Let me premise this by stating that two weeks ago I had to change my waterpump due to a leaking weep hole. After the install, the car didn't start. I was sure that I must have destroyed my optispark even though I did wedge a heavy duty garbage bag between the opti and the waterpump before I removed the old one. I did forget to plug the cable into the MAF so I plugged that in and double checked the wire going from the opti to the coil since I had to remove it as part of the waterpump install. The car still didn't start. The next day the car started right up so I just scratched my head and assumed I may have flooded it the day before. I drove the car for an hour and all was fine. I stopped at a store and when I went to leave the car died while backing out of a parking spot. It took a few tries to restart it and it was revving very weak with pops and cracks and white smoke coming from the exhaust. I sat there for about 30-45 seconds revving what sounded like misfiring and then it suddenly revved normally like nothing ever happened. This only happened the one time and for the last two weeks the car has started and driven normally without issue.

Now forward two weeks to yesterday. I started the car and headed off to work. For the first five minutes it ran fine. Then as I was accelerating to get on the expressway the car started sputtering and revving rough just like it did that one day two weeks ago. I pull over and the car dies. It took three tries to get the car restarted and it finally does but it won't idle and I have to keep my foot heavy in the gas so it stays running. It's revving very weak and rough and white smoke is coming from the exhaust. Again it feels like misfiring to me. I stayed in it long enough and suddenly it revs normal and will idle. The car drove to work just fine after that. Then it did the same thing after work going home. Then it did the same thing today as I headed out to a store on my way to work. I stopped at the store and when I came out and it did it again as I was making my way from that store to work.

I have noticed the following patterns with this issue:

1). It always cold starts fine.
2). It always happens within the first five minutes of driving and always during acceleration (has not happened while cruising at any given speed).
3). Once it happens once and I go through the 30-45 seconds of revving it while rough it eventually clears up and runs right.
4). It stays running right afterwards as long as you don't shut off the car.
5). It will happen again after each shut off regardless whether the car was shut off over night or for just five minutes to go in a store.

I'm thinking ignition system. Opti, coil, spark plugs, wires. Maybe injectors? Anyone have any suggestions on how to narrow this down? It throws a check engine light but being OBD1 I don't know how to even get the code it's throwing.

 

Did you use a paperclip to pull your codes?

If your opti got good and soaked, it's a very likely culprit.

The white smoke coming from the exhaust doesn't bode well. That usually means coolant in the combustion chamber.

 

How do you use a paperclip to pull a code?

The white smoke or visible exhaust only comes out during the times that the car is running rough. The exhaust is normal while the car is running normal. The opti was my first worry because the car has run perfectly until I replaced the water pump.