Replacing Valve cover gasket, Spark Plugs, and wires what else shoud I check?

[el5y]

Hey everyone,

First off some info about the car:

1993 240sx with 144k on the ODO

Sorry for the long post

My car has been running poorly on and off for the past couple of months. Sometimes it will idle rough but be fine under load, other times its rough under idle and load, and other times is fine all around. For the past 300 miles its been rough the whole time. While trying to diagnose this problem I was pulling the spark plug wires while its running and noticed oil dripping from the wires! From what I've found online is that the valve cover gasket has gone bad so I'll need to replace it ($20) What I found while pulling the wires is that when I pull cylinder 2 the engine idle is not affect at all. This leads me to believe that cyl 2 is the culprit for the rough running.

How can I tell if its the plugs, wires or injector??

Also what else should I work on while I'm in the engine??

Thanks for any help you guys can give!

Eric

[vancouverbc]

try switching sparkplugs , injectors , etc. put a screw driver on injectors to listen if they are all clicking.

looking up timing rattle for dohc in tutorial link in my signature. it tells you about how to replace the cover and remove the chain guides. the valve cover only requires 5 lbs of torgue which is just a bit more than finger tight.

[el5y]

I will try switching the plugs around later today. when you put the screw driver on the injectors I assume its while the car is running.

I already had the timing chain guides removed when I first bought the car...some 7 years ago.

Eric

[LayNLow240]

If you have a DMM check the injector plug to make sure its getting voltage. Also check cap and rotor, they could be messed up. Also pull the spark plug out and make sure its still in one piece.

[el5y]

Wires are running fine, I haven't checked the plugs yet since I haven't made it back to my parent's garage. How can I tell if the fuel injector is working??

Eric

[vancouverbc]

Wires are running fine, I haven't checked the plugs yet since I haven't made it back to my parent's garage. How can I tell if the fuel injector is working??

Eric

turn your ignition to on and listen for fuel pump. it will come on for 5 seconds. the pump is in the hatch. if you have a powered antenna that complicates it a bit.

[el5y]

turn your ignition to on and listen for fuel pump. it will come on for 5 seconds. the pump is in the hatch. if you have a powered antenna that complicates it a bit.

I do have a power antenna...which makes a wonderful "click click click" even though the head unit is off and the antenna has been stuck in the up position for the last 4 years.

Earlier you said to put a screwdriver against the injector and listen for clicking to see if it works but I could not figure this out. None of my injectors sound like they are clicking.

I know the fuel pump works because the car is running, just cyl 2 is not firing.

Eric