I am at my wits end...

[Blackneck]

hey everyone, new to zilvia, but im gonna get straight down to it.
I have a 92 240sx with the ka in it. Its been running pig rich since i purchased it.
ive changed the spark wires and plugs, changed the oil 3 times within 2 months,
removed the PAIR vavlve or the AIC thing, whatever its called, plugged the lines up, cleaned the MAF a bunch of times, Replace the knock sensor, and i only run 89 or up. the ECU is even throwing code 55. i just dont understand the rich condition. Am i missing some thing? Im an aircraft mechanic not a car mechanic.
PLEASE HELP!

[JFoxx]

leaky injector?

[Blackneck]

forgot to mention that i replaced the injectors also.

[Blackneck]

desperate bump

[e1_griego]

Coolant temp sensor + o2 sensor?

[Blackneck]

Coolant temp sensor + o2 sensor?

I also neglected to mention i replaced that too, yesterday in fact.
i havent done the o2 sensor, but would that cause an extremely rich condition?
also bad idle and jerking during acceleration? wouldnt you get a code on the ecu?

[ultimateirving]

Really sounds like a vacuum leak somewhere. Especially on the original ka's. if any of the vacuum lines have cracked or dried out causing even a small leak it will cause richness.

[M3Too]

check your/ clean your EGR too, you may have to clean that since you've been running extremely rich lately.

but vacuum leaks are a good one.. I replaced every rubber hose in my car and I finally have no codes (well hopefully.)

[Blackneck]

thanks everyone. I couldnt find any leaks but at this point ill try anything. I intend to replace all hoses tommorow.

[ShadowMan]

When you put the new injectors in, did you replace all the o-rings on them as well?

[Blackneck]

When you put the new injectors in, did you replace all the o-rings on them as well?

I didnt do it, a freind of mine did, he owns a shop and he offered to clean up the injectors rail and replace the seals, along with install the new injectors.
My issue now is i dont know what to listen for when trying to find a vac leak.
I think i hear a hissing near my throttle body, but idk

[fernando95]

i heard a air leak (hissing) around my throttle body closer to my intake mani, and it turned out to be cracked =(

[racepar1]

1: Code 55 means that there's nothing wrong. That's the code the ecu throws out when it sees no codes.

2: Vacuum leaks cause cars to run LEAN not RICH...

3: How do you know the car is running rich? What are the symptoms?

[Blackneck]

1: Code 55 means that there's nothing wrong. That's the code the ecu throws out when it sees no codes.

2: Vacuum leaks cause cars to run LEAN not RICH...

3: How do you know the car is running rich? What are the symptoms?

yes it threw 55 after i replaced the knock sensor. made me smile a bit

i know the car is running rich because i get horrible mpg, at idle im kickin out grey smoke, and when i rev it up i shoot out thick clouds of diesel black smoke.

[jr_ss]

Did you check your MAF out? Unplug it at idle and see if there is a difference. You may want to check your wires that run to the MAF connector as well. A loose wire at the MAF can cause a rich condition, I've had it happen on my hardbody.

[fliprayzin240sx]

Well, o2 sensor regulates your fuel mixture but that only does it under no load. You can change the o2 sensor, which you should have changed first in the get-go anyways, to see if you can get a bit more mileage back. I'd check the timing too to make sure its not retarded or something.

[racepar1]

yes it threw 55 after i replaced the knock sensor. made me smile a bit

i know the car is running rich because i get horrible mpg, at idle im kickin out grey smoke, and when i rev it up i shoot out thick clouds of diesel black smoke.

Define "horrible gas mileage". Check the fuel hoses by the gas tank and make sure they're not leaking. Are you sure you're not burning oil? Does the car misfire at all or is very sluggish? So far I'm not even convinced that you're running rich...

Did you check your MAF out? Unplug it at idle and see if there is a difference. You may want to check your wires that run to the MAF connector as well. A loose wire at the MAF can cause a rich condition, I've had it happen on my hardbody.

