help... (yes, i searched)

[Kaizen]

ok, here's what happened... a week ago i took off my intake and put the stock one back on to pass california smog check and it passed. so after i get all my registration done i put my intake back on and a few days later i get this strange hesitation at random rpm/throttle angles. also, when i pull to a stop at idle, the rpm creep up to 1500 and stay there. now this isn't like the bouncing idle that everyones accustomed to, cause it just sits there at 1500. no bouncing, no stalling out, nothing. lastly (and most frustrating) every now and then, my car will not start. the starter turns but the engine doesn't turn over. tested for spark and even attempted a jump (just to try everything) and still nothing. but after several tries it will eventually kick over and then run normal. anyone have this problem or have an idea why this is happening??

btw: its a 92, and tune up was done 2500-3000 miles ago.

thanks for your help

[DuffMan]

Is it harder to start it when the engine is warm? It sounds kind of like a bad temp sensor.

[Kaizen]

i gave it time to cool down today and it still wouldn't kick over... so it's kinda random. but it did start up in the early morning and after i let it sit 7 hrs during the time i was at work.

but on the other hand. today i also just stepped outta the car to go to the atm, got back in and it fired right up.

[Kaizen]

just replaced the fuel filter, and now the car starts consitentley, but the hesitation problems have gotten worse. now the exhaust is grumbling, (almost like the audio for the civic vs. jetta vid) ba bada ba ba baba bada baba.... you get the point. it occurs right after the shift in lower rpm. and the hesitation is so bad that it's jerking... :( :mad:

someone please help!

[Nismos14]

check ur maf for debris, check all ur vacuum lines for pinches and holes, doubtful that u have any holes but check! hope its something that easy

[sykikchimp]

make sure you plugged the MAF back up.

Also make sure all your plugs are clean, and look good. verify you spark plugs are getting spark.

does your exhaust smell like rotten eggs, or fuel?

might as well check the ECU for codes too.

[Kaizen]

i figure it might be the mafs cause this all happened after i switched intakes, how/what do you use to clean it? tomorrow i'm also going to check all my connections/grounds that i can reach but i don't know. what do you use to clean the electrical connections? sorry for the dumb q's. i'm mechanically inclined and most of the stuff i learn on my own. but thanks for the help.

anyways, after i replaced the fuel filter the check engine light came on like it said it would in the manual. the manual told me to unplug the battery terminal for 1 minute then plug it back in

the light went away, but the car still runs like shat...

once again thanks for the help, and thanks for not flaming!

[mrmephistopheles]

Check your MAF (like some have already suggested) and check your engine grounds, too.

[sykikchimp]

check for ALL codes that are stored in the ECU.. make sure you haven't got any others to worry about.

[Kaizen]

gonna run codes and clean out throttle body and mafs today. what do i use to clean out mafs?

edit: cleaned out the TB and intake manifold w/carb cleaner and the idle levels off now and the hesitation is gone! there still is a small pause in between shifts every now and then but it seems to be occuring less and less. i'm going to check connections and make sure i have no vaccum leaks later. also want to check the ecu codes.

thanks for everyone's help! i appreciate it a lot

p.s: thanks chris, i owe you bigtime