Code 1222, wet plugs, wet intake

[Dave_G]

Last week my '91 iX was running perfectly as always when I parked it in the driveway on Wednesday. The next day when I drove it away, it was suddenly overnight running like crap, idling rough, and with barely enough power to make it up a little hill. It was sort of OK on level ground, but any little incline just about killed it.

It's showing a fault code of 1222, i.e. mixture too lean or rich, which could be any one of about a dozen things. (I have a list of things to check.)

The challenging part is that it has been brutally cold for the past couple of weeks here in Vermont (i.e. down as low as -20°F/-30°C at night, slightly warmer during the day), and my garage is unheated, so I'm trying to streamline the troubleshooting as much as possible.

Tonight I pulled the spark plugs, and all 6 of them were wet. I assume that it's fuel, and the car is running rich. I also removed the intake to check for leaks (a smoke test is not in the cards, I'm afraid), and though the boot looked intact and pliable, it was pretty well coated with oil, and some frost in there as well. I think that should be pointing me to something, but I'm just what sure what. I'm also wondering if the cold has anything to do with this. Ideas?

[uturn]

Idle control valve working?

[Dave_G]

Idle control valve working?

Yes, it's working. I don't think the ICV would affect performance while driving anyway, would it?

My latest suspect is a clogged fuel filter caused by the cold weather freezing any moisture in there. The fuel filter is something I neglected to change after buying the car a couple years ago, so who knows how old it is or what shape it's in. It sort of contradicts my other suspicion that it's running rich, but what do I know? I'm going to pick up a new fuel filter and see what that does.

[jeffnhiscars]

The ICV is disabled when you are off idle and if you even remotely suspect moisture in your fuel, go to HD and a buy a can of methyl hydrate, Its gas line anti freeze but for 1\10 the cost.

If the plugs are wet thats likely a spark problem. Your coil be be unhappy in the cold so not firing well and if your O2 sensor is having issues that would contribute to a rich mixture.

The cold could def be exacerbating all of this

[dnguyen1963]

Never heard of methyl hydrate...and I'm a chemist.

[jeffnhiscars]

Never heard of methyl hydrate...and I'm a chemist.

Here you go

https://www.reference.com/science/uses-methyl-hydrate-f342bf2b9f3e8eed

[Dave_G]

Whatever. I bought a bottle of Heet this morning for $2.64 and I'll call it good. Tomorrow I'll brave the cold (predicted high of -4F) to put the intake back together and see if it did any good.

[jeffnhiscars]

Whatever. I bought a bottle of Heet this morning for $2.64 and I'll call it good. Tomorrow I'll brave the cold (predicted high of -4F) to put the intake back together and see if it did any good.

Heet IS methyl hydrate. You can buy 2oz for $2.64 or a quart for $8. Your money

[dnguyen1963]

Here you go

https://www.reference.com/science/us...42bf2b9f3e8eed

Yeah, Methanol is the correct name. Hydroxy methane is also appropriate. Methyl hydrate is completely incorrect. Hydrate is used for the presence of water in a molecule, for example, Ca(CO3)2.2H2O indicates hydrate of two water molecules. Methanol is CH3OH and its hydrated form should be called methanol X-hydrate (X refers to the number of water molecules) or methyl alcohol hydrate, not methyl hydrate. Many non-chemists drops the alcohol and lazily calls it methyl hydrate.

[jeffnhiscars]

ifmthe can says Methyl Hydrate, who am I to argue :)

[Metallated]

Yeah, Methanol is the correct name. Hydroxy methane is also appropriate. Methyl hydrate is completely incorrect. Hydrate is used for the presence of water in a molecule, for example, Ca(CO3)2.2H2O indicates hydrate of two water molecules. Methanol is CH3OH and its hydrated form should be called methanol X-hydrate (X refers to the number of water molecules) or methyl alcohol hydrate, not methyl hydrate. Many non-chemists drops the alcohol and lazily calls it methyl hydrate.

You're right but it's not a big deal, and there are many other compounds, eg, chloral hydrate, which are referee to colloquially just because their iupac name is a pain in the ass to say.

[Dave_G]

I'm happy to report that the car is running well again. Between:

• replacing the fuel filter
• adding a can of Heet
• cleaning the ice and gunk out of the air intake
• the temperature being about 40 degrees warmer

I can't say for certain which was the one that did it, probably some combination of all of the above, but I'm going with replacing the fuel filter.

Also happy to provide a forum for the discussion of the nomenclature for the ingredients in a can of Heet. :p