running rich ... adjustments and questions

[81SPIDERMATT]

gas smell coming from tail pipe... over the past several months i have noticed it .... got brads manual and started checking things.... idle speed setting was off... fixed.... throttle position sensor ..... not set even close... fixed.... temp sensor on coolant T was fine but wiring to ecu was not.... simple cleaning connections at sensor.... fixed ..... air flow meter operating as it should and checked out ok...... cold start injector voltage and timed out good.... did not pull injector (or any of the injectors) but all wiring checked out ok..... o2 sensor ... bad.... have a new one and will replace after i get everything back together... had to pull manifold as old sensor thread broke off in manifold... waiting on new exhaust manifold gasket .. should be tues.... also bought some starter fluid to check for leaks and will do that before replacing o2 sensor ...will fix and or replace any needed pieces and parts.... recently went thru fuel delivery system and am confident that all is well so did not check pressure regulator.....

am i missing anything that may be causing car to run rich...???????? thanks... Matt

[vandor]

Likely it was the bad oxygen sensor. At idle you can adjust the mixture with the screw on the AFM.
You did not say when would it run rich.

[81SPIDERMATT]

really... can you expand on that statement about mixture screw at the afm.... smelled it at idle for sure .. but you would have to stick your nose down by the pipe to smell it.. and you could smell it... .. got a popping on deceleration which i read was unburned fuel burning up in the exhaust.... hoping the throttle positon sensor adjustment will help with that.... mostly when slowing down then stopping at a traffic light very gassy smell.. pulling into the store or into the driveway as you got out of the car it smelt like gas.. might be all the time but how would i know at speed??? ... although the other day doing about 35 or forty and had a 30 mph wind at my back it was not noticeable ... again... until slowing down ... popping ... smell .... gas mileage seems to be getting worse... not a stickler about keeping track ... just a feeling that i seem to be putting gas in more often ... thinking tomorrow i will check the plugs and see what they look like

[81SPIDERMATT]

also while adjusting at afm .... what do you go on for adjusting.... rpms????

[majicwrench]

If you are smelling gas, you have a fuel LEAK. Look carefully.
Popping in exhaust not neccessarily because of rich mixture, and some popping is almost normal. BANG POW is not normal.
Keith

[81SPIDERMATT]

YES SIR.... i will look.... baby powder help???? or is that just lazy ... any tips and secret leak locations... read a couple of the "my car has a gassy smell " posts ..seems to point to vapor from the fill hose because of new gas... hate throwng parts at this car ...(and keith i know you hate it also when you see people do it)..is there a way to verify that?????.. .... need to also read up on charcoal canister and that whole troubleshoot i guess ...i will pull the back seat and carpet along the drivers side and check there.... it seems hard with gas... couple drops will smell up everything and so hard to tell where it is originating from ......


also dont want to put in 23 buck o2 sensor into a bad running car and ruin it ... when i could have made an adjustment on something i missed

as stated waiting on exhaust manifold gasket... when everything is back together i will report back with ...hopefully.. more info... how cool would it be to just find a loose clamp or an old hose or something like that

[narfire]

Fuel leak or fumes. I'd start at the tank and work forward. I had a few of the small nuts on the top of the fuel sender come loose and was mildly damp around the rim. Tightened up and smell went away. Any of the old hose could rot out and again start to weep. Fuel line can rust, all clamps nice and tight and dry..
Wipe all the injector hoses with a dry shop towel, start the car and let run for a minute or so and then shut down and wipe again to see if there is any weeping/ drips. Again the old hose rots out, breaks down and will leak.
Good luck, you'll find the issue eventually.
Chris

[81SPIDERMATT]

been reading more .... sending unit has popped up on a few threads.... while waiting for parts i will start checking areas... sorta leaning to the back half of the car ... just seems to be stronger at the back when i do smell it.... thanks.. and i will let you know what i find... Matt

[majicwrench]

Save your money on O2 sensor.

[81SPIDERMATT]

ok ... now as stated still can not run the car yet but here is what i have found and i have questions....opening trunk and definitely strong gas smell... sending unit missing 2 nuts ... will get those... should i pull it and check seal? .. is that a part i can source at my local auto parts or is it an order thing.... looks like aquarium hose feeds a 3 way splitter that all go back into the side of the tank... one of the hoses has no clamp at all at the spliter end... all three hoses smell and seem to have some type of braided cloth covering.???? .. also fill hose underneath ... although dry smell like it has gas all over it...could be me just being sloppy at the pump.. got my nose up close and personal to all things ... sending unit did not really smell at all ...

what is that 3 way thing ... is there a way to make sure it is doing what is supposed to do

should i replace three hoses... definitely will get a clamp for that one hose

more info and questions to follow i am sure

[azruss]

your woven hoses sound suspicious to me. The cloth cover can hide lots of cracks in the rubber.

[81SPIDERMATT]

Save your money on O2 sensor.

haha that ship has sailed .. and picked up broken studs and gasket along the way..... it is now a 60 dollar part

gonna replace the three hoses ....

still checking everything else.... as to have a complete list of items needed .... for me going back to the store again and again makes jack a dull boy ..... and by dull i mean *&^%#@$!&* .. family site ... insert your own phrase of choice

[vandor]

also while adjusting at afm .... what do you go on for adjusting.... rpms????

Yes, you adjust for smoothest running/highest rpm.

[81SPIDERMATT]

thinking i found the problem to the gas smell in the trunk..... besides the three hoses coming of the splitter ..one of which had no clamp.... my return fuel line going into the tank also had no clamp.... would create the smallest little puddle under the spare tire.... yeah for me ....