KA24DE running rich/low fuel pressure after prime

[iBlaze240]

I am very confused here and looking for some good help. It's a 92 hatch with stock KA24DE. The past few weeks I have had lots of fuel related issues which were only temporarily fixed by one thing or another. The past week the car has been having a sputtering idle at startup, and long cranking starts. Then it will idle out smoothly and continue to drive normally. Two days ago, shortly after another rough startup/idle, it sputtered down the road and died. It wouldn't start back up easily unless held at WOT.

I have a fuel pressure gauge inline on the fuel pressure hose. When I prime it, the fuel pressure goes up to 44-50 psi like normal, but then drops either abruptly or slowly to 10psi or less. I pulled the fuel rail today to check for leaking injectors at prime. Nothing happened. I checked the fuel pressure regulator vacuum hose for gas, nothing. I replaced the fuel pressure regulator with a new one anyway, nothing changed. Nothing inline is leaking or I would smell fuel.

I started it today as well, and after some throttling on startup it idled and misfired. I looked at the engine to pull some injector plugs and find the dead cylinder. After a few moments it idled even and was smoking a bit, running rich. I drove it down the road and it started to smoke a lot more, running rich. BTW, checked oil and there is nothing abnormal about it.

I'm trying to figure out what I may have missed in my diagnosis and I'm hoping some of you guys might have better insight. I appreciate any help.

[zombiewolf513]

So. What color is the smoke? Did you double-check your timing? What do your spark plugs look like.

Let's just start there and make sure those are good, before we delve into more complex shit

[iBlaze240]

So. What color is the smoke? Did you double-check your timing? What do your spark plugs look like.

Let's just start there and make sure those are good, before we delve into more complex shit

The smoke is white, and I can smell it burning rich. I have not checked timing, nor do I have the tools to do so. The spark plugs are a little dark, but they aren't old at all. It will idle out fine, but its running rich still. Could the fuel check valve be my issue? Could the computer be trying to compensate for the lack of pressure? Running though, fuel pressure is right around 43psi.