Car running rich, need help
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
Car running rich, need help
My 86 coupe is still running rich. In an earlier post I had a code 15, 32, 44. Replaced O2 and temp sensor and checked for exhaust leaks. Now have code 32 only because one of the vacuum tubes is broken. The car is still running rich. Could the EGR have something to do with it? I let the car sit for several days and just started it this afternoon and got a big cloud of smoke out the pipes which smelled like gas, not oil. Could it be injectors? I am pretty sure I have a vacuum leak or 2 as well. Oh and can the timing make it run rich to? Any suggestions.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Car running rich, need help (hz900)
At least temporarily patch the broken EGR vacuum line with a piece of rubber vacuum tubing, clear the codes and check it out for any codes.
When does it throw the code 32, at startup or after a few minutes on the highway?
Leaking injectors could cause a cloud of black smoke on startup; it could also be leaking valve seals.
What do the spark plugs show? How is idle and power?
When does it throw the code 32, at startup or after a few minutes on the highway?
Leaking injectors could cause a cloud of black smoke on startup; it could also be leaking valve seals.
What do the spark plugs show? How is idle and power?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
Re: Car running rich, need help (65Z01)
It used to show the code 32 at highway speed, now (since intake gasket replace when I broke vac tube) it shows the service engine soon light at startup, only when the motor is cold, ie when I leave for work in the morning after it has sat all night.
I am positive it is not the valve seals. Last time I pulled plugs (gasket replace) they showed that the car was running on the rich side but not enough to get gas into the oil. Now I am getting gas into the oil. Idle is fine after the car is warm and power has been better, but it is not bad as car has seen better days. I do notice that I have a little hesitation with throttle response like it sucks air for a second.
I am positive it is not the valve seals. Last time I pulled plugs (gasket replace) they showed that the car was running on the rich side but not enough to get gas into the oil. Now I am getting gas into the oil. Idle is fine after the car is warm and power has been better, but it is not bad as car has seen better days. I do notice that I have a little hesitation with throttle response like it sucks air for a second.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 4
From: Maryland
Re: Car running rich, need help (hz900)
I forget which code it causes, (maybe someone can chime in here...) but there's a relay by the battery which causes it to run really rich at startup, nasty gas smell, idle poorly until warmed up and it turns on the SES light at startup. The car ran like absolute crap too. Mine died an intermittent death over the course of about 4 weeks until it totally quit and I was able to track down the problem. :smash: Not having one of those vac lines hooked up which goes to the underside of the runner makes the car run lousy & not idle well at all or mantain idle when cold. ~Juliet
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
Re: Car running rich, need help (Juliet)
Anyone got any ideas what relay Juliet is talking about. Interesting as I have never heard of this, could be the problem cause it is doing just what Juliet described.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,019
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From: down that one road next to that big tree
Re: Car running rich, need help (hz900)
your 02 is bad also, a 44 is lean o2 reading. in my case it was a fried o2, i wasn;'t anywhere near lean yet it thought i was. fuel mpg was in the dumps as was responce. changed the 02 with a gm/bosch unit and the car runs 100x better.
