I have a 93 FD. Yesterday my rims finally came in the mail so I was finally able to drive it so I took it out of the garage, had to jump start it because it sat long enough to die, maybe 2 weeks. Car started fine I was backing it out and the exhaust backfired big pop at low rpms just in reverse. Car started shaking and sounding rough. I drove it over to the garage and it stalled on the way over there. Seemed to have to rev it more to get it into gear without stalling. I checked the compression and I'm getting over 90 PSI even in both front and rear rotors. I charged the battery and started it, it was running a little better on start up but as it warmed up it seemed to get rougher and when I gave it gas after letting it warm up the RPMs dropped super low and the car almost stalled. Diag codes read 30 33 38 39 40 and 50. I assume most or all of these are from the emission deletes.

 

I did plugs a month ago. Haven’t put many miles. These are my plugs. Is this normal for these plugs? The last two are before and after wiping them off.

 

Those plugs are crazy fouled. I'd get at least a pair of leading plugs. Have you started it cold and shut it off a few times? They should be more of a tan color.

I'd start with some fresh plugs. Long term when the car is happy you can put those plugs in and run the car hard to clean them up, but for troubleshooting now I'd get some fresh ones in there.

Dale

 

Yesterday I put the plugs back in after a little brake clean. Added two gallons of gas thinking maybe the premix was too heavy for the 1/4 tank I had left and it runs well again. Do you think I’ll be able to clean them by running them hard still? The plugs are only a month old. I usually always let it warm up. Can’t think of a time when I didn’t.

 

Also the plugs were a little wet like I’m running rich.

 

"Let it warm up" - just start and idle or an actual drive? Idling won't get plugs hot enough to keep them clean. Even just a regular around the block drive puts a lot more heat into them to burn off deposits (and keep them away).

I've seen fouled plugs that had the weakest orange spark that, by eye, were spotlessly clean, like new out of the box looking. It's hard to get really fouled plugs properly clean. Just get a fresh set of leading plugs and see how the car runs. You can swap the plugs out at some point when the engine is warm and go drive around and un-foul those plugs.

Dale

 

Generally I drive it when I start it but I’ve had it in the shop for a bit so it has been just warmed idle a couple times. When I drive it I normally let it warm up by driving it gently til it’s warm. Still I can’t believe the plugs fouled so quickly. I’ll pick up those plugs but last time I had to wait a few days so I might drive it how it is for now. And see how clean they come.

 

Advance Auto Parts typically has the NGK plugs in stock. In lil' ole Pensacola the one 5 minutes from my house has them in stock, no big deal. See they have it near you, the website will tell you stock for your store.

Pro tip - Advance ALWAYS has a 20% off coupon going online. Load up the cart online, use coupon, choose "pick up in store", go get it - no shipping and a big discount. Also if you are on their rewards program you will CONSTANTLY get good coupons, I get $5 coupons at least once a month, even got a $10 coupon recently. As in $5-10 off whatever you are buying, no special requirements, in store or online.

In general, the FD is just a car - get in and drive it. Keep half throttle until it's warmed up, besides that you're good. I've known people who let it idle and carefully warm up in the driveway before driving, all this crap - just drive it. That isn't helping anything.

Dale

 

"Let it warm up" - just start and idle or an actual drive? Idling won't get plugs hot enough to keep them clean. Even just a regular around the block drive puts a lot more heat into them to burn off deposits (and keep them away).

Today I learned something.
makes sense why mine would keep getting worse even if i started the car once in a while
Thanks Dale

 

Ever hear of an Italian tune-up?

 

Add a little olive oil?

 

I bought the plugs they had last month. They’re around it’ll just take an extra day. Our shops don’t have it but their warehouse should. But I’ll be getting them soon.