Help Diagnose E4ME

[calwldlife]

high 81 experts

I have been chasing a problem that has gotten so bad the car is undrivable.
When doing a system check carb dwell fixed at 20
Had a code 23 M/C sol

chased wires, sensors, and ECU.
Only part that is flacky is the TPS. maybe.

Solenoid clicks like it should. It Ohms at 23.1

I can not figure it out.

at part throttle it has set the 23 code, dwell starts bouncing from 50 to
10?

Mainly it does not set a code and has a fixed dwell of 20.
Air bleed does not change it.

HELP

 

[Sensei]

What are the symptoms (how it runs) that make you call it undrivable?

With the engine warm, is the solenoid pulsing? To check, take a very thin (1/16" or less) allen wrench and put the long end down the "D" vent next to the idle air bleed. It should be hopping.

The dwell will not vary if the system goes out of closed loop, which mine does usually after a couple of minutes at idle.

God bless, Sensei

 

[calwldlife]

The M/C does pulse.

History
The problem started a few months ago.
Nornal start and warm up.
Choke off system warm TCC working and Before a HOT running condition
Car would "hiccup" (tach would bounce 1 time) and car would stall (breifly)
then would drive normal rest of day.
This happened rarely.
Checked ignition and CCC and found no probs.

Finally during a drive(car well warm and definately hot condition)
car would buck, sputter and die-catch and run, tach bouncing from 0-2000, no code light, any thing more than light throttle would
create more bouncing and bucking. Nursed it home with light throttle.

Checked everything, changed igniton mod, Pickup, coil.
Car ran normal for a week. Then again it started bucking stuff and threw a code 23 this time.
So I tested.tested ,tested.

found fixed dwell 20 degress, I turned air screws, air bleed no change.
all at full warm. No codes
I did see, "what every is bad, act up". I was at a high idle to heat O2 and the dwell started bouncing from full rich to lean and it threw a code 23.


I found no shorts, did the jump temp and O2 sensor thing, no change.

I guess I am unsure the M/C is bad.
I thought the Ig Mod was bad.
I thought the Pick up was bad.

How can a solenoid the pulses be bad?
People generally have never seen a bad M/C.

I am hoping to know and not just throw parts at it.

 

[Sensei]

Yes, find the problem, don't just throw parts at it.

I think you were on the right track with the ignition system. Even if the MC solenoid was dead, it would not cause the problems you describe, and it sounds like it is working.

Electrical problems are a bear because they are often intermittent. They don't work until you start looking at them. Have you checked the coil? Also a tiny crack in a distributor cap will wreak havoc. Unless they are new, replace your cap, rotor, wires and plugs (now that I think of it, if they are new, is that when the problems started?). Test your coil.

Also, did you use the special grease that comes with the ignition module when you installed it? It will go bad fast if you don't.

God bless, Sensei

 

[calwldlife]

Yes, find the problem, don't just throw parts at it.

I think you were on the right track with the ignition system. Even if the MC solenoid was dead, it would not cause the problems you describe, and it sounds like it is working.

Electrical problems are a bear because they are often intermittent. They don't work until you start looking at them. Have you checked the coil? Also a tiny crack in a distributor cap will wreak havoc. Unless they are new, replace your cap, rotor, wires and plugs (now that I think of it, if they are new, is that when the problems started?). Test your coil.

Also, did you use the special grease that comes with the ignition module when you installed it? It will go bad fast if you don't.

God bless, Sensei

My agreement with what you say is why I spent money and time going through the ignition system.

Yes all heat compound and good habits were used.


Found a M/C Sol for 40 bucks and TPC for 20.

75 percent sure M/C is to blame.

1 guy I know, says M/C will F with ignition by calling for more or less
advance with mixture changes.

I was able too simulate the condition and the M/C dwell was going crazy.

Cross your fingers and give a good thought.