When I ran it last weekend it got worse as it started warming up.

I'll check for codes again, but all I can think of at the moment is the MAF and o2 being used when it goes into closed loop.

What do these cars run like with the maf unplugged? I'm thinking about warming it up, turn off, unplug the maf, and then see what happens. I remember reading that once, but couldn't find it.

I'm going to check for codes again. I cleaned the plugs off (kinda black with no. 2 having a bit of carbon bridging the gap) and put them back in, but I didn't run it yet.

 

The o2 is the only thing that's enabled in closed loop. Everything else is already used. Removing the maf will only put in alpha-n which may or may not make it more driveable depending on if the maf is the problem. Did you ever replace the o2?

Are the plugs black & sooty or more solid like tar?

 

They were more of a sooty look I think.

I fired it up, let it warm up, and I noticed it get a little rougher once the idle dropped down to normal, but not as bad as before.

Unplugged the est, and it was at 16, so I backed it down to 10-11. Wasn't as smooth as I would have prefered, but I shut it down and reconnected the est anyway.

Started up and seem to run a hair on the rough side, but thats about how it always ran.

When I press the pedal very fast though, it stumbles whether it's 700 rmp or 1500rpm. When I gave it a quick jab, it coughed and died.

The o2 probably has 25k on it. It's a Denso heated o2, but I can hopefully find one similiar tomorrow.

unplugged the MAF and didn't see any difference in the way it ran. Almost seemed like the tack was staying a bit steadier while idling, but just barely. That and the SES was on.

Only code I got was 42 (Ignition bypass circuit error) which I pulled before I unplugged the MAF, and I'm sure is from the EST being unplugged.

 

If you unplugged the MAF and it made no difference, then maybe your MAF puked on you. Start the car and let it warm up a bit, then with the handle of a screwdriver LIGHTLY tap on the MAF and see if your engine coughs or stumbles. If it does your MAF is fried.

 

Well, it didn't cough or stumble when I tapped the MAF. There were two at the junkyard (85 and 88), but I didn't get either one yet.

forgot to look for an o2. I need to see what kind of connector I even used when I installed it.

There's a faint cough every second or two I can hear in the exhaust.

No arcing was visible between the plug wires when i turned the lights off.

I tested the TPS not too long ago. Could try again I guess.

IAC I'm not sure about.

EGR moves up and down using the vaccum gun, and holds vac too.

I don't care much for the way the cap and rotor look. They're MSD and not all that old, but i get a lot of buildup quick on them.

 

Sooty means rich. Maf or o2. Probably the crappy digital maf.

 

When you say it got a bit rougher when warmed up, do you mean it runs anything like this? Do your spark plugs look like mine?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcm84CRgZgc

I guess I just need some reassurance that what I see is normal... heck, it might help you as reference, who knows.