Hello, I’m a new-be to your site. I picked up an 89 Red Coup that had several engine problems. Disconnected vacuum lines, some lines connected to the wrong ports, bad plugs, wires, cap, and rotor etc…
To say the least this car ran like crap. I replaced all and ran a scan engine off and codes 42 && 44 were present 44 do to disconnecting the ECM to set base timing. After engine off scan I deleted the codes and ran the scan with the engine running and I noticed the block learn at 150? Here is the scan results do these numbers appear to be normal? Thanks for any help!

Scan Scan
Engine Engine
Off Running

RPM 0 700
02 (mv) 398 398
Integrater 128 128
Open/Closed Loop Open Open
Exhaust Oxigen Lean Lean
TPS 0.58 0.68
Block Learn 128 150
IAC Position 160 160
FT Cell 0 0
02 Reading No No
02 Crosscounts 0 0
Base PW (ms) 0 4.6
Decel Learn No No
Desired Idle 3188 1000
A/F Learned No No
Coolant Degree F 94 91
MAT Degree F 82 73
MAF (9m/Sec) 23 14
Air Flow (9m/Sec) 64 13
Load/LV8 0 96
Spark Adv 0 38
Knock No Yes
Knock Retard 0 0
Prom ID 1021 1021
Battery 11.8 13.6
Fuel Range 0 13.8
High Bat No No
MAF Burn Off Off Off
EGR Duty % 0 0
EGR DIAG SW On On
CCP Duty Cycle o o
Decel Enlean No No
Air Divert Sol DIV Norm
Air Switch Sol CONV Port
Coolant Degree F 92 91
Start CLNT Degree F 92 91
Fan Reguest No No
Fan Duty 0 0
VATS Problem Yes Yes
Battery (Y) 11.8 13.6
Hi PS Pressure No No
Vech Speed 0 0
P/N Switch P-N P-N
TCC Command P1 P1
TCC Apply CKT No No
4th Gear P1 P1
OD Switch On On
A/C Request No No
A/C Clutch Off Off

 

First thing I see is the motor is cold. Needs to be warmed up to ge a real scan. It will say closed loop then.

 

Thanks Jack, who said you can't teach an old dog new trick. I'll get her up to temp and re-post the results.

 

Re-scan engine warm. Forgot to record the last 11 items on the previous post (cold outside 30 degrees). If it will matter I can re-scan.

Code 44 present


ENGINE OFF ENGINE RUNNING
RPM 0 950
02(MV) 398 398
INTIGRATER 128 113
OPEN/CLOSED LOOP OPEN CLOSED
EXHAUST OXIGEN LEAN LEAN
TPS 0.58 0.58
BLOCK LEARN 128 160
IAC POSITION 160 0
FT CELL 8 FORGOT THIS ONE RUNNING
02 READING NO YES
02 CROSSCOUNTS 0 0
BASE PW (MS) 2.9 3.0
DECEL LEARN NO NO
DESIRED IDLE 3188 600
A/F LEARN NO NO
COLLANT TEMP F. 211 198
MAT DEGREE F. 73 79
AIR FLOW (9M/SEC) 65 13
LOAD/LV8 128 62
SPARK ADV 21 39
KNOCK NO NO
KNOCK RETARD 0 0
PROM ID 1021 1021
BATTERY 12.2 14.0
FUEL RANGE 0.0 14.0
HIGH BAT NO NO
MAF BURN OFF OFF OFF
EGR DUTY % 0 0
EGR DIAG SW ON ON
CCP DUTY CYCLE 0 0
DECEL ENLEAN NO NO
AIR DIVERT SOL DIV DIV
START CLNT DEGREE F 211 203
FAN REGUEST NO NO
FAN DUTY 0 0

 

I notice you have a lean condition (code 44),this code will be set anytime your (block learn) goes above 150, when I did a scan on my 89 it also came up lean..I changed the O2 sensor and that solved my problem.. The O2 sensors are suppose to be changed every so often anyhow, I think they say every 25,000 miles.If you change the 02 sensor and it fixes the lean problem your block learn and integrater should then be around 128 and not set a code. Having a bad 02 sensor can definitely make your car run like crap, as you say.One other thing that can cause this lean condition is a vacuam leak,check this out also before doing the 02 sensor.. ...WW

 

Thanks WW7, I would have thought the 02 would have triggered a code but then maybe not. Unfortunately I have no history on this car other then it was supposed to have 71,000 miles on it but I pulled a report and found in 03 it had 103,000 so its probably 171,000 and I’ll probably find myself replacing several parts. For all I know it may have been setting a long time. I do know the guy I got it from had to put all new injectors in it just to get it started. What about the block learn (of which I have no idea what it is) at 160? What causes that to be so high my FSM says it should be 128?

 

Because IF the O2 sensor is faulty, it will send wrong info to computer letting it think the engine is richer / leaner that what it actually is.
The computer then goes tropo trying to correct a non existant problem

 

Thanks for your help all, I’ll change out the 02 in the spring and see what it does for the running condition I have. Unfortunately I had to cover it up for winter today (snow flurries tomorrow and snow coming Thursday) bummer I wish I had a garage. Happy Holidays everone!

 

O2 sensor should make a big difference. Also any exhaust leak near the O2 sensor will cause a false reading.

 

I’m back working on the car again and just got through changing the o2 sensor and fuel filter and it still runs like you crap. While I was just running it from time to time it would purr like a kitten and then it would bog and run like crap again. I took it up the road and at first it was running good and very responsive lots of get up and go then right back to running like crap then it would start running good again then like crap. I'm not sure if it a lack of fuel or too much when it is running bad it just bogs spits and sputters and even heard a couple back fires. Anyone have any ideas what I’m up against?

 

Examine all vacuum lines (again) to make sure one hasn't broken. It's not anywhere close to Targeted Idle and that's often a sign of a vacuum leak.

Air may be getting to the O2 that isn't coming through the MAF. Try clamping off the air pump hoses at the headers while observing Block Learn. If it swings normal, it either needs new Check Valves or the Switching Solenoid isn't working (see if any air is flowing through the header hoses in Closed Loop - it should be going to the CAT.

Check injector resistance hot and cold. Should be 15 ohms or better and all should be close.

Check compression on #7 or for a plug that looks different than all the rest or has rust on the threads. '89 is known for weeping coolant into the exhaust (allmost always at #7) and 25,000 miles is about where it starts to show up (a lucky few had the head gaskets replaced under warranty). Coolant in the combustion chamber, even in small amounts, will lean it out.