for sure what the previous owner did to it - I know he only had it a few weeks and did enough work on it to get it running. He'd bought it from a kid who let it sit and rot.

My boyfriend thinks some of the stuff could be a vacuum problem because some of the symptoms are milder versions (the sticking at rev) of what happened when the lower radiator hose blew off. Could any of these things be symptoms of head gasket problems? We've not seen any coolant in the oil and the next time we take it to the shop we're going to get a compression test.

Thank you for all the suggestions! We're saving up money to get an NX in better condition since we love this one so much - and to think neither of us had even heard of it

if i was you i would start with:

compression test
leakdown test

manditory things:
SET timing advanced or stock whichever you prefer
SET idle through ecu
COMPLETE tune up
ie:
spark plugs (gapped correctly)
spark plug wires
rotary cap
distributor cap

not to much manditory but should look into:

cleaning AAC-iacv
cleaning IACV
cleaning throttle body
checking pcv valve
get some gunk remover for fuel injected motor and spray it into the throttle body to id if it maybe cleans out what needs cleaning

volt test the alt.

after all that and you still have problems then damn i donno becuase those things i listed i would highly recomend doing most of it isnt unneeded and since you dont know how old anythnig is or if its bad or good, replace it so YOU yourself know.