Pure Stock-1995 Olds Achieva

[Ed Wright]

Robert, fan control should be by the ECM. The code 43 will certainly set if the knock sensor is unplugged, has a poor connection, etc. Anytime a code 43 is set the ECMs pull 12 to 16 degrees spark advance to protect the engine. Might try plugging it back in, clear the codes and see if (how much) it picks up. Should be a very noticeable performance increase. To clear the codes just pull the ECM Batt fuse & cycle the key on & back off. Plug the fuse back in and your good to go. No need to trick the ECM into not "seeing" that you cooled it down.

If you used something like Berryman's B12 Chemtool to clean the throttle body, take a look at the spark plugs. Probably needs a set now. :-)

Good luck

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Robert, fan control should be by the ECM. The code 43 will certainly set if the knock sensor is unplugged, has a poor connection, etc. Anytime a code 43 is set the ECMs pull 12 to 16 degrees spark advance to protect the engine. Might try plugging it back in, clear the codes and see if (how much) it picks up. Should be a very noticeable performance increase. To clear the codes just pull the ECM Batt fuse & cycle the key on & back off. Plug the fuse back in and your good to go. No need to trick the ECM into not "seeing" that you cooled it down.

If you used something like Berryman's B12 Chemtool to clean the throttle body, take a look at the spark plugs. Probably needs a set now. :-)

Good luck

Oh no Ed, I was much dumber than that. This was regular off the shelf Gumout carb cleaner. I plugged my scanner back in to clear the codes. The lite hasn't come back on, yet. I will try the ECM Batt fuse. Where do I find the ECM Batt fuse? Would this be the same as the PCM fuse in the panel?

I thinking of changing the plugs anyway.

Thanks.

[Ed Wright]

If it's a flash memory computer, it will be called PCM. If your scanner clears codes, that will take care of it.

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

If it's a flash memory computer, it will be called PCM. If your scanner clears codes, that will take care of it.

Thanks Ed. Yes, I pulled the PCM fuse. Did as you said. Switched the key on for a short time, switched back off, replaced the fuse. Plugged in my scanner and it's clear of codes. Car still runs crappy, LOL! I clumbsily;sic removed the injector clips, being old and very brittle, a couple broke and I need to fish out the clips. Pulling #'s 1 & 4, the car still runs, pulling #'s 2 & 3, the car starts to die. Have I got a couple of dead or clogged injectors?

[Ed Wright]

That would be hard to answer. If you have a local shop with a bench top injector cleaner I would pull them to have them cleaned. The better machines can also flow test them. Have you looked at the spark plugs yet?

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

That would be hard to answer. If you have a local shop with a bench top injector cleaner I would pull them to have them cleaned. The better machines can also flow test them. Have you looked at the spark plugs yet?

Don't know of a shop that can do this, yet? I pulled the plugs earlier in the week. They had the tan/grayish color of normal running plugs. They did appear very "wet" on the bottom threads. It's been started numerous times since then, who knows. A new set, once I determine the injector problems, will be in order.


Wonder if spraying the throttle body, I've dislodged some gunk? The rough running started after I did that. Looks like I have more work ahead of me.

[Ed Wright]

Good chance you did, most likely coated the plugs with that crap you sprayed in the throttle body. Screw a set of plugs in it, and your dead cylinders will probably go away.

[Tod Lane]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

Thanks Ed. Yes, I pulled the PCM fuse. Did as you said. Switched the key on for a short time, switched back off, replaced the fuse. Plugged in my scanner and it's clear of codes. Car still runs crappy, LOL! I clumbsily;sic removed the injector clips, being old and very brittle, a couple broke and I need to fish out the clips. Pulling #'s 1 & 4, the car still runs, pulling #'s 2 & 3, the car starts to die. Have I got a couple of dead or clogged injectors?

Bob
Could be coil pack for 1-4 is bad. By removing the injectors in the firing cylinders (2-3) and the motor tried to die you still don't know why 1-4 aren't firing. Since the two dead cyls are paired on the coil pack it almost seems more likely its that. If it was say 1-2 that wern't firing you could rule out coil packs

I think Autozone can test coil packs

[Ed Wright]

Could be, strange that it happened when spraying the throttle body. Coincidences happen all the time.
Lots of shops with bench top injector cleaners/flow testers. I have mine done each winter. I numbered mine. I take an index card, numbered blanks 1 through 8, and Steve at Bob Creitz's old shop cleans, flow them and fills in the blanks. Sometimes he has to hit one or two a second time to get them back where they were. Money well spent with an EFI car.

[Tod Lane]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Could be, strange that it happened when spraying the throttle body. Coincidences happen all the time.
Lots of shops with bench top injector cleaners/flow testers. I have mine done each winter. I numbered mine. I take an index card, numbered blanks 1 through 8, and Steve at Bob Creitz's old shop cleans, flow them and fills in the blanks. Sometimes he has to hit one or two a second time to get them back where they were. Money well spent with an EFI car.

Point taken, but if Autozone will test for free I am thinking eliminate one possibility...

By the way, Robert and I appreciate all the help! This thing is driving us nuts