I want to get my tbi running as well as possible. It's not running terribly, because I can't really notice it just by feel but its bad enough to keep clogging my catalytic converter. What steps should I go through to get it in the best shape possible? Would rebuilding it be a good idea?

 

Repeated converter failures? I would think for that to be the fault of the TBI system (and I'm assuming you believe it is, since you posted it in the TBI forum), that the car would have to run like total crap. I would think maybe overall engine condition (excessive oil use?) might be a bigger player.

I'll sit back and see what the experts here say. Interesting topic.

 

Quick Disclaimer: I'm nowhere near an expert, and definitely closer to newb lol, so many of my guesses will be way off so bear with me in my learning lol

The mechanic told me that the bushings on the tbi were bad, and when he sprayed carb cleaner by them the engine almost died, could this contribute significantly to the problem?

 

I''m no expert either, and new (again) to TBI issues. Hoping to learn but reading threads like this.

That will certainly cause a vacuum leak, and a lean condition. But again, I would have suspected a lean condition bad enough to damage a converter would leave the car running just awful.

 

Yea that's what I would think too, the mechanic did tell us that with these cars if they're not running just near perfect then the cat can get clogged pretty easily and quickly. Even if its not the cause I would still like to fix the bushings, do you know if rebuilding the tbi would address that?

 

If your Throttle position stop screw has been tampered with there’s a really good chance it was not done correctly.

If that's the case there’s four things you can look at to see if your TBI unit is running properly.

First proper timing setting.
Then re-setting the Idle Air Control Valve.
Then the Minimum Idle Speed setting.(adjusting the stop screw correctly) and then if necessary
checking to see if your Throttle Position Sensor is operating within acceptable parameters

Each one of those play a large part in how your car will run when dealing with a TBI system and if that stop screw has been turned without using the proper procedure then your fuel/air mixture and idle speed is off.

If the cover is missing over this hole (green arrow)then someone has most likely turned the screw inside.

If you have access to a scan tool that would make things much easier.