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98 lexus gs300 no start/ hard starting condition ---- air fuel

 
AMEDEE's Avatar
  • Answered by:AMEDEE
  • LEXUS TECHNICIAN
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Customer Question

98 lexus gs300 no start/ hard starting condition ---- air fuel mixture is very rich -- 32,7 m/s on injectors. Let mw know if you have any ideas many hours investesd and many parts throwmn at the car

 

Optional Information:
Year: 1998
Make : Lexus
Model: gs300
Engine: 3.0

Already Tried:
throotle body. fuel pump assy with regulator, ect, fuel damper, all injectors

Submitted: 1064 days ago.
Category: Lexus
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

Hello!

Are there any codes in the computer?

Customer replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

no codes current or pending

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

If you were to unplug the injectors and try starting fluid, does the engine fire up?

Customer replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

yes i can run the vehicle on own fuel supply - but injector m/s seems very high fuel is being dumped somehow

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

SO if the engine runs with alternative fuel, the valve timing and ignition timing is good, we have spark... and we can rule out a bad crank sensor...

If this is true, then we are just looking at bad input to the computer.

Either bad engine coolant temp sensor or a bad mass air flow sensor.

Customer replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

ect and mass air flow both been replaced -- maybe computer? it does run better a higher rpm - defintly has fuel issue cat glows on the exhaust

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

How can the cat glow if it does not run?

Customer replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

just told you runs on fuel supply such as carb cleaner or hot start -- but once you reconnect fuel pump connector is dump excess fuel

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

How long have you had it running alternative fuel supply before the cat starts glowing?

Fuel pump connector? So the engine shuts down when you connect the fuel pump connector?

Customer replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

with carb spary had it running with out seeing cat glow but I start the car then connect the pump to monitor reading on scantool after two min. you seem it running rich and see the cat glow- I've even previous diconnected exhaust a manifold think that had somthing to do it

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

So the engine shuts down when you connect the fuel pump connector?

Customer replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

after engine loads up with fuel it will stall out for sure - seconds if your not racing up rpms - any common problems dumping fuel or idling issues that lead to engine flooding out

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

Potential Causes:
Sticking Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve
Likely Causes
Fuel Pressure Regulator - (if equipped)
A fuel pressure regulator that is malfunctioning either by leaking fuel into the intake through a ruptured diaphragm or mechanically sticking causing high fuel pressure can cause an engine to flood during cranking. Verify proper fuel pump pressure while cranking.
Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) -
A malfunctioning TPS can cause an engine to flood during cranking. Verify proper TPS voltage when cranking.
Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve -
An IAC valve that is malfunctioning can cause an engine to flood during cranking. Check for a valve that is sticking or damaged.


Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor -
An ECT sensor that is out of calibration or related wiring and connections that are not correct can cause an engine to flood during cranking. Verify the sensor voltage is correct for the temperature of the engine.
Ignition Coil -

Customer replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

i wish i could say i haven't tried them - ect new and reads correctly on scantool and throttle assy has iac & tps on it and it has been replaced -

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 23 hours ago.

Ok.. so I guess I am confused. Why are you disconnecting the fuel pump?

DO we know if its the injectors or the fuel pump?

What is fuel pressure at?

Customer replied 1063 days and 22 hours ago.

i disconnect fuel pump cause it dumps fuel and i really trying to avoid killing the cats -- Went down the road of injectors too. I really came to a dead end in many cases with my tech service

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 22 hours ago.

What is the fuel pressure at? Does it leak down when the key is turned off?

Customer replied 1063 days and 22 hours ago.

45 psi- no holds pressure - i really tried alot of things - stupid question just brains stroming spark looks good and it does run on hot start ever see a problem withan ignitor not having good spark quality but it does seem like just to much fuel

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 22 hours ago.

Ok... your fuel pressure is right in specs... there should be no reason to dissconect the fuel pump.

Customer replied 1063 days and 22 hours ago.

it will flood engine drain oil 3 times in past 2 days it foold engine bad -

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 22 hours ago.

If in fact the fuel pressure does not leak down, then it is going to be a signal to the computer causing the injector pulse width to be way too high.

Are we sure the fuel pressure does not leak down with the key on engine off?

Customer replied 1063 days and 22 hours ago.

I guess i double check it see it leaks down but the injector width is defintly too high so want would be the fix

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 22 hours ago.

Is it that high only on start up or when running too?

What about at idle?

Customer replied 1063 days and 22 hours ago.

high start up - high low idle - only goes lower/ normal with rpm are raced up

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 22 hours ago.

What kind of scanner are you using?

What is the o2 sensor signal at idle and at 2500 rpm?

What is the injector pulse width at idle?

Customer replied 1063 days and 22 hours ago.

snap on solus --injector read 32.7 m/s at idle the 02 dont really have a reading to rely to you right now

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 22 hours ago.

Sorry for the delay!

Just getting done with dinner..lol

If you create a vacuum leak, does the injector pulse width go up?

