[NiGHTS]

Greetings.

Ok, I posted this over at Supraforums a while ago...but the MK2 section over there isn't receiving much attention unfortunately...so I thought I'd post it here since this is where the party's at!

The Problem: For a while now there has been a weird smell emitting from my car. I've come to the conclusion that whatever this smell is, it seems to be coming from the exhaust. When I drive with the windows down I smell it...when the car is idling in the garage I smell it even more!

The car has recently had a new exhaust fitted...it's been examined by my mechanic and found to have absolutely no leaks...the smell was there with the old exhaust as well. So it's definitely not an exhaust problem, but the smell is coming from there regardless.

The car never had a Catalytic Converter (They weren't needed at the time here in Aus). So we can rule out that being the cause of the smell. This leaves me with little else to work with...I have no idea what could be causing this smell...it's definitely not normal...after the car has warmed up the smell becomes unbearable.

If the car is burning too much fuel (running rich?), would I get this bad smell? That's all I can think of...I have no idea... :?

Hopefully you guys can help me solve this puzzle...

 

[NiGHTS]

You can smell it while you drive, with the windows down...it blows right into the car, but you can smell it when you stand outside the car while it idles as well...so it's not just when I drive...it's worse when you stand outside while it idles...it's a strong smell it's hard to say what the smell is like, it's just very gassy and you can't take much of it before it starts to get to you. The car doesn't blow smoke...but when I look inside the muffler, it's quite black in there...what does that mean? It's burning something right?

 

[NiGHTS]

I'm positive it's not the smell of a new exhaust because the smell was there with the old exhaust as well...that's part of the reason why I changed the old exhaust because I thought the smell was an indication that it was on it's way out...but when the new exhaust was installed (around a year ago), the smell was still there...this is why I'm certain it's not the exhaust itself...I think it's engine related and it's coming out of the exhaust. But, I must also tell you that the exhaust was changed from where the cat would be, onwards...it's still got the old exhaust manifold...

I can only really notice the smell once the car is warmed up...as soon as I start the car, the smell isn't there...but after about 4 - 5 minutes or so, then I can start to smell it...once the car is fully warmed up the smell is unbearable.

This problem is driving me insane...what do you think it could be?

 

[NiGHTS]

It kind of smells a bit like gasoline I guess...it's hard to say...it's not a pleasant smell.

I must also point out that I don't think I'm getting the mileage I should be getting...I usually get around 180 - 190 miles off a full tank. That's not very good right? I'm not sure if it's related or not but I thought I'd point it out just in case...

 

[NiGHTS]

Hmm, It hasn't had a tune up in ages. I do all the regular maintenance stuff myself but I haven't taken it to a mechanic for a 'tune-up' in years. I've never got the injectors cleaned...but I've added the liquid injector cleaner through my fuel a couple of times in the past...that was over a year ago though...not sure if that stuff actually cleans the injectors or not...

The car runs great...the power is all there and there is absolutely nothing else wrong. Aside from the bad smell a tad rough idle and what I believe to be poor mileage, it's perfect...

Not sure if there has been any changes to Aussie fuel, but I doubt it...The engine check light has never come on...not once. The car is a 1983 with the 5M-E engine.

 

[NiGHTS]

Is that the grey square box that is bolted to the strut tower and has wires coming out the bottom of it?

What reading should I be getting on the volt meter to say whether it's bad or good? I don't have the service manual sorry.

If the car is running rich, what do I need to do to correct it?

 

[NiGHTS]

What about dirty injectors or bad fuel filter? Would that cause it to run rich? I fully inpected most of my hoses last week...they seemed fine. The only things that I think need to be changed because they haven't been changed in years are the Air Filter and Fuel Filter. Other than that everything else is good. The injectors might need a thorough clean...but somehow I doubt they are the cause of this annoying smell.

I heard someone say that the 5M-E engines don't have an O2 Sensor...can anyone confirm this?

If I can't solve the problem through this forum, I'll just take the car to a different mechanic either tomorrow or on Monday...The car is using up way too much fuel and this smell is frustrating...I have to get it repaired...argh!

