Running rich, engine clunk from ****!

[LiLGhettoSmurf]

So around 3 months ago my car began to run really rich and ran like total ca ca, I cleaned my MAF and that didn't work and then I just put it off for almost a month. Finally I changed my ECT sensor and for the moment all was good, it began to act sluggish at times again. But almost always ran decent when it was cold out (5-25 degrees F), now that it has gotten above freezing and into the 40's it is running terrible again. On any sort of incline the thing barely makes it, almost stalling many times with my foot laying down a decent amount of gas. From a stop it almost always makes a horrifying clunking noise, like the engine is just about to shit the bed. During normal driving the power surges and then it fumbles, putting the pedal to the floor the car falls on it's face.

The video is the car from a stop, if you turn it up you can hear the clunking from the engine.

This one works!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtL_YJNWk4


I'm wondering if the thing wrong with it could be a result of driving around for over a month running rich with a shot ECT sensor, the car throws no codes but I'm going to see if I can pull any.

In other news I've developed the subframe clunk too, a separate clunking from the one coming from the motor.

Thanks for any help!!!!!

 

[elarm1]

Video is unaailable

 

[LiLGhettoSmurf]

While at a stop sign today I went to take off and the car completely stalled out on me. It took me about 45 seconds to get it started again. I ran the codes today and thanks to my video camera I finally figured out it was 542, Fuel pump secondary circuit failure. Here is the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8LUaYY_TB0

It seems like the problem is only getting worse, I noticed today after I started it that it blows a serious amount of dark smoke. . It is a solid stream and then about 20 seconds later it is "put, put, put"'ing for the lack of a better term, like it's cutting in and out. The RPM's at idle are starting to jump from 600rpm to 1200rpm and it struggles to move if I happen to try to get going while it is down low.

 

[Vnuk1]

Have you cleaned the IAC? That is a possibility. But maybe the frosting on an even bigger problem.

 

[raff18]

sounds like the coil pack took a shit pull the three plugs on the f smell em smell fuel then its not fireing

 

[LJRuddy]

Are your cats glowing red hot? Could be a possible clogged cat. I had all 4 of mine clogged on my Mustang GT and it caused your symptoms as well. As for the clunking, i will throw down 50 bucks on a backfire/misfire due to clogged cats and insufficient exhaust flow due to the bad cats.


And that 542 code will be set after the engine has been stalled out (when it died at the stop light).

 

[LJRuddy]

Have you cleaned the IAC? That is a possibility.

IAC wont control how the car drives. It only controls idle... Hints the name Idle Air Control. :wave:

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

I would put my money on the cats or coil pack

 

[Vnuk1]

IAC wont control how the car drives. It only controls idle... Hints the name Idle Air Control. :wave:

I realize that and why I edited my OP to;

Have you cleaned the IAC? That is a possibility. But maybe the frosting on an even bigger problem.

My noobness has a Brain to Typing issue. IE "Brain to Mouth"

 

[LJRuddy]

I'll let it slide. I'll even throw in a "thanks" just because you have one (read: ) secksi gen 2

... And now back to our regular program broadcast.

 

[LiLGhettoSmurf]

Will either of those issues be the reasoning for me getting about ~ 45 miles on a 1/4 tank of gas also.... and whats the best way to check if their glowing red, lol. I went out their and revved it for a bit and looked under and I couldn't tell, is it better after a short/long drive?

 

[hawkeye18]

the 542 means absolutely nothing, it means "your car stalled". Every time you stall the car out you get that code.

As far as the rough running goes, man, it could be a thousand things. Honestly, I would check (read: replace) plugs and wires first. They can cause all sorts of varied weird and interesting problems when they go out or go bad.

From there, get the DIS tested at an advance auto (make sure they have the appropriate adapters before you take it off lol). After that, I'd check the coil pack.

While you're at it, shake the cats a little bit... if they sound like maracas, that's likely your problem.

If none of that works, I recommend chicken bones.

 

[LJRuddy]

the 542 means absolutely nothing, it means "your car stalled". Every time you stall the car out you get that code.

As far as the rough running goes, man, it could be a thousand things. Honestly, I would check (read: replace) plugs and wires first. They can cause all sorts of varied weird and interesting problems when they go out or go bad.

From there, get the DIS tested at an advance auto (make sure they have the appropriate adapters before you take it off lol). After that, I'd check the coil pack.

While you're at it, shake the cats a little bit... if they sound like maracas, that's likely your problem.

If none of that works, I recommend chicken bones.

One thing I'd like to add to this:

Instead of buying new wires (they can be pricey depending on where you buy them), just check each wire's resistance with a volt meter. They should not exceed 7,000 ohms resistance.

Checking for glowing cats takes more than a few revs. Mine didnt get red hot until I drove the car several miles in the city. Drive around a bit in the city and then pull over and while the car is still running, take a look under the car and check for red hot sections on your cats. This test is easiest when it is dark outside.

And yes, clogged cats can cause severe mpg issues. I was getting less than 8mpg when my cats were clogged.

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

It could just be the O2 sensors also

 

[93rev2sev]

I vote Crank Cancer.

 

[LJRuddy]

It could just be the O2 sensors also

02 Sensors will not cause stalling from a stop or the backfiring that he is experiencing. At the most, they will cause bad fuel mileage. However, an adverse affect of having bad o2s will be clogged cats which, coincidentally will give him every single symptom that he is having in his SHO. :wave:

I vote Crank Cancer.

Lets not go there. I don't wish that issue upon anyone... Even the GTP guys. :laugh_ti:

 

[LiLGhettoSmurf]

Damn, a $40 fix that I put off is going to cost me a lot more.. Cats look to be about $300ish and O2 sensors are $40, how many O2 sensors are there?

 

[oneqwicksho]

There are two one in the front down pipe and one in the back down pipe and if it is your cats I would just spend the little extra money and just get a new y pipe with cats its about the same money and better flow RCM offers some nice y pipes with cats and performance exhaust you should check them out

 

[LiLGhettoSmurf]

Replaced O2 sensors and cleaned out the cats... still running like complete shit.

 

[SHO.fast]

cleaning out the cats if there clogged is not going to make them not clogged


or that cats and o2 sensor could not even be the problem,

when you give it full throttle does it jump or seem like a its misfiring