Still need help!!!!
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
Still need help!!!!
I bought a 93 ES 300 5 speed 168k about a month ago. The car would barely want to run when starting cold. Starts up fine every time, when I would take off it would stutter horribly. Pressing the gas pedal all the way to the floor would allow it to accelerate. After it warmed up it would run ok. I replaced cap, rotor, plugs, wires, and fuel filter. The problem was still there, but did run better after warming up. I took it to a mechanic last week he told me it was the mass air flow sensor and air temp sensor. Not knowing if that would cure my problem I replaced it with a used sensor. Now the car will start up and drive fine for 3-4 blocks then starts sputtering and backfiring, wants to die, and is basically undrivable until it warms up. I really need to get this running well as it is my daily driver. Any help will be very much appreciated!
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 507
Likes: 2
From: NH
Since this is a pre-OBDII car, you have to resort to the older method of checking the engine ECU for any codes. It involves bending a paper clip into a U shape, and jumpering a pair of contacts in the Diagnostic connector under the hood. Then you turn the key to ON and watch the Check Engine light, it will flash in a pattern of codes, count the flashes. Do some searching, it's out there on the Internet, along with the codes.
Have you checked the cold start injector?
Have you checked the cold start injector?
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 1
From: South San Francisco, CA
Go to Sears and get the Craftsman OBD 1 and 2 Scanner. Much easier than the paper clip method. You have 90 days to get a full refund, hint, hint... I liked mine so much I kept it. Well worth the money. Like KLF said, check the cold start valve/injector. Also, check the throttle body for crud and dirt. Over oiled K&N air filters can mess up the Mass Air Flow system. Did you check the fuel pump? fuel injectors? Use a stethoscope (harbor freight has one for under 5 bucks) to check the injectors. They make a distinct tick, tick ,tick sound.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 507
Likes: 2
From: NH
A 1993 is pre-OBD-II, so you can't use a scanner on it. OBD-I *is* the paperclip method, I know of no scanner that works in the under-hood diagnostic connector other than the uber-expensive machines they have at the dealership.
Buying a tool, using it, then returning it is dishonest and unethical.
Buying a tool, using it, then returning it is dishonest and unethical.
Driver
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 162
Likes: 3
From: Ga
Sounds like its not getting emough gas? mAF wont make it do that, that much like your explaning, could jest spray some mass air flow cleaner on it, it cleans it good and take less than 5 min, maybe have someone sit in it while you look under hood to see if snything look out of the ordenery, but not sure about those ways of checking the code, if it has code it will be a big help, good luck
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