Don't hit me, I searched
Been trying to figure out the problem. I have a bad idle and a "studdering" exhaust after the car is warm. On top of that, I can't get more than 200 miles to a tank of gas, no "power", and I think I am running rich (I know...bolt ons). Mods: AEM CAI, Greddy Evo catback and Greddy headers. Pulled codes P0300 and P0303. Misfire in cylinder 3 and random misfire.
Here is what I have replaced:
- Cap, rotor, coil, fuel filter, and pcv valve (All OEM parts)
- Wires (NGK) and plugs (NGK BKR6E-11 gapped @ 1.3mm)
Here is what I have tested:
- ICM input - PASSED
- Resistance for TDC/CKP/CYP sensor on distributor (
got 0.38 ohms)
- Idle set @ 750 RPM
- Compression @ 220 in all 4
- All old plugs had quite a bit of carbon on them
- Valve/cam timing and tension is perfect
- Base ignition timing set @ 16 deg (RED)
- Swapped injector #3 w/ #1
- Computer has probably been reset 20 times
- No air in cooling system
- MAP sensor @ 33 when @ idle
- Valve adjustment
I noticed that if the engine is warm, and I swap my new plugs with the old, that the engine seemed to idle great-until the plug got hot. Tested for spark for all cylinders. All seem okay. Tested injectors. All spray nice and don't leak. I did notice a couple of things:
- The rotor inside the distributor seems "loose". If you grab it and try to move it around-left-to-right, it had a small amount of movement.
- When the engine starts to run like a dog (when warm and sputtering), if I remove the spark plug wire from #3, it sounds the same. Swapped plug-same result. Swapped wires-same result.
- As the idle RPM increase and decrease, so does my ignition timing. It is CONSTANTLY getting retarded or advanced anywhere from 12 degrees to 18 degrees.
- Pulled out new plugs. All look good except for #3. It is "carbonized", probably fouled.
I'm now stuck. Not too sure what to do. I'm thinking distributor because of the resistance test on the sensors, but how much of a failure tolerance do our distributors have anyways? The resistance is supposed to be in between 0.5k and 1.0k ohms, and I am at 0.38k ohms. Don't think that it is an issue with lack of fuel pressure, but if anyone knows where I can find a freakin banjo bolt adapter, please let me know. What about too much fuel? Is there anyway to test the pressure regulator w/o a fuel pressure tester?
Any help is appreciated.
I'm not really looking for the "magical cure", just a couple of fresh ideas for me to look at. Thanks!!