Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

My 87 L4 Auto is having power problems. I know it's an L4, but it's underpowered even for an L4. It idles like a lawn mower when cold, but when warm it idles fine. When cold it stumbles when reved up, but warm it's normal when reved. When warm and driving, it stumbles, but it's odd the way it happens. If I press lightly on the gas, it seems just fine, but if I try to take off normal, it sounds and feels like it has leaned out. If I stand on it, it feels like I am giving it half a pedal, but sounds like a leaned out full throttle. Oddly enough, I get code 45 (rich exhaust, check charcoal canister, etc.)

Remeber, it is responcive with no load, but under load, it feels leaned out, sounds leaned out. There is a distinct smell of rich exhaust too.

I have put in a new Fuel pump, fuel filter, pulled and checked the plugs (they where normal) checked for arching, checked the coils, gave it a new ignition modual, took off the air cleaner, and none of this has changed the performance in any way.

So, ladies and gentalmen, what is your take on this, I am dieing to know, as I am dieing without my baby, "Blue too." 87 L4 auto.

Thanks again,
Evil Llama
Myke

My second car is the SAME car you have....
I think I replaced ALL sensors (the car had been sitting for a wile in a garage) waste of cash don't do it...
I replace 2 coild and it still does the same thing.. the next step is to replace the coil packs base unit I guess (74$) That's my plan anyway...

------------------
1986 gold fiero se
(paint soon thanks to TAX-MAN)

1987 4 banger
30,000 miles MINT

2001 Intrepid RT
black on black with black wheels and black windows

2004 jeep liberty
yeah, I know. its a girl car.
MY NEW CAR!

STREET RACE?

I had an 85 that had somewhat similar symptoms. Turned out the cat was getting plugged up. The car idled fine, and seemd to rev OK with no load, but under load it had no power. But I wasn't getting codes, nor did I have the rich exhaust smell that you're getting.

How old is the oxygen sensor?

[This message has been edited by GT86 (edited 02-19-2004).]

One thing the 87 & 88 2.5L's depend on is good sensor readings.

Change the O2 sensor and if that does not hel then move on to the coolant temp sensor (NOT the fan switch). If the coolant sensor is not working properly then the ECM will screw up the mixture and timing regardless of the O2 readings.
The coolant sensor tells the ECM what temp the engine is so it can adjust the mixture and timing accordingly..

When the engine is cold it requires more fuel so if the sensor reports a cold engine (even if it is actully hot) BADABING! it will cause the ECM to richen the mixture and retard the timing, when cold it will most likely cause black smoke and constant stalling.

My_Fiero,

No Fiero is a waste of money, when it has the right owner. Thank you for the opinion, but I really need facts right now, such as "When I changed this part, it made this better," or "when I disconected the EGR, and pluged the feed it made this change." Thank you for you opinions, though.
BTW, I changed the ignition modual about 1 year ago.

GT86,

I will look at the cat tonight when it is dark out to see if I get the common glow. The only reson I have ruled out the cat for now it that the exhaust seem to have no restrictions. Not only that, but this problem seems to have happened overnight. literaly. Also, on a side note, the O2 is about 4 months old, but that doesn't mean it is good, so I might try to redeam the warrenty on it.

84Bill,

I am glad your post is here. Like stated above, I will replace the O2 , and see if it changes anything. If not, then I will look into the coolant temp sensor. I remember my 88's were very touchy with sensors and vacuume. I do not get black smoke at all, I get a slight blue tint on intial start, but that probable valve guides, or leakage by the rings. It's so minor, only I noticed it. I do have a constant white smoke, vague, but it might just be because we are in a very cold climate here. Another thing is that the car starts then stalls the first time I try to start it, then starts and runs after with no problem (other than power). But it doesn't "constantly" stall, and I don't have to make it idle, it idle perfectly, right off the bat, every time.

Please keep the good ideas comming in, I will let you know what fixes this when we get it right. Any troubleshooting tests you can give me would be great too.

------------------
Myke

PAST: 88 L4 5spd, 84 L4 auto, 88 L4 5spd

Present: 87 L4 auto

Future: ???

Does the check engine light (bulb test) come on when you first turn the key before you start the engne?

As long as the white smoke does not linger and have a sweet smell everything is normal except the "blue smoke" You are correct in thinking it's the valve guide seals. Worn rings would allow for alot of blowby and the air cleaner would get very crudded up ith oil.

If you can get your hands on a MAP sensor to test with just to eliminate it as a possible problem, It also plays a part in ignition timing and mixture but it would be a fairly constant problem (under load) througout the engine temp range.

[This message has been edited by 84Bill (edited 02-20-2004).]