Running Rich, No Power, Idle sometimes dies

[SHO92]

I need some help here everyone.

My car hasn't been driven much lately, and I've got a track event this weekend that I'm worried about making.

The car is running extremely rich, 1/8 tank in ~40 miles. I've had a problem like this before and it was the EEC coolant temp sensor, so I picked one up today on the way home from work. The factory temp gauge isn't going above the L, and my Autometer won't go above 150 while on the highway. The T-Stat is new(replaced it twice just in case the first one was bad). My only concern is the lack of power. I didn't have that last time, at least not to this degree. While pulling onto the Turnpike this morning, an Escape easily pulled away from me, I was at ~3/4 throttle, he wasn't even trying.

The O2s are new and there's no Check Engine light. Should I run codes anyway? I can't remember if a code can be set without the light going on. I can try swapping back to a stock MAF too, but my Pro-M doesn't seem to be a problem.

Does running rich like this cause the idle to want to die all of a sudden? I can sit in the driveway with no problems for 10-15 minutes, then all of a sudden, it wants to die.

I'm really hoping the coolant sensor is the fix. Any other ideas??

 

[yzstud]

check for codes, just because the cel isn't on, doesn't mean that there are some stored

check codes then report back

 

[NJSHO]

We don't have a whole lot of time and we will lose access to the internet soon. If you have an idea just throw it out and we will sort through it when we can pull a code. Thanks.

 

[Phoenix]

My guess is that the MAF has something to do with it , PRO-M are notorious for bad millage and inapropriate rich/lean issues. I would try a quick swap with a stock one to see what happens.

 

[SWM]

Heres my 2 cents, I had very similar problems with my 94 ATX and the lack of power was the ticket to a diagnosis of a timing problem. I was getting 125 miles to a tank and no codes at all, I cleaned maf,etc.,etc. and no luck so I went to change the CPS and cam sensor and found "CRANK CANCER" Do a search If you don't know about this. My crank spocket was worn a half inch at the woodruff key and the key had a large bevel worn into it. Changed the sprocket and key and all was instantly fixed. Hope this helps! Steve, still driving my 94 ATX

 

[ice111103]

My car was acting the same way when my coolant temp sensor came unplugged. Just plugged it back in and it was a whole new beast.

 

[SHO92]

We changed the EEC coolant sensor(which I knew caused these problems) but it didn't help. I also tried a stock MAF which didn't help.

I last really drove the car back in November when I needed to get it inspected. I can't remember how it drove though!! I may have pulled the SPOUT connector, so I'm going to check that as an easy fix.

At this point I'm thinking it's timing or maybe fuel. The car does miss, so I don't think it's spark. I'll be checking the crank bolt as well, but I just had it off a few months ago for a water pump replacement. I hope it's not crank cancer, but I have another sprocket and key as long as the crank is still ok. That could be an excuse to get started on a 3.2.

Needless to say, my car didn't make it to Summit Point. NJSHO let me co-drive his car though, so all wasn't lost!