sputtering...help please!

[jimmy94]

alright, my 94 runner has had a miss/sputter/shake for about a month. not sure how to describe it. no lights are on, vacuum lines are are all clear, brand new mass air flow sensor and custom cold air intake, as well as removed cat convert. i did however loop the 4x4 vacuum lines for the add into eachother because i currently have the whole front drive system out rebuilding it.

could any of this be the cause? it started randomly after i had done no work on the truck for a few days. my best guess would be my cat removal..i just dont know. any advise??


also, when driving at ay speed, after initial acceleration, i can hear a loud whooshing/spinning sound...as if i had duct taped a portion of my rear tires, but louder. rear end fluid? thanks!

 

[turboSR5]

No idea on what the rear end noise you have could be.

As far as the miss goes: Have you checked the timing lately? How about plugs and plug wires? Fuel and air filters?

 

[jimmy94]

brand new fuel and air filters, wires less than a month ago..how do i check the timing myslef, or can i?

 

[jimmy94]

BUMP! the sputter is getting on my nerves and the truck is running poorly...how do i check the timing? it doesnt sound like a full missfire but definatly noticeable. no lights on either

 

[SUBTEGRAL]

They use a timing light tool.

But I would just experiment by slightly moving the distributor, test driving, slightly moving distributor, test driving ... etc ... until it either was running better or not.

I've had to do this - trust me.

Just make sure you mark a line at the correct spot where the distributor needs to be set once you find that special spot.

 

[mikedks]

I'd start with the basics, pull and re-gap all plugs, check for fouling, re-check the plug wires, make sure all are on correctly, check the cap and rotor for any issues, then check your timing. Last year I had broken off the electrode on one of the plugs on my VW GTI, had only 10K miles on it. About 8 years ago I had a Honda CRX with a defective rotor, made the car intermittently run like crap, drove me crazy.

Go over all of the work that you did, if it ran good before, then maybe you have something crossed.

If running poorly, don't you guys think it would throw a code?

 

[Idrv2yotas]

check the firing order.

 

[jimmy94]

hey guys thanks for all the input! lost my net for a month so no t4r anyway yeah i thought it would have thrown me a cel or another code..but nothing. by moving the dist. you mean loosening and twisting it where it mounts to the head ? and i thought it might be the intake i put on...went back to stock with a brand new maf and still didnt help. redid plugs..im gunna buy new plugs wires cap and rotor next and try that. thanks!

 

[SUBTEGRAL]

by moving the dist. you mean loosening and twisting it where it mounts to the head ?

Yeah, there's one nut to loosen.

Barely move it clockwise, tighten nut, test drive.

If not better,

barely move it farther clockwise, tighten nut, test drive.

If not better or worse,

move it back counter-clockwise just barely beyond the initial starting point, tighten nut.

Test drive again ... etc.

 

[jimmy94]

okay, i tried playing with the dist. and all it did was make it sputter faster/slower. no cel yjough and dont sound like a full miss....i dont know alot about timing, but is it possible its jumping timing or getting ahaed of its self? where can i get a test light?

 

[mobanshee]

Verify no vacuum leaks. You mention you have a cold air intake. verify if any leaks around boots or connections on the intake.

 

[jimmy94]

i checked all vacuum lines...the SEEM to be all good. and i also took off the cold air and went back to stock checking all connections and it fine

 

[jimmy94]

curred! new pluggs and wires and cap and rotor did the trick! thanks guys!