DRACO A5OG

Well, long story short...

I tuned my lady's 1996 ES300, boy did I

Replaced Plugs, Air Filter and Oil Change, simply enough but then I noticed the old plugs were all mis-matched ( dual platinum, copper, iridium ) and the #4 coil was missing a spring for the current to travel to the plug. FREAKIN Mechanic Poop Heads!

Found a spring in my Box of Left overs and tweeked it to match the best it could be. Sorry I am too cheap to drop $75 for a new coil, especially when I get a spark coming out of it.

Put everything back together then DOH! I pulled the dreaded P0300, P0302, P0304, P0306.

Spoke to 3 different supposed expert wrenches, IDIOTS!

I took their crappy advice and replaced the EGR, #1,3,5 wires, Front & Back O2S's and even resorted to Sea Foam to no avail.

1 year later, starting and driving like crap. My lady looking at me like you IDIOT. I knew it was damaging the car i.e. Cat and Sensors

Worse yet it was leaking at the valve covers like crazy. Oh heck, might as well change the gaskets.

Her uncle who is a electronics wrench helped me and he found the Fuel Pressure Regulator was leaking. Don't ask me how he knew this. I was trying to keep all the wires, hoses and connectors in order.

I went to Autozone and $90 later we finished putting the car back together.

Started her up..................

EURIKA! all the fault codes disappeared and she started right up and absolutely no mis-fires.

Car drive like new and starts immediately cold and hot. No more un-burnt fuel smell or smoke. Purrs like a happy kitten.

Oh yeah, my lady is smiling at me again

MikeLex

Jim, do you mean that her car was driving like crap during one long year and you're still alive to tell the story?

DRACO A5OG

I'm telling yeah, these cars are pretty amazingly well put together to keep working with defective components.

Oh yes, my lady reminded me every freakin day, "Honey, when are going to fix my car?"

nine3es

iTrader: (3)

you really have to TRY to kill an ES, i drove mine with a bad ECU for about 5 yrs, manually shifting an auto, spitting and sputtering and smoking like crazy. $35 fleabay ECU five yrs later and shes back running like new.

nice to know this symtom/diagnosis for future references. thanks for posting, tell that woman to make some sweet love to you now