Guys I Need Help... Other Car

[david-b]

Hey all; I need help ASAP. Here's the story.
My 1988 Olds Cutlas Ciera has been having problems. It failed emissions, been runing like shit, and dying. I replaced the EGR valve (passed emissions then), TPS, IAC, MAP, and the O2 sensors. All of which have helped some, but still having problems.

The car idle sucks. It goes up and down up and down. This morning while trying to start it, it refused to turn over. I had to keep my foot on the gas for it to do it, then it was up and down. It was running before, but would die while driving or at idle. When starting, the thing would shoot out black smoke to start off (not too thick), but then no smoke afterward.

There was no CEL after I did the O2 and MAP, until after I installed the IAC. I get a code 14, which is the coolant sensor or something aloing that line. We were going to take the car to the shop this morn bc im all out of ideas, but I couldn't even get the car down the block. Now my parents want to sell it unless I pull a miracle out my ass. Please help me. The car only has 56k miles on it and still looks good. PLEASE HELP ASAP!!! Thanks so much

[defiancy]

My friend has an olds similiar to the car you have now. I can't remember what his symptoms were but it turned out his cylinder head was cracked.

Maybe you should do a compression test on the cylinders.

With the coolant sensor code. I can't think of much else it would be. Heater core maybe?

[SLoe]

Originally Posted by defiancy

With the coolant sensor code. I can't think of much else it would be. Heater core maybe?

Could it be the coolant sensor?

How long has it been going on? Do the symptoms change with the outside temp? What about the IAT? I don't think the heater core would throw a code. What is the engine's temp like,has it been over heating/over cooling or anything. You cleaned the TB, and checked the voltage on the TPS? Checked for vaccum leaks? What controls fuel pressure? I would look into that too. You also may have a valve sticking. Do the compression test.

[david-b]

Took it to the shop and the computer was almost dead. Thing didn't work for shit. Replaced with a new ECU and it works perfectly now. They said that that was the only problem. The computer wasn't reading any of the sensors, so it kept throwing cells, and since the car needs the computer to work, the car didn't work. With towing, labor, and the ECU... cost came out to $303.69. Not bad at all. It runs so great now. Plus Im going to have great gas-mileage considering I replaced the O2, EGR valve, MAP, and everything else.