I just recently purchased a 1989 RX turbo AWD with about 180K miles on it. On the test drive i didn't drive it hard cuz it needed an oil change and had bad gas in it. After changing the oil, oil filter, plugs, wires, dist cap, as well as adding new fuel and lucas injector cleaner i went to take it out for a drive and this is where I realized there was something wrong.

 

Upon acceleration it sputters, backfires and basically stalls out (but then as then speed and rpms fall back down it attempts to keep running). It is drivable but only with being very gentle on the gas pedal.

 

I have tried a new throttle position sensor, a reman'd mass air flow sensor, and also just for the heck of 3" turbo back exhaust. The new TPS and MAF seemed to make a little improvement, but still something major on in there.

 

Any ideas? Could it be the ECM?

 

Thanks

How much new gas have you run thru it?

Timing could be a issue as well.

Make sure all the ground wires in the engine compartment are clean and tight, as well as the main harness connections.

something as boring as crapped up injectors? no codes, no cel?

ecm rarely go bad, so i would say with confidence that not it.

timing belt(s) on the marks? thats FIRST place to check....

try changing the fuel filter, especially if you've put some sort of cleaner in the tank. After that, you could swap the fuel pump, I've seen this before on an XT turbo, same sort of problem, no CEL, but turned out to be a faulty pump (you can just listen at it, if it's very loud, time to replace)

oh yeah, I forgot to add that I also have changed the fuel filter and tried a new fuel pump as well.

Well, you've had 2 days to try our suggestions.

Is it still running bad?

Yeah still giving me trouble. I had the ECU checked and it looks like it does have few issues. Anyone have a 22611 AA630 ECU for sale or know a good place to have one rebuilt?

 

Thanks

How did you have it checked?

I have one from my old setup.

we used the alldatadiy.com diagnostic and repair manual for the pin-out and ohm readings and all that kind of stuff (a little beyond me and thats why my brother-in-law who's a car-guy is helping me). after checking it he said the ecu had issues with the air flow meter signal, air flow meter ground and the ground circuits in the ecu. thats as best as I can relay what he found out.

 

so is the old ecu from yours for sale?

 

Thanks

Have you checked for Vaccum leaks, and Have you checked for exhaust leakage, from the heads to the turbo? When I blew out exhaust gaskets on my blue car, I thought I blew the freaking thing up, it ran so bad!

I know it sounds stupid ... but did you put the plug wires back on the right place? I put them back on the cap wrong once and after an hour of trying to figure out why it wasn't running right felt really stupid ...

I know it sounds stupid ... but did you put the plug wires back on the right place? I put them back on the cap wrong once and after an hour of trying to figure out why it wasn't running right felt really stupid ...

 

That can happen super easy, That doesnt sound stupid to me.

finally had a good run in the car! ended up putting in a different ECU and going through the vacuum system. i'm thinking I also have a fuel pressure regulator issue, cuz i clamped off the fuel line right after the regulator with a pair of vice grips. this made it run a bit rich but finally got rid of the dead spot and made it run pretty good. so still going thru it. also did a strut tower brace, intercooler and cold air intake. thanks for the help. also looking into doing a 5 lug swap.

Cool, chalk another ea-82 T mod man to the list! Yay!