engine problems

Now, I'm new so your just gonna have to stay on my level lol. But my 1996 mits. Eclipse RS NON-Turbo is having some problems. When I Try to start it i have to floor it and it will kinda start if you want to call it that, but it will just kinda "clunka clunka clunka" and if i let off the gas it shuts off.It shakes realy bad too. And i have to hold the key and pump the gas for it to even do that much. But some times i hold it turning it over and it makes a poof noise and smoke comes out of the place where you put oil in your car. Now i realized there is a oil leak on the bottm also, is my car not getting gas or what. Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

have you replaced the fuel and air filter along with plugs and wires lately? try those first and then come back.

well, I have changed the plugs last weekend and oil, but it drained all my oil and i havnt replaced the air filter and its pretty dirty but would that have any thing to do with it, and what wires the spark plug wires?? thanks for helping.

fuel filter or gas in tank?

i'd replace the fuel filter and air filter anyways. even if those aren't the problems it's always better for the car to have new filters about every year. also have you done anything lately that may have made the timing jump?

well, i bout the car realy cheap b/c the guy thought his engine was blown but i got it and did a fewe things and its not blown. It just putters so far and you have to pump that gas for that much to happen. And when it does statrt it shakes everything. I donno, but ill change my filters this weekend along with my spak wires. Thanks ill keep ya posted..

If replacing the filter doesn't do it then it sounds like you might have a bad fuel pump, or clogged.

ok ill try it out and c thankx ill let you know

I don't know why people always say to replace the fuel filter. I've been running on the original from the factory (now 12 years old) and everytime i check it it's perfectly clean. To be completely honest I don't think I have ever changed a fuel filter on any vehichle that I've owned and never ran into trouble. I don't know of any fuel out there that has foreign particles in it.

i've been told my many shop head mechanics that it's just better for the car to replace it once a year. even though it says 30,000 miles or however long, you don't know what's in that gas. you can't always see everything either.

and plus, if it's running like shit and choking...it's either not enough air or not enough fuel. replace the fuel and air filter it eliminates two relatively cheap and easy fixes.

ok, well imma try it out saturday and ill keep you posted.

clunka clunka clunka" and if i let off the gas it shuts off.It shakes realy bad too. ......and it makes a poof noise

My car was doing the EXACT same thing yours is....do a compression test.

what did you do about it?

I tend to disagree w/ the fuel filter issue, it's another small thing for shops to make money of. I've worked at many shops and believe it or not, many times they will just pressure wash your filter (in some instances not even take it out) and say they put a new one in and show you an empty box from a fuel filter that is probably still under his counter. I've been in this business for over 30years, unless your car is 20years old,or someone is just putting dirt in your gas tank when you sleeping it's a waist of money. I'm sure many will disagree but this a another marketing gimik, maybe soon they will recomend and new fuel filter every second tank. and a oil change every "200feet"

Anyways I'm suspecting a compression problem (Can be cause by improper timing, very worn piston rings, bent valves among a few). If non of the easy fixes do it for you (Your hopes of those is low from what you've explained). I'm thinking you might have jumped a few teeth on your timing belt so you should take a look at the tension of it. Not to scare you, but if you have smoke coming out from your oil cap the you've definetly bent some exhaust valves. These usualy go first from a jumped belt due to the high heat around them causing the matrial to softer (Therefore easier to bend). If it's not the timing belt, check compresion. IMO if you didn't let it goto far you can still save the motor without costing an arm n' leg. You'll most likely need send your head to a machine shop, they will inspect it, resurface it, and replace the bent valves along with whatever else they find. With the head of you might as well do the headgasket. Once this is all done it will definetly prolong the life of your engine provided you keep it up. Sorry bout the bad news, but good luck.

Now how will a "dIrTy" fuel filter cause smoke outta the oil cap??I'm very curious as how this makes any sort of logic in your head. I dunno, maybe im stupid?
I hate how people don't take into consideration that there are so many different variables that contribute to general service of a vehicle, it's not always best to go by what it say's on the label. (I change my oil when it's not golden coloured anymore, about 15 000km - 20 000km (take away maybe 35% if non-synthetic) and i have 280 000km original owner, and have never had issues, hell my cylinder head which was ported 100k ago is still shiny aluminium on the inside when looking through oil cap) The point is 8 outta 10 people through away healthy things of their car b/c the label said to do so.