Help me diagnose this problem PLEASE! Possible Fuel Pump??

[dandingo]

So I got my car fully tuned up last week. Timing belt, water pump, seals, rotor, distributor cap. All that good stuff. I had no problems.

Then this last weekend I steamed cleaned the engine. Ever since then, I get this weird thing happening when I first drive the car everytime I start it up. The idle fluctuates real bad and finally stalls. I try to drive, flooring it, and the car goes nowhere. It lasts for about 1-2 minutes, then stutters a lttle bit, then drives great.

Also, I changed the fuel filter today.

I was thinking it could be the wires, distributor or rotor got wet but the symptoms only happen when I first start the car. That's why I think it could be the fuel pump but I'm not sure.

I'm new to these cars and could really use help! I can also take a video of it happening if that would help. Thanks in advance!

-Dan

[cferb]

Probably a vacuum leak somewhere, a big one at that, if I had to guess, a hose is disconnected

[dandingo]

Probably a vacuum leak somewhere, a big one at that, if I had to guess, a hose is disconnected

I don't know about that. Usually a vacuum leak will make it run like shit constantly. My car gets better after a couple minutes. Anyone else had this problem?

[olskool]

I had the same problem a few times. I disconnected the negative battery cable, waited a couple of minutes before reconnecting. It somehow resets the ecu. The eradic engine idle and the check engine light disappeared. Don't if it will work for you, but it did the job for me.

[dandingo]

I had the same problem a few times. I disconnected the negative battery cable, waited a couple of minutes before reconnecting. It somehow resets the ecu. The eradic engine idle and the check engine light disappeared. Don't if it will work for you, but it did the job for me.

Thanks for the idea. I just left it off for about 20 minutes and went back and it idles alright but it still hesitated a bit while accelerating. Maybe the ECU is just relearning since i've done all the maintenance? I really don't know these cars yet and would like to get this resolved ASAP. Thanks!

[Jand3rson]

There's a forum for this.

Please people, start reading the damn forum before you just start putting threads wherever your eyes fall. This is getting ri-god-damn-diculous.

[dandingo]

Sorry about that. Does anyone have any advice? I saw a thread a few down from here but it was an ETA. The symptoms seem to be similar. It's just weird that it was running great before the tune up and steam bath. Anyone?

[jlevie]

I agree with cferb, it sounds like an intake leak to me also. A cold engine requires a richer mixture and even a small leak can lean out the mixture enough to cause problems. As the engine warms up it becomes more tolerant of a slightly lean condition. So what you are seeing could be consistent with a small intake leak.

[dandingo]

I agree with cferb, it sounds like an intake leak to me also. A cold engine requires a richer mixture and even a small leak can lean out the mixture enough to cause problems. As the engine warms up it becomes more tolerant of a slightly lean condition. So what you are seeing could be consistent with a small intake leak.

Cool, thanks. I'll take a look and see what I can find when I get a chance. Stupid work.

[cferb]

I don't know about that. Usually a vacuum leak will make it run like shit constantly. My car gets better after a couple minutes. Anyone else had this problem?

I dunno, a hose came disconnected on mine, I think it depends on where it is, mine was the one from the ICV to the throttle body, and it idled badly, when I gave it gas it didn't wanna rev up, and it didn't quite stall, but felt like it would. All in all it pretty much acted like yours but not quite as bad.

[dandingo]

I agree with cferb, it sounds like an intake leak to me also. A cold engine requires a richer mixture and even a small leak can lean out the mixture enough to cause problems. As the engine warms up it becomes more tolerant of a slightly lean condition. So what you are seeing could be consistent with a small intake leak.

I checked all the hoses and I'm not seeing anything visible that resembles a leak. It's really hard to see all of the hoses, though. Any advice on what and where to check?? This is killing me!

Thanks again!

[cferb]

You can check the fuel pump, I don't know how, but it's easy, the bentley tells you how. Stupid question, have you checked your spark plugs? If you changed them, have you checked since then? There's also a possibility that something is just intensely dirty, check your ICV as well.

[dandingo]

I took it over to Pe2one's today to check it out. Let me tell everyone that this guy is SUPER cool. I joined this forum very recently and then posted this thread. He PM'd me right away and asked if I needed any help. I headed up there earlier today and let me tell you, there should be more people like him. Super nice and very helpful.

I'm gonna be heading up there next weekend to finish up the diagnosis. He checked the intake and it's fine. It looks like it may be the coolant sensor. I'll keep everyone posted in case this problem arises for anyone else. I'll also check the plugs but I believe they're fine.