Engine One Side Hot, One Side Cold, Runs Like Crap
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: Maple Grove Minnesota
Engine One Side Hot, One Side Cold, Runs Like Crap
Ever sense I got my 89 in October last, I have been trying to get it to run properly. I have done several things, complete tune up, FPR, EGR, O2, New Vac lines but nothing has helped.
Today I went to check for spark on all cylinders with a light tool I got from Harbor Chinese Freight starting on the drivers side checking all four plugs and all was good.
Keep in mind this only took about 2-5 minutes max starting and shuting off the engine and by the time I went to the passenger side the plugs, manifold and head were very hot but the driver’s side was still cool to the touch.
Anyone know what would cause this to happen?
Apparently this is probably what has caused the poor running condition the whole time I have been working on it.
Today I went to check for spark on all cylinders with a light tool I got from Harbor Chinese Freight starting on the drivers side checking all four plugs and all was good.
Keep in mind this only took about 2-5 minutes max starting and shuting off the engine and by the time I went to the passenger side the plugs, manifold and head were very hot but the driver’s side was still cool to the touch.
Anyone know what would cause this to happen?
Apparently this is probably what has caused the poor running condition the whole time I have been working on it.
Suckin' gas, haulin' ass.
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 8
From: Newport News Virginia
Sounds like you aren't getting any fuel to the driver's side bank to me. I agree with Bomar and check to make sure you are getting signals to the injectors. That will give you a good idea where you are sitting.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 541
Likes: 60
From: Auburndale Florida 1990 Vert, 6 speed
The noid light plugs into the injector wiring. If the noid light does not come on when the car is running, either the wiring to the injector is bad or the electronics (driver) feeding the wiring isn't working.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
I'm not sure if yours is the same as the 92 but there are 2 fuses on mine for the injectors.
I chased this exact same problem on my car - borrowed the Noid lights from Autozone.
To use the noid light unplug the wire from the injector and plug the noid light in. If it flashes you are getting pulses to the injector. Check all of them with the car running.
Look at your fuse box and see if you have fuse positions marked INJ1 and INJ2. Replace both fuses and see if it runs better. This simple changed fixed my problem on the 92!
I chased this exact same problem on my car - borrowed the Noid lights from Autozone.
To use the noid light unplug the wire from the injector and plug the noid light in. If it flashes you are getting pulses to the injector. Check all of them with the car running.
Look at your fuse box and see if you have fuse positions marked INJ1 and INJ2. Replace both fuses and see if it runs better. This simple changed fixed my problem on the 92!
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
From: FL
Buy stethoscope from HF for $3 and listen each injector clicking. Sometimes you can hear spark jumping on block from bad sp. pl. wire.
Open hood at night and you can see sparks jumping.
You can also pull each wire and listen if RPM drops. Or hook up RPM meter.
Open hood at night and you can see sparks jumping.
You can also pull each wire and listen if RPM drops. Or hook up RPM meter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,356
Likes: 2
From: No HOA, New Hampshire
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
I'm not sure if yours is the same as the 92 but there are 2 fuses on mine for the injectors.
I chased this exact same problem on my car - borrowed the Noid lights from Autozone.
To use the noid light unplug the wire from the injector and plug the noid light in. If it flashes you are getting pulses to the injector. Check all of them with the car running.
Look at your fuse box and see if you have fuse positions marked INJ1 and INJ2. Replace both fuses and see if it runs better. This simple changed fixed my problem on the 92!
I chased this exact same problem on my car - borrowed the Noid lights from Autozone.
To use the noid light unplug the wire from the injector and plug the noid light in. If it flashes you are getting pulses to the injector. Check all of them with the car running.
Look at your fuse box and see if you have fuse positions marked INJ1 and INJ2. Replace both fuses and see if it runs better. This simple changed fixed my problem on the 92!
And then find out what caused the fuse to blow.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
From: Asheboro NC
You could just use your ears and unplug an injector one at a time and listen for a change in how the engine runs. no change then you have found one that is not working. if the sound of the engine changes then plug it back and move on because it is working.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: Maple Grove Minnesota
The way this car has been running I don’t think you’d be able to hear any difference unplugging one at a time.
Is there another name for the noid lights? I looked on the HF web site with key word noid but it didn’t find anything.
What is a sp. pl. wire? I’m not formulary with the abbreviations.
Is there another name for the noid lights? I looked on the HF web site with key word noid but it didn’t find anything.
What is a sp. pl. wire? I’m not formulary with the abbreviations.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: Maple Grove Minnesota
It's been running bad sence I got it. When I got it half the vacuum lines were disconnected and the other half hooked up to the wrong ports. I have no history on this car but it appears someone may have had the engine out at one time? but not sure of anything. I have been trying to bring it back to life. I got it in a trade.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 7
From: Chewelah Wa
Sounds like one injector bank is dead. You can save your noid light money by placing a finger on the injectors, you will feel them ticking if they are working. If one side is dead, check the fuses (fusebox) and clean them up to make sure they are making contact (per previous posts). INJ1 runs one side, INJ2 runs the other.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
the extreme heat on one side would mean a lean condition. most of the time when exhaust manifolds are glowing red, is because the exhaust is lean.
I am with the others on it is an injector problem. The earlier TPI's used a batch fire system where it fired an entire bank of injectors, right and left.
I am with the others on it is an injector problem. The earlier TPI's used a batch fire system where it fired an entire bank of injectors, right and left.