bad idling problems

[ka-beater]

I have a 1990 240sx with a Ka24e engine. About 2 weeks ago I went out to start it and it started shaking and idling really hard. It started smoking really bad and spraying black gas smelling stuff everywhere. The smoke was white and I was thinking head gasket or something like that. I put in my garage and worked on it with some friends. I gave up on it and took it to a shop. The guy replaced my spark plugs and said that he still wasnt sure what was wrong with it. He thought it was the rotor and cap so i got it home and replaced those to. Its still running like crap and wont stay idling. Why white smoke but no head gasket problem or moisture? Please help. I love my car

[StockSucks]

I would guess head gasket or a cracked head(worst case) White smoke is usally water, black smoke is oil and grey smoke is usually exess fuel...

[nismo_power]

try changing out the injectors...when my engine was shaking and blowing out smoke i changed the injectors and it ran fine after that...

[sb]

Are you getting any codes? I would check the MAF as well. It would cause a rough idle and gas smell ( rom running rich ) Although I guess the smoke would be black then.

Still might want to check it. Pull your codes let us know if you are getting anything.

[Felipe]

sucks bro... good luck .... sounds like many days of work ahead of you.

[peaksja]

I had a very similar issue with my 90... It all started after adding a cold air intake. From that point on it ran like crap. I tired replacing everything. IACV, MAF, Injectors, Full tune up, nothing fixed it. I then sucked in seafoam thru the brakebosster line as a last attempt...(keep in mind the engine has 237+) As I was letting the car run, older hoses near the water pump return hose busted and the car ran hot. I then replace all of the hoses, AAV, removed SCV and carbon canister and plugged open lines. Then it started idling better. As soon as I crank the car it sits at 1000 rpm strong but after driving the car for a few minutes it may idle at 1500 to 2000 or 600 as if it were to cut-off.

After all that I believe the hoses replaced further sealed a vacum leak! As for the poor idling at stop lights...I just deal with it.

[tola]

try doing a compression test...your compression might be low in one of the cylinders...if thats the case u might have to have your head rebuilt...my 240 had the same problem and after i rebuilt the head it idles like its suppose to...as for the white smoke im not sure didn't have that problem...

[unit77]

Other than the white smoke it sounds like the Air Flow Meter may be bad....I hope not because they are expensive little boogers!!!!

[ka-beater]

Ive replaced spark wires and coil too. The next thing im gonna do tommorow is look for codes. sometimes it runs fine but other times it just runs and dies.the compression is fine and im sure that my spark is ok. I know its not my fuel pump so Im not really sure what else it could be. my valves are ticking pretty bad. sorry it took me so long to answer. I had a question tho..... if your negative battery cable is loose and corroded, can that mess with the ecus calculations?

[ka-beater]

I think i have found my problem but Im not sure. I checked the computer and it gave me code 55, which means its ok. but in mode 1 it didnt blink and it just stayed on, so doesnt that mean that theres something wrong with my oxygen sensor?The red was also on indicating fault in the eccs.In mode 2 it told me Im running rich? Should I go out and buy an oxygen sensor? Wouldnt it have shown up in the trouble codes if it was the oxygen sensor?

[slyedog240sx]

what was the variance on your compression test? also did you leave thecar sitting a while or do you drive it quite often.

[ka-beater]

It sits i bought it in july and Ive only put about 200 miles on it sinceThe mechanic checked my compression and its fine

[ka-beater]

well a new oxygen sensor didnt help. Any ideas?

[wa-chiss]

I would guess head gasket or a cracked head(worst case) White smoke is usally water, black smoke is oil and grey smoke is usually exess fuel...

Do you know what your talking about?White smoke= usually coolant/anifreeze. If it's cold outside, it's most likely just steam. To distinquish the two, just take a wiff of the smoke, if it smells sweet, it's coolant/antifreeze.Black smoke = unburned fuel not oil.Blue smoke = oil burning.Just trust me on this one.

[dnissan240sx]

i had the same prb. on the back of the moter on the drivers side there is plug with a vac. line to it try to replace it.