Engine and body shaking heavily while idling

[zoneoneoni]

Well, basically, the title explains it. My engine idles really hard and it has a certain rhythm to it when it shakes. I have no idea what could be the problem, I assume it is the timing chain, however it doesn't make the rattling sound. It's giving me some kind of put put put sound and it feels like only 2 out of the 4 pistons work or are running. I'm really confused and I don't know what to do or how to fix this. If anyone can at least give me a couple hints at what it is, I would really appreciate it. Thanks alot guys.

By the way, I have a 1992 240sx with the KA24DE

[tramp_drift240]

check your spark plugs. check your compression. check your timing with a timing light on the spark plug wires.

when i first got my car (1990 coupe) it only had 3 cylinders running. changed the plugs/wires and it was fine afterwards.

sure did have a rhythmic pattern going...felt like i was constantly feelin' the groove.

[3r1c]

It might be your injectors crapping out on you. Does your car sound like a VW Bug while idling? Here a site to get a set of stock KA24DE injectors with O-Rings and lub. http://www.deatschwerks.com/ca...d=109

[zoneoneoni]

Yeah, I replaced the spark plugs, thanks so much guys. However, the problem is not fixed and I'm afraid to say it, but I don't know what or where to check the compression...And yes, it sounds like a VW bug when idle.Alright, well, the injectors are pretty expensive, and I'm considering buying the SR20DET in about a week, so unless I know for sure that it is the fuel injector and I know I can get it cheaper or something, I'm just gonna wait it out and get my SR20...Thanks for all your help guys.

[98s14inaz]

Another simple check would be to check the tubing behind your mafs for air leaks. If you have an air leak you are pulling in un-metered air and will cause a similar condition.

[zoneoneoni]

I'll go check that right now, thanks!

[Stripes]

sounds like your motor is about to go buddy.i got my 240 for $750 cuz its motor was about to blow and its doing that same thing. is it knocking real bad? you might need to replace some internals if you really wanna save the motor.

[zoneoneoni]

The MAF was a little loose, so I tightened it up. It seemed like it was running and sounding a tad better. Started up at the usual 750-1000 rpm, but only to fall up and down a tad. I'm not very concerned about saving the motor because on the 11th (when the f-ing bank clears the check I just put in) I'm gonna buy a SR20DET from Password JDM (which is about 20 miles away from me, praise the lord). Wish me good luck I guess. Any other ideas are more than welcome, fixing this KA24DE isn't the most of my concern right now, but it would be nice to have a decently running car.
Modified by zoneoneoni at 6:37 PM 10/5/2007

[dickie]

i am willing to guarantee that one of your cylinders is dead, and i will share a little tip with you on discerning which one it is if you promise to share the info with anyone and everyone who needs it so i dont have to type it over and over...

with the engine idling, pull one spark plug wire out at a time, starting with the front and working your way to the back and replacing each before moving to the next. if the idle gets worse or the engine dies, that cylinder is operating properly. if the idle remains the same, you have identified your dead cylinder(s).

10 times out of 10 for me i had a clogged injector, so i supposed that KA's were notorious for this.

although injectors can be expensive if you buy brand-new ($75-100 each), you can always do what i did and swap in used units as a temp. fix.

if you are swapping an SR in, help a former Claremont resident out and ship me some of the pieces from it after you get it out

[zoneoneoni]

Holy ****, lol, that's exactly what I was thinking it was...For sure I will send you some parts ^^What are you needing?And yes, I will gladly pass on the info from generation to generation, kk?

[Jaseman04]

Yeah the samething happened to mine. It turned out it was my fuel injectors. Cost about 900 dollars to fix at fireshtone.

[zoneoneoni]

Alright, so today, I did that little thing where you pull the plug on your spark plugs. I found out that only one of my cylinders is NOT functioning properly. On Monday (When the OEM parts store is open) I'm going to get a new fuel injector and install it myself. Later that day (If I have time ><) I'm gonna take off the engine head and try and unclog that cylinder so I can get it in good, running condition for you, d!ck. I'm willing to send you the whole engine with a extra manual transmission if you just help me pay for the shipping ^^

[jh3xp]

your gonna swap to sr20 but u dont kno how to check ur compression? lol :P

[dickie]

hmmm. shipping from claremont to tx might be killer, but lemme know what it would cost anyways. even if i cant cover freight, the parts i would need are easy to remove and ship and im sure we could secure you some cash from parting the rest of it

thanks man, keep us updated and good luck with your swap!

[djminus]

hey so do you really have to open up the engine and unclog the cylinder? cuz Im having a similar problem she fires right up and shakes and shes idling and I was probably thinking the same as being one of my injectors... is it MANDATORY to open up the cover to do the head thing?????

[dickie]

no, the cylinder is not what is clogged in this situation, its the actual injector.

for me, it was the o-rings disintegrating due to the local gov't switching to mandatory ethanol blends in all gas pumps.

you can remove the injector and send them to a place like Deatschwerks (nico sponsor) to have them cleaned or rebuilt, or you can go to autozone/pep boys and pop a new one in.

[djminus]

alright so I did the spark plug thing and I pulled my first plug out it got worse so I put it back in turned off my motor tried to start it back up and now it wont start... took out the spark plug from the engine and it was covered what it looked like to be a mixture of gas and some oil... sooo what did I just experience??

[dickie]

you're screwed.

seriously, if you have oil on your plugs your problems go much deeper than a clogged injector.

i hope when you say you pulled the plugs you meant the plug WIRES and not the actual plugs themselves...

[jh3xp]

Im having the same problem. My car has always had a little bit of a shake when idling. But This morning its been shaking harder then ever. Lemme kno if you find anything out on fixing it.

[xtrmnop]

Guys, I did that test for pulling the wires and seems like my 2nd cylinder is dead. So just replacing the injector should do the trick?

[djminus]

well I wouldnt say its straight oil but it has a gasoline smell like on it... and I dont wanna do this again cuz it took a long time to get it fired back up again.. I did open the cover of the engine and there was old of course but it seemed like the oil was reallllly thin like hand some clear mixture on it.. old oil??

[Valett85]

ok, you havnt answered the question yet. Did you pull the plug or the wire while the motor was running. Because if you pulled the plug...omg. not very bright. i hope you only pulled the wire.

[dickie]

xtrmnop: the injector will not be the cause of a dead cylinder 100% of the time, bit it was in my case. thats a good place to start after you check your plugs, wires, distributor and injector wires.

it could also be loss of compression in that cylinder although i highly doubt it.

djminus: if you have oil on your plugs, that means oil is getting pas your rings into the cylinder. you definitely have more problems, check your oil and coolant for mixing (will look like bubbly chocolate milk).

[djminus]

i pulled the wire yes for the guy 2nd post above me. and as for seeing if theres oil in my coolant there isnt any... theres no mixture or bubbly dots of oil. im just gonna take it to my shop next week and hope for the best which obviously it will be running by then... ill keep you posted on what exactly! was goin on with her.