I need some help!

[lunatik]

Hey Guys,
     hopefully some of you guys can help me out!  Here's the deal, I hadn't driven my car for about a week now.  Tonight I decided to take it out for a spin. When i turned the car on, (I had it in neutral with the E-brake on).  It seem to be idling low, and it kept shaking for about 5 minutes.  it was too dark out, to be able to see anything under the hood, so i decided to take it for a spin.  Normally the car accelarates pretty good, but tonight it would accelarate, and then lag for a second, then accelarate, only lag again.  It felt like a #### rollercoaster, my gf said she was getting sea-sick from it, lol!  This mainly happened through the first 2 gears.  i know one thing the car is not running like normal.  The check engine light has also come on.  I'm not too familiar with the 240 overall.  I've had it for a few months, but i haven't driven it too much.  Does anybody have a clue about what it may be?  If so i would appreciate any help, Thanx  Lou

[Fuzzy Ewok]

Sounds like you've got some build-up somewhere from it sitting around and not being run (fuel line or injectors, perhaps). Thing is, I wouldn't expect it to happen within a week's time... It's also possible you got a bad tank of gas when you filled up. I've had similar symptoms with my car because of that. If you think that could be the case, don't go to the same gas station you did last time, put in high octane premium fuel, and add a container of octane booster with your next tank. Not sure if it would cause the check engine light to come on, but it's possible if it caused some build-up on a sensor.

[lunatik]

thanks ewok, I'll try that

[Jeff240sx]

Hey, if you get a bad tank of gas, you really should replace the fuel filter.  
Also, water in the fuel will cause that, and so they make some sort of gas dehydrator, and I can't remember what it is called.  Just add it to the remaining gas.
Or it could just be the fuel filter.
-Jeff

[mike]

Perhaps a hose is broken?  A vacuum line broke on an older car that I had once and I tried all the gas treamtent stuff until my father helped me and saw that it was broken.  It did exactly what you described.

[lunatik]

Thanks everybody, I''l have to take some tie omorrow, and check it al out.  Hopefully I can figure out what it is, and not have to shell out a couple hundred $ for some mechanic to rip me off!

[gt7152b]

You've got the best possible scenario since your check engine light is on. Read the FAQ on 240sx.org and pull the trouble codes that are stored in the computer. It will at least point you in the right direction. The fuel filter is a good candidate for replacement in any situation that could be fuel related since it's good to change as regular maintenace anyway.

[lunatik]

Well I dropped a Bottle of fuel injector cleaner, and new gas.  It feels as though it is runing better.  he #### check engine is still on, but i think I'll take GT's advice, and go and get thetrouble codes.  thanks gentlemen.

[lunatik]

Now that I read Bad boy's collumn.  I'm wondering if maybe my timing is off, i seems to be idling low.  When I first start it it's at about 500-750rpms.  If I hit the gas i revs fine but when i let off itgoes back down. Also When I turn the AC it goes up to about 1100-1200 range.  I don't know if this is the reason for my troubles.  Though I don't think it would affect the check engine light!

[lunatik]

Oh yeah.
   I forgot what is the normal idle for a 95ka?

[gt7152b]

Your idle speed seems normal. Mine runs the same at idle and bumps up with the AC on. Mine's an automatic so it may be spec'd different if you've got a manual. If you got a batch of bad gas, it could have killed an O2 sensor. The ECU will give you a code for it.

[lunatik]

sounds like plan GT