So here’s what happened with the street FX. I went out & got a compression tester and a stethoscope and went about diagnosing the car. Pulled the sparkplugs, they were pretty gunky and the gap looked pretty eroded and huge. I tested the compression, #4 was a little low but within minimum spec, #3 was very good. So while the readings indicated that to be in top running condition, the engine could do with a rebuild, it was still in good running shape. So the headgasket looks to be ok. What now?
I found some old spark plugs I kept and plugged one into the #4 wire and ran the engine. Could see spark. I took the stethoscope to each injector and I could hear each one ticking. WTH? Unplugged and metered each injector and the resistor pack, all within spec. What now? I think unplugged the injectors and ran the motor. Hey wait, it still runs with just #3 plugged in, and barely sputters with only #4. Now that means our previous thought that cylinders 3&4 were not firing is wrong! Now I’m really stumped!
I pull out the timing light to check the timing. Spooge has obscured the marks, but it looks to be in spec. I play with the timing to see if it can make things run better, maybe the distributor sliped a tooth or something? I can’t see how. It doesn’t help much. The ECU is not throwing any codes. I’m really perplexed. Maybe the injectors are clogged? I then step back to the basics and start checking the intake for loose connections and leaks. That’s when I spot a hose that looks out of place. Oh man, the vacuum line for the power steering idle up had popped loose at the steering rack. I connected it back and started the engine up and it ran smooth. I felt like an idiot.
I have no idea how that hose got loose, although it’s a pretty loose fit. So it turns out that the only problem with the car was this vacuum leak. I’m not completely certain, but the other problem of it not starting I think really was that it ran out of gas sitting out on the street. So even though I feel like a nimrod for taking this long to find this, I’m glad it was this minor of a problem.
Phew!