AHHH ive tried everything... still not running right

[Wanganstyle]

ok-

start with the missing symptom; lets see if your engine is using ALL 6 cylinders!!!!!!



Multimeter EACH coil pack and see what the 3 wires are showing:

1 should be ground at all wires
another will be 12v+ on IGN+ position power on
another wire will be Direct to ECU and color coded.

use Multimeter to check the above 3 items on all 6 coilpacks.

then check for 12v+ at all injectors
and for continuity between injector 1-6 and ECU.

IF you have only HALF the cylinders hot when running, then something is not working uniform on your fueling/sparking.

[Boosted E30]

I bet you have a missfire on 456 and thats why the header gets so hot so fast. If you have a known working set of coils swap them out and see if it fixes it. Or change coils 456 with 123 and see if the 123 header gets super hot quickly.

Also check the rubber boots that go from the coil to the plugs and see if there are any cracks in them that could cause them to arc.

[luckysnafu]

Can you hook up a code reader and get us the codes? It's pretty easy to wire up a connector for a generic OBD2 code reader.

What happens to the idle when you disconnect the MAF?

What are you running for an intake?

[MattM]

which fuses are you referring too? not many fuses in the way of the engine running.... when it sputters out and dies i can go and turn the key and it will start back up again and repeat.

Vacuum lines are all hooked up properly, i disconnected and plugged the hose that goes back to the exhaust valve just to eliminate that system from potential errors...

[e30e]

How's the fuses, dumb question I know....but with obd2 those fuses can be a mother fer......

Other thought, is yes you've checked the vacuum lines but are they the correct places, are any of those lines in the wrong place?

[MattM]

M52b28, Full OBD2

Engine runs like shit.

It starts fine, idles about 500 for 10-20 seconds, then drops to around 250 for another 30 seconds, before it sputters out and dies.

Throttle response has HUGE hesitation... literally like 20 seconds. If im quick and make it to the throttle and hold up open a bit, it will stay running...

- quadruple checked all vacuum lines
- cleaned ICV twice
- cleaned throttle body
- replaced MAF
- replaced MAF boot
- replaced fuel filter
- replaced spark plugs

One other interesting observation, header bank 1 (cyl 1,2,3) stays warm to the touch, while header bank 2 (cyl 4,5,6) gets SMOKING hot(normal temp?)

HELP im getting really frustrated with this