I was told I could check for intake gasket leaks easily by squirting carb cleaner around the seal when the engine is running. If there is a leak,I'll hear the throttle increase a little.

Well I tried it and nothing.

The problem is this. At a cold start,even sometimes when the engine is warm,the engine doesnt like to run right. It idles rough,likes to die if you dont give it gas,throttle response is extreemly slow,and when I try to drive it like this,it's like 90% of my engines power is gone. When its in gear and I floor the gas,it bogs down,I dont hear the engine fire,untill I let off the gas then it comes back to life.

All I have to say is WTF is going on with my car? Its been doing this for quite a while and I want to find out the problem so I can fix it.

Only clue I might have is there might be a vacuum leak. reason for me saying this is that somewhere behind the air cleaner I can hear an audible HISSSSS........

WTF is up with my car?

 

Oh and BTW I've had it hooked up to a scanner....Everything checks out alright.

 

Hmmmmm........ I had the same problem happen not to long ago.......Some how, the spark plug that runs from the cap to the coil had popped off just enough to allow her to run, but like complete a$$. It threw a code however. There was one time the mechanic didn't connect two of my spark plugs, it obviously ran horrible then too. No code on that one though. The only reason I'm kinda pointing out your ignition system is because the hiss you hear behind the air cleaner may be your TBI-which is perfectly normal. If you can deturmine that it's not your tbi making the hissing sound, then you probably do have a vacuum leak. Just be sure to check first and possibly save a lot of trouble 'cause it may be something very simple like a bad wire.

 

If you had a vacum leak it would probably have a hi idle. I would say that it is probably fuel oreiented. It probably isnt getting enough fuel when you give it gas but at idle it is ok. CHeck your fuel filter and/or the pump.

 

Fuel system checks out and I got a new fuel filter too.

The thing is it mostly only acts weird when the engine is cold...

 

Make sure the vacuum for the thermatic valve on the TBI unit is properly hooked up, or sealed if you have removed it or installed an open element. If you have played with your fuel pressure rescently, it could be the pressure is too high, especially when the engine is cold and is trying to warm up. Check your spark plugs to see if this may be the problem.

 

Whats a thermatic valve what does it do and where is it located?

 

sounds like what my car was doing with the fuel pump was going...they also said it checked out fine then one day no fuel at all..then i swapped pumps and it ran perfect.

 

Put a fuel pressure guage on there and keep it there. When the car acts up again check it for a drop. Thats the only way you can absolutely rule out a fuel problem.