Originally Posted by
dmonster32
my hatch is having the same problems, i chanded the gas still nothing, i thought it was the fuel pump so i changed that the car ran fine for abuot 3 days then it started dying again, it conviently only dies when i have something to do, like every day on my way to work.
i have to fight it to get it to start, it randomly starts when i put it in reverse while holdign the key to the start position and poping the clutch itll start.
when i start the car the rpm goes crazy bouncing between 1 and 2rpm violently then the car warms up the rpm drops to where it should and deponding on how she feels like acting that day i can get 15 miles before she shuts of or i can bearly make it out of my drive way.
changed all the egi fuses.
when i got the car, i bought it from a neibor hood thats not too nice haha but i was only getting spanish radio stations through my sterio, so i took it out to find out that everything was rigged together HORRIABLE like wires spliced into other with painters tape holdign them together. so i just took the radio out when i was at work sitting in the parking lot. i got all the way home and the last 2 blocks from my house it died, the next day i went out to my car as usual started it went back inside to taky my shower and on my way out i heard my car die. i rushed out side to find out that my car is now diing at idle when it gets warm. once its warm i can not get it running again. it just wont start itll crank and crank, i was thinking it a sensor like cam shaft or something? its not a blown head gasket, i just dont understand, maby cap and rotor? but theres no oil in cap, could timing be off? any ideas?
could be all kinds off issues.
start with the basics.
it needs air (a specific metered amount of air, that means, good MAF, and no vacuum leaks)
Fuel (a specific amount of fuel, so pressure is a big deal, along with properly working injectors)
Spark (a strong, healthy spark, all of the time, at the right time)
Timing (going off of spark, everything has to come together at the right time)
Compression (it doesn't necessarily have to be great compression, as long as it is consistent on all 4 cylinders)
Start with those.
The results of testing for each one of those things could teach you a lot about that engine.
Also, do you have any codes on the ECU? Probably nothing useful, but it doesn't hurt to check.
I would also check the coolant temp sensor, especially since you are saying it will run for a little bit. If that sensor is garbage, then the ECU will do all kinds of crazy things to compensate for it.
the cam angle sensor is in the distributor, make sure that plug is in good shape. You could also consider pulling it apart for a visual inspection. Won't tell you if the sensor itself is bad, but you can at least see if anything looks wrong.
If budget would allow, a good one would rule out any possible issues now and in the future. These sensors tend to work while they are cold, but once it gets hot, the resistance gets too high and the sensor tweaks, causing the engine to stall and not start.
When was the last time the engine had a proper tune up?
Again, resistance goes up as things get hotter. If the spark is weak to begin with, it will be all but none existent once the resistance goes up.