cant figure out problem?

[DSM "BISH"]

i went out to start the car the other day after two weeks of sitting, and it started up and it was just running like crap! the check engine light was on and the car was literally sputtering, making puffs of smoke out of the exausht. got a scanner and it had 3 codes. a random misfire, clogged cat, and fouled 02 sensors. so just go the new cat and 02 sensors in today and it still is sputtering but not as bad and no smoke from exausht. it shakes bad like its missing at idle but no check engine light, or any kind of light for that matter. what could the problem be now?

 

[the_mork]

Try reading your fuel trims. If they are off by +/- 10% then you probably have a boost leak. You should test for boost leaks either way though. Try replacing your spark plugs if that doesn't help.

 

[nuclearr]

I had a mirage that I aqured with a "blown" head gasket. Changed the head gasket and it turned out that the cat was soo clogged that it blew the head gasket.

 

[DSM "BISH"]

well probably should have put this in the above post but its not my talon its my girlfreinds and its non-turbo. changed the spark plugs to along with the the new 02 sensors and catalyic converter still not fixed. any other ideas?

 

[the_mork]

Well then that just makes your boost leak test harder. In all seriousness I still think that it is a vacuum issue and a vacuum leak somewhere is causing it to run rough. Now instead of a BLT you need an air hose with a regulator that you can stick into a vacuum line. Your other option is to play around in the engine bay with some ether/starting fluid and spray it at anything that looks like a vacuum hose. If the car revs up or down then you've found your leak.

How long has it been since you changed the o2 sensor? Did you reset the battery at the same time? Try resetting the battery and then driving it as normal for a tank of gas to see how it goes.

 

[6 bolt dreams]

Bad fuel, would be my guess. Try emptying some of the fuel into a clear jug and let it sit see what settles to the bottom. I haven't had to do this to any of my dsms yet but on my truck theres a fuel pump test point, if you hook a wire up to that and to your +batt. terminal after taking your fuel sending line off. You can take the line off where you like ###### easiest at the fuel rail.


As for testing for a vacuum leak just buy some carb cleaner and start spraying it while listening for either a spike in the idle of the car or a drop. Where this happens is the area of where you leak is

 

[DSM "BISH"]

thanks for the help guys. i will perfom these tests that you have mentioned above this weekend and let you know the results.

 

[aaronhawk60]

Like everybody else said spray down the hoses also you might try changing the fuel filter cold need changing. Did you change the wires when you changed plugs you could also have a wire shorting out.

 

[6 bolt dreams]

Like everybody else said spray down the hoses also you might try changing the fuel filter cold need changing. Did you change the wires when you changed plugs you could also have a wire shorting out.

Or you didnt put them back on in order, i know its sounds stupid but its worth checking.