TadsQuest Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 I have searched and searched but found nothing with similar symptoms. When the engine is cold and I start it, the idle is low and tries to stall on me unless I keep feathering or steadily give it gas. Then if I try to drive it, its very lean, no power, and tries to stall under load. Once it is warmed up everything is fine, tons of power and idles great. Idk if its the CTS or what but I can't find anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarquestRescue Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 The cts is the usual suspect. Some times the wires are broken under the boot, the wrong plug looked up, wires back wards on the plug. It can be checked with a ohm meter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TadsQuest Posted September 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Are you able to test it while its still on the intake? I have the manual that shows me how to do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr-starion Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Bad fpr maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caliber308 Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 I have searched and searched but found nothing with similar symptoms. When the engine is cold and I start it, the idle is low and tries to stall on me unless I keep feathering or steadily give it gas. Then if I try to drive it, its very lean, no power, and tries to stall under load. Once it is warmed up everything is fine, tons of power and idles great. Idk if its the CTS or what but I can't find anything else. What is your Fuel Pressure reading at a Idle? Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TadsQuest Posted September 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 I havent checked it but it should be good cause if i keep my foot on the gas a little it stays running, only if i let off it stalls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TadsQuest Posted September 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Also if its been sitting in the sun for a while and i start it up its fine, its only when the engine temp and outside temp is cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indiana Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 You might as well change your topic title to my car won't idle and I don't know why. Maybe your spark plugs are the wrong type. Maybe you have dead lifters and inconsistent and low compression. I can swap a couple vacuum hoses and cause a car to ldle like crap but there's nothing wrong with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarquestRescue Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 Are you able to test it while its still on the intake? I have the manual that shows me how to do itYes,you just need to estimate the coolant temp. test it with the engine cold. The manual should give both ohm and voltage specks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TadsQuest Posted September 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 Thanks ill try it asap.And indiana why would i do that when my idles fine at operating temp.? Its specifically when coolant is cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caliber308 Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 (edited) Yes,you just need to estimate the coolant temp. test it with the engine cold. The manual should give both ohm and voltage specks. Here's the specs on the CTS (per coolant temps): 32 degrees-5.9 ohms68 degrees-2.5 ohms104 degrees-1.1 ohms176 degrees-0.3 ohms Here is another way to do it. Disconnect the CTS plug. Go to Radio Shack and buy a 300 ohm resistor (a couple of bucks). Hook the ends of the resistor up to the plug (the 300 ohm resistor will fool the ECU into believing that the coolant is at 176 degrees, which is operating temp.). Does the car Idle fine? If so, the CTS needs replacing. Bill Edited September 28, 2012 by Caliber308 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TadsQuest Posted September 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 The problem is, i need the plug to think its not at operating temp, so it will tell the ecu to give it more gas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caliber308 Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 (edited) The problem is, i need the plug to think its not at operating temp, so it will tell the ecu to give it more gas. It is already getting TOO MUCH FUEL!!!!! That is why it runs like CRAP. When these cars are cold they run rich with the Throttle Body Set up we have. If the ECU sees 300 ohms from the CTS, it will lean the car out. Why do you think your car runs fine at operating temps, or runs better when you leave it parked in the sun? Because it is not getting drowned with fuel like it is at initial start up in your case. The only reason your car keeps running cold when you give it some gas is this: "You are clearing out some fuel so it won't die". Pull out your Spark Plugs after it runs for 5 minutes cold. They should be fuel soaked (Black).....And that is a overly rich condition that caused the Spark Plugs to look like it, not a lean one Bill Edited September 28, 2012 by Caliber308 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TadsQuest Posted September 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 Okay ill try it, thanks for the help Bill. If it was too rich would it cause it to bog under load like it does? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caliber308 Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 If it was too rich would it cause it to bog under load like it does? If you try and drive it before it warms up,yes. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TadsQuest Posted October 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Alright so I hooked a 300ohm resistor to the CTS plug and it didnt help, it didn't change it at all. Also I checked the plugs and they were completely dry, not black, and did not smell like gas. Any other ideas would be helpful. Thanks again. Also the bog i'm talking about under load is the boost gauge (stock) going up to zero but low RPMs, as if I was going up a hill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TadsQuest Posted October 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2012 I got it fixed it was the CTS, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caliber308 Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 (edited) I got it fixed it was the CTS, thanks! Glad to hear that.Maybe you didn't have the 300 ohm resistor hook up properly to the CTS plug? I had the same problem years ago, and the 300 ohm resistor told me it was a bad CTS. Glad you got it fixed,Bill Edited October 10, 2012 by Caliber308 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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