if you can confirm air, fuel and spark...it usually points your problem to the timing.

I believe you have air..you ruled out an air leak.
You have fuel...the spark plugs get soaked with fuel according to your mechanic.

Spark needs to be confirmed. Do you have the technical ability to change your own spark plugs?
I ask because anti-seize is used by some mechanics and can often be too much or accidently get between the spark plug gap and cause all sorts of issues like poor starting ability.

 

@Salim..thanks for breaking it down..shoulda known that while trying to push my dad's Datsun out the drive way for a ride and it wouldn't start because my brother was stepping on the gas the whole time..
When I was using the dyi above to check for vaccum leaks...I was watching the live numbers so my scanner has some capabilty of looking at live pid info don't know how much info or what exactly I would be looking for or at...while I was looking at the readings...I did notice that the fuel systems 1,2,3 would go from closed to open as the car rev'd up and down...I don't know if that's relevant but I did notice that...is there any specific pid that I should be looking for or at that could lead us in one direction or the other...?
All the work that I've done so far to get in and out of the throttle body area..unless I'm mistaken I haven't had any gaskets to replace...

@fastnoypi....I was gonna scoff at you asking me if I have the technical ability to change spark plugs until I remembered the limbo I had to go through to change the back ones last time...I will pick up spark plugs while I'm picking up the tps tomorrow....I'll replace the tps first....if that doesn't work....spark plugs will be next....I just pulled one out to see if it is soaked and it's dry as a bone......
Thanks again.

 

The problem now is erratic idle. The title is no longer valid.

See if you can get access to alldata to see the service manual for gaskets that should be replaced and the right torque

Does your reader show rage of good values. You may try sending a pm to Lexmex (Ron)


Salim

 

lol..its all good. I asked because technical ability and confidence working around these engines vary around here. Sometimes getting your hands dirty and seeing the issue first hand is the only honest way of looking at the problem rather than hearsay from a random mechanic. There's no shame in anyone to admit they don't wrench, breaking things will only exacerbate the original problem. At that point you can only hope the mechanic is a troubleshooter and not one that will exhaust your wallet by throwing parts at the problem and racking up unnecessary labor time.

best of luck!

 

So I replaced the TPS....all spark plugs....battery was out the whole time...started...still same symptoms...idle really low then on warm up...bouncing up and down...any more ideas...?

**side note..for anyone replacing the Throttle position sensor or the Idle air control valve...do yourself a favour and get a pair of the smallest locking pliers/vice grips...those brass screws are almost impossible to get out without totally stripping them***