Mysterious rough idle/acceleration issue....help me out!

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Mr240dude
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:58 pm
Car: 240sx se hatch.

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What's up guys, been a while since I last posted here. I will try to keep this short and sweet.

1993 240sx KA motor well maintained

Just about a few days ago on the way to see a friend I experienced a rough idle and shaking on the highway, I pulled over on the shoulder and noticed the car was shaking violently and making a loud noise almost like a motorcycle when I hit the gas, it also hesitated and had weak acceleration. The feeling was almost comparable to losing gas. This symptom is on and off, it happened to me yesterday on a long drive (about an hour and a half from Brooklyn to Longisland) It went away after 10 minutes and for the rest of the day the car was fine. I replaced a lot of parts less than a year ago such as; fuel filter, fuel pump, cap and rotor, plugs, wires. One shop near my friend suggested I use premium gas and try some injector cleaner. That didn't work out. :gotme

Yesterday when I experienced the issue again in Long island I had brought the car to another mechanic close by. He drove the car with me on the highway and it appeared once we hit about 80mph the symptom started. He checked my injectors, spark plugs and cylinders. At first he said it probably needs a tune up which I already gave the car (wires, plugs, cap and rotor) According to him it is supposedly 3 things, my wires are crap or cap and rotor need changing, which makes no sense because those were just changed less than a year ago. He checked the cap and rotor and it looked pretty clean, minimal build up. I actually changed the wires yesterday with some Bosch because the old wires were ebay junk that I didn't trust (vision motorsports) however the problem still persists.

Someone help me out here as everyone seems to be guessing the issue rather than finding it. :poke:
Any feedback appreciated!


2lua
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:31 pm

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Do these basic tests.
Do a vacuum test...
Do a compression test...
Do a leak down test

94_240sx
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Car: 94_240SX
Location: DFW, TX
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It's one of the injectors. Pretty common on KA. I replaced 3 on mine, so I know. When it happens again, pull the spark plug wires one by one and see shich one is causing it. IT shakes less if it's the one next to firewall. It shakes like crazy if it's one by the radiator. Good luck!

Mr240dude
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:58 pm
Car: 240sx se hatch.

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94_240sx wrote:It's one of the injectors. Pretty common on KA. I replaced 3 on mine, so I know. When it happens again, pull the spark plug wires one by one and see shich one is causing it. IT shakes less if it's the one next to firewall. It shakes like crazy if it's one by the radiator. Good luck!


Hmm you think it is the injectors? He examined them and said they were fine. The car is running good now, I would think a crappy injector would cause it to run like s*** constantly.

Well I'll keep an eye out thanks!

94_240sx
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That's what happened to my first bad injector. It was fine and suddenly shook like crazy and went back to normal again. I thought it was bad wiring or something, but that's one of typical symptoms of bad injector on KA.

Mr240dude
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:58 pm
Car: 240sx se hatch.

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94_240sx wrote:That's what happened to my first bad injector. It was fine and suddenly shook like crazy and went back to normal again. I thought it was bad wiring or something, but that's one of typical symptoms of bad injector on KA.
Do you think it's worth replacing all 4 with some sr injectors or just find the faulty one?

94_240sx
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Just find the faulty one. You MUST use new o-rings.

Mr240dude
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:58 pm
Car: 240sx se hatch.

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94_240sx wrote:Just find the faulty one. You MUST use new o-rings.

Is there a way I can check as a DIY to see which is faulty? Disconnect injector plugs one by one and see which one doesn't make engine sputter?

2lua
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:31 pm

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check the injectors resistance approx. 11 ohms
check the fuel pressure at loaded

here is the link for the manual
http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/240sx/1994/ec.pdf

94_240sx
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Location: DFW, TX
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Mr240dude wrote:
94_240sx wrote:Just find the faulty one. You MUST use new o-rings.

Is there a way I can check as a DIY to see which is faulty? Disconnect injector plugs one by one and see which one doesn't make engine sputter?
When the car shakes/sputters, pull out plug wires one by one. If you pull out bad one, it won't make any difference at all, but if you pull out good one, engine will almost die.

Mr240dude
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:58 pm
Car: 240sx se hatch.

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Well I tested injectors they're fine. This is really annoying me. Anyone have a clue what else to check? I cleaned my throttle body and maf problem still occured 2 nights ago. It seems to happen when I speed on the highway after about 75mph and at a stop it'll shake and feel like I lost power. Sometimes it goes away after a few minutes or stays like that for a while. The exhaust sounds like a motorcycle when this occurs....someone help me. The car was tuned up less than a year ago.....

92sxCalifornia
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Jul 13, 2008 1:10 pm
Car: 1992 240SX

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I just replaced my 2nd injector in my '92 167k s13. A 3rd is measuring 22 ohms, so it'll go at some point. I got mine on ebay for $25. Luckily the failed one was easily found with an ohm meter, but they can be thermally intermittent and only fail at times when you can't put a meter on it.

You might try replacing 1 (take your pick, but start with one with ANY deviation from 11-12 ohms) and see if the problem disappears. If it doesn't, swap for another cylinder until you fix it or have gone through all 4 without success. It'll only cost you for the 1 injector (which you will eventually need anyway in my experience) and at most three half-hours under the hood. Good luck!

IAMTheRuckus
Posts: 90
Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:59 pm
Car: 1990 Nissan 240sx

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I had a problem with mine shaking violently randomly. Come to find out the wires in the MAF connector would slide backwards, thus breaking the connection. I pushed them back in and it idled great. Check that and also I ran an extra ground from the maf connector to the chassis because mine was being stubborn.


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