96 she's throwing codes

[jahmias]

So I recently bought another 96 s14, but she came with some issues. It's currently throwing two codes:

P0446 - EVAP emissions control system incorrect purge flow, I think I am on the way to solving this one. Going to pull the EVAP valve from the canister, run test to see if it opens and seals correctly without sticking, check o-ring isn't damaged then go from there..

P0115 - ECT sensor, from what i've been able to come up with is that there is an issue with engine coolant temprature sensor or thermostat.
Not sure where i should start to resolve this problem. This is were i need advice mostly, but any information will help.

The car, she has a rough start but then she runs strong after that. Ildling at a bit over 1,000 rpm, she misses intermittently. Umm, she's also equipped with a fluidyne radiator, dunno if that could have an affect on the coolant temp problem. She doesn't run hot from reading the gauges

Like I said before any help will be apreciated.
And yes, I know how to use the search feature and have downloaded a FSM. FSM, though it may be very useful, reads very much like french to me. And searches have only partially helped me out.

[jahmias]

short notes
Rough start
throwing P0115 code, but the CTS is reading consistently at 180*f
idles between 1000 and 1050 rpm when warm but bogs intermittently
loses power/rpm when under heavy load

off timing?
bad thermostat?
blown gasket?

more info: from a cold start is generally when get the P0115 code, but after the vehicle warms up and i erase the code it doesn't return till after the vehicle has cooled down and i start it up again.
been unable to solve P0446 issue, but i was told that it shouldn't affect the way the engine idles..

[redline racer510]

FSM is your friend if you dont find the answers there let me know I had similar problem and it turned out to be the ground for the ect if i remember correctly

[jahmias]

Thanks, I'll look into that when I swap thermostats.

[96silvia]

stock idle for the ka is 700 rpm so your idling way too high. I would definitely swap out the thermostat. I have heard that the stock thermostat is the best route to go

[jahmias]

so i have swapped out the thermostat and water pump..
i also swapped out cts from a spare intake
no change.
notice that a bit of water was coming from the exhaust. dunno if it was from condensation or something similar, hope its not coolant.
indicative of a head gasket problem?
oil looked fine
i will be doing a compression test sometime this week

[S14-SLIDER]

was steamcoming out the exhaust? might be a blown head

[jahmias]

I don't remeber any steam coming from the exhaust when I ran the car durring warmer weather.

On a different note, would removing the gas cap really suffice for releasing the fuel pressure?

[jahmias]

farely consistent 150 across the board on the compression test

[S14DB]

Did you replace the CTS? Does it read 180 when the car is cold?

[jahmias]

i replaced the coolant temp sensor, no longer have issue with the P0115. but the car is still runing like shit tho it does start up much better now. i will try to post a video of the vehicle running.

unfortunately, still have the P0446 issue. evap canister valve, would that cause the engine to loose power under heavy load?

when in neutral, if i accelerate rapidly the car will just die. but if i accelerate slowly i can rev the engine to its limit. under heavy load when accelerating the car will loose power untill i release off the gas pedal. hopefully i can get the vid up and you can witness it for yourself.

[S14DB]

The code may be causing or be the symptom of a vacuum leak.

[jahmias]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-JvU983H6k
or
http://s453.photobucket.com/albums/qq258/youngsteezn/?action=view&current=Isaiah.mp4
same shit..

[jahmias]

sorry, unintended bump.

[jahmias]

just had a smoke test done to the evap system and found no leaks except from the evap canister control valve. that's more than likely the cause of the P0446 Mil, but not overall issue of the engine idling at 1000rpm and loosing power under heavy load. will test the maf, iat, and tps tomorrow. any ideas or directions are welcomed. thinking injectors and fuel pump next.

[S14DB]

Did you smoke the whole vac system?

[jahmias]

yeah, from front to back. only other place i saw that air could possibly getting in is through the where the iat was ghetto rigged with a ziptie holding into place. it's an aem cold air intake system. but i then used some electrical tape to make a snug fit for it, no change in the engine performance.

[jahmias]

would a bad tps cause an erratic idle? from the bit i learned today about my car is that the tps doesn't read consistently. the voltage readings as the throttle opens often skip if that makes sense. could that cause a loss of power under load?

[S14DB]

Yes, if there are dead spots in the TPS. The ECU is only going on airflow and rpm. The map can be way off from what is ideal.

[jahmias]

i'm also looking to swappin ecu's to see if that will help any. the current ecu was "modified," how so? i dun kno. my questions is can i swap a 97 ecu into a 96 and expect it to work?

[jahmias]

so after some time of wondering why this car wouldn't start, i invited my brother into the garage. he fully advanced the timing, and the car started back up. it had even seemed to solve all my issues!

no, after test driving my car though i would no longer be loosing power under heavy load, still my car was idling now about 1300 rpms, and at times would start to misfire and act if it were about to die.

questions, what sort of problems should i be looking for or expect? it runs when the timing is fully advanced with minor issues of misfire and high rpm at idle. when retarding the timing, the previous symptoms are still present with more of an eradic idle and loosing rpms under heavy load. fully retarted timing, the car will not start but make a poping noises after what seemed to be a meager effort of turning on.

any feedback will help as i am on the way to get my vehicle diagnosed and could use a little insight. thanks.

[jahmias]

my car has cancer, my diagnosis.

[S14DB]

Did you ever fix the TPS?

[24096]

my 96 had evap issues.. changed the battery... light of death went away.. avoided hundreds in replacing evap emission bullshit purge valve... GL