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Hi,
My 86 engine started acting strange and I am trying to figure out where to begin with diagnosis. It seems to idle fine and run down the road at steady rpm ok. When I accelerate though it starts missing badly. When idling there is a very noticeable tapping sound on the top of the engine. I did the old wooden stick to ear trick and the noise is coming, most pronounced, from the aluminum rail across the top of the engine, not from the valve covers or dist cap. How much trouble am I in? Thank you!
Last edited by 86couper; May 26, 2016 at 07:53 AM.
Reason: Add info
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The tapping noise your hearing is the injectors Firing. Normally they can sound like a mal adjusted lifter.
Your symptoms of bad acceleration can be one of many. Might take a bit of time to narrow to the real problem. Starting with fuel, can you measure the fuel pressure? Both idling and accelerating.
You can also check the fuel pressure regulator by pulling the vaccum line off and smelling for the presence of raw fuel. Should this be the case, you need to replace the FPR immediately.
Last edited by JrRifleCoach; May 27, 2016 at 12:42 AM.
The tapping noise your hearing is the injectors Firing. Normally they can sound like a mal adjusted lifter.
Your symptoms of bad acceleration can be one of many. Might take a bit of time to narrow to the real problem. Starting with fuel, can you measure the fuel pressure? Both idling and accelerating.
You can also check the fuel pressure regulator by pulling the vaccum line off and smelling for the presence of raw fuel. Should this be the case, you need to replace the FPR immediately.
Start with fuel
When was your last fuel filter change ?
Do you have a pressure gauge ?
The tapping noise your hearing is the injectors Firing. Normally they can sound like a mal adjusted lifter.
Your symptoms of bad acceleration can be one of many. Might take a bit of time to narrow to the real problem. Starting with fuel, can you measure the fuel pressure? Both idling and accelerating.
You can also check the fuel pressure regulator by pulling the vaccum line off and smelling for the presence of raw fuel. Should this be the case, you need to replace the FPR immediately.
I do not have a pressure gauge. Once I locate the FPR I will check that. Thank you. If it is it terribly expensive I think I'll just replace it along with cap plugs etc. I am convinced it is fuel or electrical problem. I charged the battery on a trickle charger overnight and it ran fine for about 5 miles with no noise. Then the check engine light came on and a few miles later it acted up again, but not as bad and no noise still. Does the battery have to be at a certain charge or the charging need to be at a certain voltage for the fuel delivery to operate properly? Thank you to everyone for the replies.