Intermitent CEL - Bad Fuel Injectors?

[andrewjscott]

I have a problem that only seems to happen while I'm driving down the highway, and after I've been driving for a while (20+ mins). All of a sudden my car feels like its not getting enough fuel, if i accelerate hard, it only accelerates slow, if i try to keep a constant speed, i decel. But only for seconds at a time. It is accompanied by a CEL that also only last for seconds at a time, so I am not able to read the code. My injectors sound like they're ticking (i don't think its lifter tick, i hear that on morning start up and it goes away in seconds) The tick originates infront of the intake along the fuel rail...Could I have bad injectors? and if not, what else could this be?

 

[andrewjscott]

So i've narrowed it down. Car threw code 44 - Ignition coil, ignition power transistor. is there a way i can check which part is bad without replaceing them?

 

[BlandAnalogy]

do you have a dmm? if not can you borrow one? thats probably the easiest and cheapest way to test those circuits. or you can take it to a shop and throw the car on a vat-40. check for parasitic draws, battery voltage, test the battery, starter and ac generator under loads. these machines are pretty basic and it's amazing how many things you can do with them.

 

[andrewjscott]

yeah, i actually used a dmm to retrieve the codes. i'll check that out.

 

[andrewjscott]

well, all the connections are tight, no corrosion around any of them. all other electrical works fine. I'm thinking I might need some new plug wires as these ones are are pretty old. I have a badass tick that i thought was a fuel injector....its comming from the fuelrail/coil area. I have a video of it, but it sounds kind of bad (video sounds like the car is running like ass, when its just a tick). I just have nowhere to post it. Could this be comming from the coil or ignition power transistor?

 

[BlandAnalogy]

test the spark plug wires. if you dont have access to electrical schematics i might be able to gather a few up for ya.. they help alot.

 

[andrewjscott]

i tested the plug wires....one is bad; its actually slightly split in one place. Gettin new ones this weekend. I'm still trying to narrow down this tick tho...could be coilpack, could be injectors. I tried the old screw driver to the ear. Found out all injectors are opening and closing, but the tick is so loud that its hard to differentiate (sp?) whats comming through the screw driver and whats just in the background. Any help on that one? If i had a place to host the video it might help.

 

[andrewjscott]

found a place that will host the video.
http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=P4130001
this is at cold idle.

 

[BlandAnalogy]

i think it's time to get a stethescope bro.. heh

 

[andrewjscott]

haha i have a nursing friend that has a one, but i doubt she'll let me touch it, supposedly they're damn expensive. I Think i've narrowed the tick down to either the coil, or the ignition power transistor. I have been talking to a friend who also owns a 91, and we've come to the conclusion that it must be either the coil, or ignition power transistor. (imagine that, what the code told me in the first place). Does anybody know of a way to test these to see which one or both will need replacing?

 

[The Avengence]

ahhh good ol code 44... i know him well. im not saying that this is what is causing your problem but if nothing else works, check this out: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/sho...hlight=CEL+code

he got a CAS and it completely fixed his problem finally my suffering will come to an end ... now if only i had the money

 

[andrewjscott]

thats a broken link, could you fix it? But besides the loud ticking, the car runs perfectly fine, except for the odd stumble, which happens maybe once or twice a week, and i'm usually driving about 500km a week. I am gonna check though all of the ignition stuff this weekend.

 

[andrewjscott]

Just looking though the classifieds and was wondering which year coil/ignition power transistor will work with my 91. I saw on DSMotorsports that they have choices between 90, 91-94, or 95-99. Just making sure thats correct that anything from 91-94 will work on my car.

 

[The Avengence]

here try this one: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156884

 

[andrewjscott]

Thats interesting, but in that thread his car was throwing the CAS and my car is only throwing the coil code. With this ticking comming from the coil area, and no other codes except for the coil, i'm gonna say its either the coil or transistor. But if i'm wrong, I'll know where to look next.