My 1990 KA24e is running rich I believe, I replaced the CTS and stuff a yr ago

[lbrowne]

I'm starting to think that horrid exhaust smell and sooted up blackened bumper is a sign that my 90 ka24e is running rich.

About a year ago I replaced the CTS among other maintenance items not long after I bought the car to get it running good. For the most part, it runs well. It idles good, drives good, accelerates well. But for the last 2-3 months my rear bumper has started collecting black soot.

Plus if I'm around my car for any length of time I STINK of exhaust, has a gassy smell. My cat was removed, so I know that is partly to blame.

I have very jerky 1st gear driving, that has been the case since I owned the car pretty much. By jerky I mean if you get off the throttle in 1st, the car starts bucking somewhat. All out or steady acceleration shes fine.

What can I do to see if my CTS is working properly? I have a multimeter, or is there a simpler check to do? (like disconnecting it and seeing if the car idles differently etc)

I've read some older posts about the TPS but there are conflicting reports on whether it's a good idea to mess with that.

The motor has almost 180k on it and to be totally honest I need it to last for a while yet before any hopes of changing it out. (wife and 3 kids take priority!)

So the fact that the back bumper has the black soot on it I'm taking this as a sign that something is tuned right.

The car has received in the last year:1. Plugs and Wires2. Air filters of course3. oil changes religiously4. CTS5. Leaky injector fixed6. Alternator, Starter, fuel pump, and soon to be waterpump7. t-stat

Might seem like a alot but when I bought the car and it had sat for over a year untouched, not started, nothing. I've turned it into a pretty darn good daily driver.

Can anyone help me out? Most of my searching in the archives resulted in threads of people either saying go search, or some breaking out into arguments of what you should or shouldn't do.

thanks,

lbrowne

[lbrowne]

no takers?

[Scud]

trying checking for vaccum leaks. or look into your maf if you havnt done that

[WWJD]

I noticed you didn't metion that you haven't changed your o2 sensor. that could be goen' out.

I've messed with my TPS many times to fix crapy Idle. No bad out comes of it of it. I would say try it.

you do know they like alot of gas right? lol My SOHC dose horrible on gas milage compared to my DOHC. Keep us posted man

[DALAZ_68]

main reason for the conflicting issue of TPS is because people tend to loosen it and just start moving it around with out any idea of what there doing (i was one of them). but if u get a multimeter...and get into the wires of the TPS check ur voltage at idle and when ur giving it throttle...check what it reads on both situations

[lbrowne]

New O2 sensor a few months ago. Forgot about that.