okay...urgh this car has got me frustrated...It seems to be running rougher than it used to. idle doesn't like to stay constant half the time and the car accelerates like crap. when I change into 5th gear at 45MPH, the car stuggles to accelerate and then the engine and the gear shift "pulsate" like i changed gears too soon. the car is also running a lil rich. and when i turn on the defrost (on heat), after about a minute you can smell exhaust fumes in the cab. whats up with that? the car is acting like this has to be fuel-related, but gosh i dunno. i assume i got a gasket problem... i've changed out the MAF several times, changed the fuel filter, got the injectors cleaned out, oxygen sensor was replaced a few months ago, had the rotor replaced and the dizzy cap tightened, and theres more that has been done. I know i need a new tranmission mount, but i doubt thats whats causing the majority of my problems. every once in a while I hear a whine from the fuel pump...but my fuel pressure is good. my mechanic says it cant be the fuel regulator or else the pressure wouldnt be good and the regulator would be leaking. i think my starter is starting to go bad, every 1 in 10 times i crank it, it doesn't turn over properly, dont think the starter could be the main problem though. anyone got any suggestions? thanks

 

perhaps you're timing is off?
Also,I've heard of the exh. smell in the cab before,but can't remember what would cause that right offhand.Perhaps someone else can chime in on that.

 

I adjusted the timing back and forth until i got it to where i think is close. do you know what the timing is supposed to be at and how to check it with a multimeter? i noticed that i only smell the fumes when the car is sitting still, so i assume that the AC system is just sucking up air from outside along with fumes from the rich exhaust...

 

on a tpi car,you need to unplug the tan/black wire next to the a/c heater box in the engine compartment.Then,using a timing light (not a multimeter)
set the timing to 0 degrees.That should take care of your crappy running and rich smelling problem.

 

CHECK IF THE CAT IS CLOGGED

 

I had that checked out but i think it was ok according to the muffler shop, but the pipe that runs from it to the muffler had a bunch of tiny holes in it - major exhaust leak lol. the problem became more and more obvious when i could hear a putt-putting sound underneath the car in the center. it runs much better now, but still running a lil rich and not quit right. need to get that timing adjusted with a timing light and see how she runs then. i had a flowmaster put in while i was getting that pipe fixed, sounds sexy....