So today I go to start my 1991 NA. She starts like a champ every time, never had any major problems other than some flooding a few years ago, but got it fixed by cleaning the injectors.

After starting her up, I start to go. But now it putters around, + smokes quite a bit. The farther I get down the road, the less + less it wants to go. It just putters more + more. Especially when I give it gas.

I turn around + while I'm at a light, the idle is HORRIBLE! I hear pum-pum-pum-nothing pum-pum-pum-nothing in quick succession.


Haven't had a chance to do a quick compression check, but I think she's dead.



So what's next? I would like to do my own rebuild, but I'm having a baby in 2.5 months so money is super duper tight!! Any help is greatly appreciated.

Oh yeah, 191k on the odometer.

 

Unfortunately your engine doesn't care much about your incoming bundle of joy.
In fact, if you're a fan of anthropomorphizing your car, it may actually be jealous.

A rebuild's gonna cost what it's gonna cost, new baby or no.

 

its going to be atleast 1k to do a rebuild.
but before spending alot of money on a rebuild, takeoutthe spark plug and try to hearthe compression.

it sounds like misfire, one of the apex seal is not sealing right, or the ignition system somewhere is messed up.

 

Thats actually very possible, lol. My car blew on oil seal right before my daughter was born. I first noticed it when it wouldn't start when I was trying to leave the Hospital to get a car to take the baby home in.....

Seriously though, if its an NA then the odds are not in favor of a sudden blown apex seal, so I wouldn't be talking about a rebuild quite yet.
First, pull the EGI fuses. Pull a spark plug on the front rotor. Crank the car with the gas all the way to the floor and listen for stong, even pulses of air. Repeat with the rear rotor. All good? Start looking for some other problem. If something doesn't sound right, go get a piston compression tester and do a proper test. To do this, you pull the leading plug (or is it trailing? I guess it doesn't really matter for this....) and put in the tester. While a friend cranks the car, hold down the release valve on the tester and look for 3 even pulses. If you get something like 0-0-60, its probably a blown apex seal.

Post the results of these tests, and we'll help you further, but its pointless to be speculating about a problem without knowing the results of a compression test.

 

I pulled the plugs today, they were super corroded. Like the four slots around the plug were almost solid with carbon.

I did the poor man's compression test, all was good. Another idea my friend had was the fuel filter. It's never been changed, so I went ahead + did that. After I started it up, it felt a ton better. I haven't been able to drive it yet, but I'll let you all know about that tomorrow. I'll also do a compression test w a piston tester soon.

 

your Plugs being corroded would definitely make the car Misfire,and act up..Bad spark,Unburnt fuel,bad mileage..New Plugs wil really make a difference...also you Said you Start it up and GO..give the car at least a minute before Taking off,When Cold(first start of the day)..you and your car will be grateful.Afterwards,when the engine is hot,go ahead and "knock yourself out",Turn key and go.