Customer replied 1063 days and 7 hours ago.

no injector pulse not affected by vac leak -- comes down if i disconnect fuel supply and race up rpm

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 5 hours ago.

Sorry for the delay!

 

What is the o2 sensor reading when this happens?

Customer replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

can't keep engine running into closed loop to get readings- please let me know a few things discovered engine vacuum is fairly low - what could effect that compression is good and inspecs -- on a vaccuum gauge like 8 psi at say 1000 -1500 rpm and gauge flucates 8- 12 at high rpms 4000rpm -

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

Wait... your saying that engine vacuum is only at about 10 inches or so at idle?

Customer replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

yeah doesn't idle great but at lower rpm 1000 say low vacuum for sure

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

Well, heck, there is our problem!

Either you have a major air or vacuum leak, or the ignition or valve timing is way off!

Customer replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

dont hear or see any air/vacuum leak never mind major one so how do i narrow down to check ignition and valve timing

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

Well, your scanner should give you ignition timing data.

To check valve timing you may need ot pull off the front cover to have a look at the timing marks.

Customer replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

checked the 3 timing marks on the timing belt and line up --- ignition timing on scan tool advanced 5 deg and racing it up i seen it go up to 16 deg at one point does that help any

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

Did you just check the timing marks now?

Customer replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

all marks from the timing belt line up -- checked them more than once - whats your suggestion to check next? valve timing??

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

Did you just check the timing marks now?

What is engine compression at?

Customer replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

i didn't check the timing marks right now i did yesterday afternoon - but they did line up and also yesterday compression was avg 160 psi (Do you suggest I double check each of them today)

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

Well, no.. I think that it is a possibility that maybe one of your cams is off a few degrees. Even if the timing marks line up, if the dowel pin behind the sprocket breaks (that goes into the cam), it will cause the camshaft to be out of time and the timing marks will look like they are dead one... but in fact the valve timing is off.

Customer replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

if i pull valve cover how can i verify the valve timing is off

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

I can explain... but first, this thing also has a variable valve timing solenoid or actuator...correct? Maybe its stuck?

With the engine running actuate the oil control valve, the engine should go from running smooth at idle to running rough at idle

Customer replied 1063 days and 1 hours ago.

is it possible that the soleniod could be the whole problem cause it never idles properly at idle, so it wouldn't really be possible to activate the soleniod and determine engine roughness -- do they have a high failure rate is it worth trying -- or another way to test it

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days ago.

YES! THis is a very likely possibility YES! This is in fact very common!

Apply power and ground to the oil control valve to open and close it verifying the operation.
Check for oil leakage out of the variable valve timing actuator on the camshaft. If leaking replace the actuator.

Customer replied 1063 days ago.

if i take out the actuator - i believe it unbolts right out can i apply power and ground and be able to visually see if it is bad

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days ago.

Sure.. you could try that.. I have never done it that way...

Customer replied 1063 days ago.

if i take it out - is thier anything that can slip or get screwed up by removing it cause it does work with timing. And can i tell by activating it what does it do, I honestly never tested one in the past

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days ago.

Before doing that,I would ohm it out.

Using an ohmmeter, measure the resistance between the terminals.

Resistance: 5.5- 12 Ohms at 20°C (68°F)


Customer replied 1063 days ago.

7.8 ohms seems in spec

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days ago.

Well, try to activate it with the engine running before pulling it out

Customer replied 1063 days ago.

but wont really tell me much cause it runs rough all the time (possible stuck closed)-- so it cant say it will go from smooth to rough --- what does it do anyways advance or retard timing? Another thing You do feel the problem is with valve timing is there a way to test the timing if i remove the valve covers

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1063 days ago.

You could pull off the valve covers and look at the valves on number one cylinder when the number one piston is at top dead center coming from the compression stoke going on the power stroke both valves should be close closed.

Also, the should definitely run different when you active the solenoid. Just check to see if it runs any better or worse. If not, then I would suspect a bad solenoid.

You can accept any one of my answers and we can still continue our conversation. I think w got it pretty well nailed down.

Customer replied 1063 days ago.

i did pull off the solienod and activate with power and ground- it moves not to sure what it is suppose to do but i believe it to be good- next it did pull off the valve covers previously if i roll the engine by hand serval times would i see a problem or should the cam shaft have slack -What can verify that the valve timing is off?

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1062 days and 23 hours ago.

NO... the camshaft should not have slack.

Valve overlap needs to occur when the piston is at TDC.

When turning the motor over by hand, as the piston comes up to TDC the exhaust valve should close and the intake valve should open.

Customer replied 1062 days and 23 hours ago.

ok the intake cam is not a straight bolt on camgear like the exhaust- little bit of a special gear on intake side if i remove the the front cover and remove large nut- I have slack in shaft with out t-belt moving is that my problem or is that normal? does that mean the key is broken

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Expert:  AMEDEE replied 1062 days and 22 hours ago.

Well, its hard to say. It depends on how much slack there is. I would have to see it.

 

I am going to be off line for a few hours. I will check back with you shortly.

 
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