Well it has come to my attention that my car is running lean like my narrowband has been saying.. My first step was to replace the fuel filter because it was old? What should be my next steps to try and solve this? Is there a way of pinpointing the problem without having to just check and replace everything one by one?

 

How do you know it's running lean?

Can you post a picture of the spark plugs?

 

Well it smells lean and my A/F's read as such.. I just replaced my plugs not too long ago and they were charred to ****

 

charred means it's rich.

white powdery layer means it's lean.

 

dont rely on a narrow band. unless its almost spot on 14.1, then its not worth taking into account what the gauge says.

 

^^ which is exactly what i thought.. but now it smells lean and the gauge is running lean.. and it seems to be running a bit stronger which usually means lean. And i noticed i am no longer popping flames. IDK i guess the only way to tell would be an EGT? Anybody wanna recommend an EGT setup?

 

or a wideband 02 sensor, controller and gauge.

 

well which is the best investment? And how much will i be spending? I mean, if the wideband is a big investment i can just wait till i rebuild the motor to get one. I am pretty sure the EGT will give me a pretty good idea how my A/F's are no?

 

you run too lean and your EGTs will get hot.

you run too rich and fuel combusts in the exhaust, your EGTs get hot as well.

I'd say, unless you have experience with EGT gauges, a wideband will convey clearer information.

 

well what brand makes good wideband's? i know that if you are rich the fuel combusts in the exhaust.. but if i know i am not popping flames and i am running hot, isnt that conclusive to running lean? Idk i just dont want to break bank unless i have to, and most people i know who have widebands are running alot more mods and standalones.

 

Running hot can be caused by failures in the cooling or oiling system. I don't think popping flames is a good way to tell, the ECU cuts fuel to the rear rotor under deceleration anyway if your anti afterburn valve is still functional. Gas mileage is a better indicator.

I wouldn't buy a wideband or run an EGT setup just for troubleshooting. I don't know how narrowband AF gauges work but if you trust yours then the next step would be to check the spray pattern in the injectors to rule out a dirty or clogged injector. Then check the fuel pump per FSM instructions. If is only running lean at idle then you could have a vacuum leak.

 

It "smells lean"?

Without any gauges, all you need to do is pull your plugs and examine them. Tan is about right. White/crusty is lean, black is rich.

 

Well thats what i figured i didnt want to go spending money where it wasnt necessary. I am actually getting really good gas mileage also so i guess that migh be a sign also?? Aaron Cake, i just replaced my plugs a couple weeks ago.. will they already show signs of lean or rich mixture? I am thinking my next options are to clean the injectors. How do i check the spray pattern? And how do i test the fuel pump?

 

Yes, it should only take a few days to show a trend in the mixture.

 

Ok I will remove the plugs tomorrow then. Assuming i am running lean.. what steps do i take to find the problem? I would preffer not to have to buy any gauges of any sort unless it will be worth it. So how do i check spray pattern and check my fuel pump just in case i need to? And are there any other things i should be checking?

 

Depends on the plugs. If only one plug shows lean, then it's that rotor which probably has a bad injector.

 

Well my A/F trends have gotten more erratic the past couple days, and i believe it because i feel and smell the difference. Also, when i first start the car, sometimes it will shut straight off once or twice even if i give it gas . And, when the car is cold, even if i give it gas, it sputters pretty hardcore for a few seconds. Is this a sign that might help pinpoint my problem? Because i am so over this lol . I still haven't been able to pull the plugs, that will probably happen tomorrow, but i just thought i would share my observations maybe things get fixed faster..

 

OK, this all started when you washed the engine bay.

So pull all the electrical plugs (injectors, BAC, AFM, coolant temp, air temp, etc. etc.) and examine them carefully for broken pins or wires. Dry them out with contact cleaner and clean the other side (sensor side as well).

 

Ok well if you really still think thats the source.. the cold start problem just started as well as the erradic readings they weren't happening in the beginning but i will try it anyway because at this point I'm puzzled. I am totaly incompetent when it comes to electrical stuff so any chance you have any links or diagrams that would help?