awesomenick
09-03-2008, 10:58 AM
So, I'm running out of ideas of things I should look for on my 200sx with a CA20E. I got it in a trade a few months ago, and when I first got it it would run when it was cold, but not when it was hot. For example, I'd get in and start it, and it would run perfect, through the whole RPM range too. Then, I'd get to my destination, and it would just crank forever, and never start. Once I'd waited for a while it would start up, but it ran poorly. I would have to have it at WOT and it would run okay for part of a second, then feel like it was dying. Really jerky.
Some things the previous owner had replaced are spark plugs on the intake and exhaust side and intake side. He put on new Bosch spark plug wires, new cap and rotor, new distributor, and a new fuel filter. I recently replaced the coolant temperature sensor, but I don't think that is the problem.
I checked to see that it was getting fuel after the filter, and it is. The filter is also the correct way, not backwards. I pulled the exhaust side spark plugs, which are the main ones, and they're completely black, so it is getting fuel. I also pulled the pump out of the tank to see the tank's condition, and it looks brand new. Nothing in there should be giving me any problems. I can see the bottom and there are NO particles in it.
First, I used a spark plug wire tester to check for spark, of course I didn't totally trust it's results so I pulled the plugs out and grounded them, they make a spark. I also checked the gap and it's right. I made sure each wire was in the correct spot on the distributor as well, all of it is fine. Although they spark, I was wondering if it was a weak spark, so I tried using the MSD coil from my s13 in it, and it still had the same problems. I only tired the coil for the spark plugs on the exhaust side.
As far as air goes, I'm not sure how to find out. It uses an AFM rather than a MAF, and I don't know what to do to check it. The flap inside opens, and I checked that the connections inside were all good. It appears that it should work.
Now, a few things I haven't checked are the igniter, and the ECM. Just because I don't have spares lying around, and don't want to dump money into a CA20, when I have a spare KA lying around I could use. I was reading online about people having troubles with their igniters having a small break in them so that when they heat up they don't make a connection anymore, and when they're cold they do. The ECM is hard(ish) to come by for cheap, since I can't find an S12 in the local junkyards. Maybe the Stanza ECU will work, but I haven't confirmed it.
The ECM is giving a load signal "code." I'm not 100% sure what that means, but another person on club s12 had a problem with load signal, and his car was able to start with the a/c on. Mine doesn't have a/c, so I can't try that.
My car runs fine on ether, so that makes me think distributor timing is okay. I don't want to mess with it too much since it ran fine before. My theory right now is that I should go find an igniter in a yard somewhere, and try it in my car, along with new spark plugs. Maybe throw in two new coils while I'm at it, and see how it goes. Maybe it had a break inside of it, and now has gotten too bad to work at all, I'm not experienced enough to know about that. I started downloading the FSM, so maybe I'll be able to figure it out that way soon too.
Anyways, If you took the time to read all of this and have an idea. Thank you. -Nick
Some things the previous owner had replaced are spark plugs on the intake and exhaust side and intake side. He put on new Bosch spark plug wires, new cap and rotor, new distributor, and a new fuel filter. I recently replaced the coolant temperature sensor, but I don't think that is the problem.
I checked to see that it was getting fuel after the filter, and it is. The filter is also the correct way, not backwards. I pulled the exhaust side spark plugs, which are the main ones, and they're completely black, so it is getting fuel. I also pulled the pump out of the tank to see the tank's condition, and it looks brand new. Nothing in there should be giving me any problems. I can see the bottom and there are NO particles in it.
First, I used a spark plug wire tester to check for spark, of course I didn't totally trust it's results so I pulled the plugs out and grounded them, they make a spark. I also checked the gap and it's right. I made sure each wire was in the correct spot on the distributor as well, all of it is fine. Although they spark, I was wondering if it was a weak spark, so I tried using the MSD coil from my s13 in it, and it still had the same problems. I only tired the coil for the spark plugs on the exhaust side.
As far as air goes, I'm not sure how to find out. It uses an AFM rather than a MAF, and I don't know what to do to check it. The flap inside opens, and I checked that the connections inside were all good. It appears that it should work.
Now, a few things I haven't checked are the igniter, and the ECM. Just because I don't have spares lying around, and don't want to dump money into a CA20, when I have a spare KA lying around I could use. I was reading online about people having troubles with their igniters having a small break in them so that when they heat up they don't make a connection anymore, and when they're cold they do. The ECM is hard(ish) to come by for cheap, since I can't find an S12 in the local junkyards. Maybe the Stanza ECU will work, but I haven't confirmed it.
The ECM is giving a load signal "code." I'm not 100% sure what that means, but another person on club s12 had a problem with load signal, and his car was able to start with the a/c on. Mine doesn't have a/c, so I can't try that.
My car runs fine on ether, so that makes me think distributor timing is okay. I don't want to mess with it too much since it ran fine before. My theory right now is that I should go find an igniter in a yard somewhere, and try it in my car, along with new spark plugs. Maybe throw in two new coils while I'm at it, and see how it goes. Maybe it had a break inside of it, and now has gotten too bad to work at all, I'm not experienced enough to know about that. I started downloading the FSM, so maybe I'll be able to figure it out that way soon too.
Anyways, If you took the time to read all of this and have an idea. Thank you. -Nick