Hey All! figured I update this thread with some more weird, odd, WTF problems with this car, as it is restored back to its former glory. Just to recap on the fun of this amazing car that keeps getting better as it ages, I've recently taken care of the trunk wiring (couple wires were frayed and re-soldered), replaced the battery with a new battery, replaced all bulbs on the car (including the interior bulbs), gave it a good buff and wax job, rebuilt the brake calipers with new seals, new brake pads, performed another engine, tranny, diff, brakes/clutch, power steering flush and replaced with fresh fluids, ran some seafoam in the tank and engine oil (prior to changing the oil), started prepping the wheels for new paint, cleaned the seats up, cleaned up the engine bay a bit more, and some other fun things. Oh, and to keep Dwonda happy, I took some new pictures:
Nice and clean engine bay!
New plugs to go in, car is prepped for sale.
Cleaned up the dash a bit!
Seats are still spotless clean, from the day I bought it (Thanks Petriej)
Driver side and passenger side door cards still immaculate, and have all owner book info
No body fluids, still clean... LOL!
All tools still there, trunk is spotless clean
VIN info
Sniper shot
And now, sexy shots...
Alright, now to the fun...
So as I was enjoying a VERY spirited drive around town (also known as the Italian/German Tune) with such amazing weather... my car started acting up again when I came to a stop light. I see the CEL come on. Car is idling fine. Then as the light turns green, I give the car some gas, CEL goes off, car cuts off. I thought I stalled. I start the car up again, car drives. I come up to another stop light, put gear in Neutral, stop at the light, idles fine, CEL on. Light turns green, I give gas, CEL goes off, then the car cuts off. WTF?! I start the car up again, CEL on, runs fine!!! I decided to take the highway, staying in the right lane just in case, and go pay my mechanic buddy a visit so I may use his OBD 1 scanner. Checked the codes and here was the result:
O2 sensor, Bank 1 failed.
O2 Sensor Heater Circuit failed.
I don't know how this happened, as the sensor was replaced literally 2 years with a NEW unit, albeit a BOSCH unit and not the NGK unit being used in today's cars. Car is hardly ever driven to boot. Anyways, I figured oh well, just keep driving it for a week, it should clear up as the ECU re-adjusts. I start the car up and let it idle a bit, CEL is on, and see if it is running poorly or smoking a bit much, or what have you. After the car idles for a bit, I saw the CEL went off. WOOHOO! I give some gas, CEL still off, begin to back up, car cuts off. LOL!! I start it back up, car is idling ROUGH this time around, CEL is off. I try to give it some gas, but it starts bogging out. I hold the throttle down, VROOM!! Car clears up, CEL comes back on. Car is running great, albeit a bit rich.
So to cut this fun story short, As I continued to drive around for the day, I noticed every time the CEL light went off, the car started running UBER rich (gas smell), and the car would try and cut off, even while my foot is on the gas and I am driving. Soon as the CEL comes back on, car runs GREAT!! So I did a little test. I unplugged the O2 sensor (since the CEL is because of it), CEL comes on, and car ran gorgeously!! I drive back home, no issues. I cut the car off, plug the O2 sensor back in, let the car idle a little, CEL goes off, soon as I get in the car to back it out of the driveway, car cuts off. LOL!! Now I know there is something wrong with the O2 sensor... but I don't know if it is the relay or the O2 sensor itself. I can't figure it would be the O2 sensor since it is only a couple years old.
So I was thinking... how can I verify it is the relay causing this issue? The O2 sensor, I have to unplug from underneath and check the resistance... but I don't know what the value is that I should be looking for. I figure I start off from the top, then work myself towards under the chassis of the car (using more words to avoid any sexual puns). LOL!
Don, what do you suggest? Should I try jumping the pin for 15 and pin for 30 on the relay, turn the key to position three, and listen for any clicking sounds in the relay as I plug it back in?