Starts fine,fine when warmed up..GRRRR in between.

[Arnoldtheskier]

91 3 cyl auto. Starts fine when cold. Runs fine..AS it warms up..gradually loses power..then quits. A few minutes later it will start again ..and continues to run BAD..AS it warms up..running better and better as it warms up. Then runs fine. GRRRR.
The cel is not on. Is there any way to check for codes(soft ones)? Method? Where are the codes listed?
It just started this stuff.
It is ok if I now leave it idling after I start it for about 5 minutes..then drive it. Pita.
I'm sortta thinking egr..can't hurt to start there I guess.

Any ideas.thoughts would be greatly appreciated

Thanks..Arnold..

[91Caprice9c1]

Originally Posted by Arnoldtheskier

91 3 cyl auto. Starts fine when cold. Runs fine..AS it warms up..gradually loses power..then quits. A few minutes later it will start again ..and continues to run BAD..AS it warms up..running better and better as it warms up. Then runs fine. GRRRR.
The cel is not on. Is there any way to check for codes(soft ones)? Method? Where are the codes listed?
It just started this stuff.
It is ok if I now leave it idling after I start it for about 5 minutes..then drive it. Pita.
I'm sortta thinking egr..can't hurt to start there I guess.

Any ideas.thoughts would be greatly appreciated

Thanks..Arnold..

I would suspect clogged coolant passages in the throttle body (inaccurate ECT reading) or the ECT sensor itself (maybe the one in the TB, maybe the one in the coolant outlet) and then I would look at the secondary ignition system (including the coil) and then perhaps a clogged exhaust. This may very well be a bad electrical connection, check that your battery posts are clean and tight, your sensor grounds are clean and tight, your alternator cable is tight etc. Also check the fuel pressure (and volume) when the car acts up, and again when it wants to run fine. It would be uncommon for an EGR malfunction to create this problem, but it is not impossible if for some strange reason the ECM was demanding EGR at inappropriate times. You can quickly eliminate EGR as a possible cause by disconnecting the hose that connects to the far side of the EGR valve diaphram, and see if the symptoms go away. This may result in a CEL - if it does, reconnect the hose and the light should go out after 3 keystarts.

OBD I is not very refined, and it does not store soft codes. Nor does it perform I/M tests - which means you may have a sensor that is no longer feeding correct input, and will more than likely be overlooked by the ECM.

When the car is at operating temp. in park and idling, does it hesitate when you snap the throttle wide open? or does it rev smoothly? Does the car seem to lack power at highway speeds?

-MechanicMatt

[Arnoldtheskier]

Wow! Thanks for that(and the reply) Matt..that is some real good solid info.
I hope I can help you out sometime.

Ya..I figgered somein' in the warmup circuit..but did not guess on the coolant passage. Or the ect.. as it runs so well when warm.
I wouldn't think igniton as it runs so well when cold and warmed up. But I didn't test it either..spark output/scope etc. or warm up stuff that can affect it.I didn't go over any connections either as I figgered they were ok as this was a warming up issue. Never hurts though. Ditto for fuel pressure/volume.

NO egr on this thing...Canadian car/Japanese motor. I couldn't find it..and it wasn't on the emmissions decal either under the hood. No..doesn't look like it was removed/block off plate either.My Escort doesn't have one either. With the Escort..some do..some don't. I just don't know about other Metro's up here? This one doesn't.

Cat/.Ex are new.

I can't find a code reader for this car either..Canadian model/Japanese motor. Not even a universal that will read this one. Guess if I want to..it is jump it/put the fuse in it. Thanks! for the info about the soft codes. If this thing doesn't store them I am wasting my time. Some(like my other car with obd1) store them..but yes..obd 1 can be pretty ancient tech by todays standards/

No..no hesitation ever..cold..warming up..warm..just a gradual loss of power unitl it warms up..then fine. Power is ok when cold and warm. Actually this thing is surprisingly! peppy.

LOL..I tried it the last 2 days without warming it up and it was fine.

Thanks again Matt..
Arnold..