back from japan

max29a · 03-15-2005, 07:34 PM

Well I am back from japan (http://www.zbe.com/max/japan2005 if you are curious)

My car has been sitting unused for a month. It was intermittenly dying both under acceleration and while idling. By dying I mean all electrical systems stay on but engine slowly stops spinning. Normally I would just wait a second and either drop it in gear, or turn it off and back on and it would fire up. This went on for 4 months and then right before I left it quit starting all together. Jump to yesterday I was going to test the fuel pump, but the battery was totally dead. I hook it up to a charger tonight, removed the coil to the cap cable, jumpered some pins as per haynes manual, took off the cap on the fuel rail, and turned it over. It shot gas out so I guess its not the fuel pump.

What do I check next?

So far: replaced fuel filter, replaced TPS, checked fuel rail, changed coil.

I am a newb when it comes to workign on cars, but isnt it fuel, spark, and something? I was thinking I should check the fuel is actually coming out of the injectors?

Thanks,
Max

AznDrgn · 03-15-2005, 09:44 PM

check your DME relay, and reference sensors.

max29a · 03-15-2005, 09:54 PM

The DME relay has been replaced twice.

max29a · 03-16-2005, 01:38 AM

I was thinking of checking for spark or checking the speed and ref sensors next. I read the procedure on clarks for checking speed and ref, sounds relatively easy although I have never used an oscilloscope before, I have access to one at work.

Any recommendation as to which to check first and any tips on doing the checks?

AznDrgn · 03-16-2005, 05:56 AM

I think there is a simple continuity test you can do while the sensors are still in the car that might rule them out. If the sensor is iffy or not functional at all you might not get a spark.

gohan · 03-16-2005, 07:08 AM

Wow. How was the trip? You seem to cover all over north to south. Expensive places to cheap places. expensive food to cheap food. Night club, massage place and kids museum...

max29a · 03-16-2005, 10:58 AM

The trip was simply amazing. I have always been fascinated with japanese culture and it did not disapoint.

Main places I went were: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and the SE island of Shikkoku. We mostly stayed in cheap places but there were 2 nights of luxury.

Anyone point me to that "simple continuity test" that I can do?

gohan · 03-16-2005, 01:00 PM

Use a tester sold by radioshack or Walmart? Or 9v battery, small bulb and wire?

DannoXYZ · 03-16-2005, 02:37 PM

Uh... you don't want to be putting current through the sensors. The only test you want to do is measure the resistance and they should be within spec as shown on Clark's site. The oscilloscope test is much, much better as it will show you the peak-to-peak voltages on the sensors. I've a digital one that can be recorded by a laptop. That way you can drive around and datalog its outputs. Most likely, the sensors are fine as they are usually cause a binary yes/no condition, either the car runs or it doesn't. Random cut-outs most of the time are bad DMEs. Cold solder joints are most likely the culprit. Some people bang on their DME's to get them running, one guy had a broomstick that he would use to hit his DME from the driver's seat. Other people have repaired theirs by soldering very single joint on the circuit boards.

max29a · 03-16-2005, 03:11 PM

There is a guy here who is a king at soldering... Maybe I can pay him to solder all my joints for me. Is it worth just taking out the DME and bringing it to work for him to solder? or is it better to get the oscilloscope and try and test it first?