Indeed, the insulation is known to bake off and the wires can short under the rubber boot thing on the connector. This SHOULD set a code though...

Well, o2 sensor regulates your fuel mixture but that only does it under no load. You can change the o2 sensor, which you should have changed first in the get-go anyways, to see if you can get a bit more mileage back. I'd check the timing too to make sure its not retarded or something.

The O2 sensor is for fine tuning the fuel mixture. It CANNOT cause a gross rich condition.

[Blackneck]

the hoses on the gas tank are brand new, had them installed when i purchased the car
i put 20 bucks in the cars this morning. drove 10 miles and now im on empty
there engine feels like its missing, but im gettin spark continuosly in all plugs.
when i get over 2k she runs good, good power an all that, just jerking when i accelerate
if im not running rich then were is my gas going?
also i am not burning oil, the oil level is at level H, constantly no leaks

[di-devol]

Holy shit! Out of gas in 10 miles? All you injectors must be stuck open. I'm suprised it's not hydrolocking like that.

[ShadowMan]

R you running a stock fpr or an aftermarket adjustable one?

[Blackneck]

R you running a stock fpr or an aftermarket adjustable one?

stock, you think that could be it?

and if my injectors were suck open wouldnt i get a code?

[racepar1]

the hoses on the gas tank are brand new, had them installed when i purchased the car
i put 20 bucks in the cars this morning. drove 10 miles and now im on empty
there engine feels like its missing, but im gettin spark continuosly in all plugs.
if im not running rich then were is my gas going?
also i am not burning oil, the oil level is at level H, constantly no leaks

Get a noid light and make sure that none of the injectors are constantly on. The wires can short together which would cause an injector to be constantly open. That will NOT set a code unless your car is a CA car. Also, pull the vacuum hose off your fuel pressure regulator and check for fuel in it. The diaphragm inside the regulator can go bad which would cause fuel to leak into the vacuum hose.

You just had not described the symptoms completely enough for me to know that you're running rich. Every post you describe more symptoms, which SHOULD have been described in your original post. You're basically asking a mechanic to diagnose your car over the phone. That's not an easy thing to do. If you even want to have a shot at getting an answer you need to be VERY thorough, which you were not.

[Blackneck]

my fault i was in a hurry to start this thread.

[Blackneck]

all 4 of my plugs are fouled for the 4th time, so does this mean all injectors are stuck open?

[StryfeS13]

Have you tried replacing your FPR?

[racepar1]

all 4 of my plugs are fouled for the 4th time, so does this mean all injectors are stuck open?

Check the FPR like I told you to. If all 4 injectors were stuck open the car wouldn't run. The last resort if all that's good is to try a known good ECU.

[KiLLeR2001]

I wonder if your friend installed the o-rings correctly. If you don't lube them up with a little bit of motor oil you can easily tear them again.

[jr_ss]

I wonder if your friend installed the o-rings correctly. If you don't lube them up with a little bit of motor oil you can easily tear them again.

Technically, you shouldn't use petroleum products to lube o-rings as it can cause rubber to swell. A non-petroleum based oil is recommended for any lubing of o-rings. However, any lube is better than a torn o-ring/none.

[racepar1]

Technically, you shouldn't use petroleum products to lube o-rings as it can cause rubber to swell. A non-petroleum based oil is recommended for any lubing of o-rings. However, any lube is better than a torn o-ring/none.

Fuel is petroleum based...

That only applies to brake components or other o-rings that are not designed to handle petroleum.


I have had issues with tearing o-rings on new fuel injectors on a J30 before so that is DEFINITELY a possibility.

[Blackneck]

so it ended up being the MAF, romeved and replaced but now the car idles funny. it acts like it wants to die, then it surges to 1200 rpm. when i shift out of gears, the rpms stay up around 3 k, like the revs wont go down fast like a normal car i guess? i dont know ive never had the car ride this smooth otherwise