93ES5speed

I recently picked up a 93 ES 5 speed. The guy must have warmed it up before I test drove it, because starting it the next morning it would barely run or drive. After warming up it would drive better, but still not perfect. I have since changed: plugs, wires, cap, rotor, MAF sensor, fuel filter, and both front O2 sensors. It will now start up(I have to give it some gas, or it will start and just die)and drive for a few blocks with no problems, and then the backfiring starts, and runs horrible until it warms up. Plus my mileage has been far less then it should be, 15-17mpg. Any thoughts would be helpful!

PFB

It's hard to believe that with those symptoms you don't have a check engine light on. Or do you?

Either way, please stop throwing good money and needles parts at it. You could end up spending hundreds, or even thousands of dollars by doing that, and still not solve your problem.

It's much less expensive to diagnose the problem properly.

Phil

BK4293

I'd take a look at your vacuum lines and make sure one didn't pop off somewhere... I know my ES runs like crap due to a broken IAC valve.

I usually eye everything first and if I can't find the leak I use starting fluid around the intake manifold, iac, throttle body, and/or intake tube (accordian) and listen for a change of idle while I'm spraying. Please do this at your own risk since starting fluid is flammable though.

HekkaFlush

Distributor or fuel pump can be biting the dust soon, seems like your cold starts can be a weak spark to turn the motor over and can cause early spark or late spark also known as retard or advance timing.. I would check the distributor first, even thought you changed the cap and rotor, sometimes those electrical parts inside can cause the spark to be weak or fire late or early! Last case can be fuel pump starting to crap out on you, but then again you would have a very hard time starting it and you wouldn't hear it priming.. Good luck.

nine3es

iTrader: (3)

check the plastic intake hose mentioned earlier, i had similar issues when mine dry rotted. if not then check the codes, make sure it goes into diagnostic mode and the indicator lamp in your dash actually works and go from there.

way back, i threw parts at mine off/on for a year on a different issue, cost me a couple hundred dollars. then i found a service manual and within a couple hours figured out my ECU was bad. found one on eBay for $35, plugged it in and my car ran like new again, literally.

DRACO A5OG

It might be your fuel pressure regulator, if you have one. Do you get a CEL reading? Do you have that feature?

BadViper22

I second checking you IACV (idle air control valve). A clogged or broken iacv can cause erratic engine behavior.

Another thing to check, since cold starts are rough, the 3vz uses a cold start injector located inside the intake plenum. Try taking it out and cleaning any deposits off the injector. Best of luck.

PJ82ND

cold start injector on side of engine :-)

worldforgo

Bad timing can cause issues like this. I would check the belt to see if it is stretched or worn.