 

[NiGHTS]

Hey Dave!

Where abouts is the Fuel Pressure Regulator located?

 

[NiGHTS]

Oh ok, thank you ZZT231.

That rules out a faulty O2 sensor then...I don't know what could be causing this problem now. I still think it's fuel related though...but I'm out of idea's...D'oh!

 

[NiGHTS]

OK, I've been doing a bit of searching for running rich symptoms...some terms/words that keep popping up in reference to it are: Fuel Pressure Regulator, AFM connections, Cold Start Injector/Sensor/Valve, Coolant Temp Sensor and Leaky Fuel Injectors.

Just wondering, if someone would be kind enough to point out where each of these items are in the engine...and if there are ways to check whether or not they are faulty...and how to check?

Thanx heaps.

 

[NiGHTS]

The fuel pressure regulator is located on the fuel rail near the firewall on the drivers side. Try disconnecting and plugging the vacuum hose and go for a spin and see what happens.

Ok, lol...where and what is the firewall?

When you say fuel rail, are you talking down below, like below the throttle body or...?

 

[NiGHTS]

Hmm, it seems my FPR doesn't have a hose which I can take off. It only has a metal pipe attached to it, which can't be removed...weird. So I guess there is no way of telling if it's leaking or broken...

I need to change my Fuel Filter and Air Filter because they haven't been changed in years. I don't think they'll make any difference though.

 

[NiGHTS]

I looked along the fuel rail and the only thing that was coming off it was at the end and facing downwards...it was a cylinder type shape with only a metal pipe running off it...located near the firewall...no plastic hoses...

I'm assuming this is the FPR...I couldn't see anything else which matches it's description attached to the fuel rail. Maybe the 5M-E FPR is a little different to the 5M-GE one?

What now?

 

[NiGHTS]

Hmm...well this week I will be hopefully changing the fuel and air filter...I'll see if it makes any difference.

It feels like no matter what I do though, this smell well never go away.

FreaK, has your 5M-E ever run rich before? If so, what did you do to correct it? The blackness inside my muffler and the poor milage have got me convinced it's running rich...and that's probably why it smells...least I'm hoping anyway. :?

I'm about to go do the little check Dean just told me about for the Fuel Pressure Regulator.

One last question. What effect would the TPS being in the wrong position have on the car? I want to adjust it and see if it changes anything, but I'm scared I might bugger something up in the ECU in the process...

 

[NiGHTS]

Cool

Ok, I think I understand about the TPS now...well, I get the general idea anyway...

I figure with the things I have changed so far to try and correct the problem, it would equate to around 70% of a tune-up. The only things I know which haven't been replaced in a very long time are the fuel and air filter. But I've checked the air filter and it seems to be fine. I'm still going to change it though regardless. But how bad would an air filter have to be before it starts affecting the car?

I ran the car at idle with the air filter and noted the RPM etc...then I took it out to see if it would make any difference but it didn't...what does that mean? That it's fine or bad? I figured a way you could tell if the air filter is bad is if you put it in and there is a drop in RPM. But I don't know.

Someone show me a photo of a dirty/clogged filter so I can compare...

Thanx

 

[NiGHTS]

Oh ok...hmm...I'll see if I can measure it properly then...is it wise to drive around without the filter though? :shock:

Valve clatter? You mean is there any noise coming from under the valve cover? No, not that I can tell...the engine sounds fine and there is no abnormal sounds coming from it...I haven't adjusted or checked the valve clearance though...it's such a hassle taking that cover off...argh!

What sorts of other things should I be doing for a tune-up?

P.S Are you from Aussie?

 

[NiGHTS]

Oh ok...

Big hello all the way out to Canada then. I love the canadian accent btw.

A lot of those tune up things I have recently done. I guess finding a single solution to running rich isn't possible...sounds like it's a culmination of a number of things...D'oh!

I'll figure it out one day I hope...

Thanx for all the input anyway...If I make any discoveries i'll keep you posted.

 

[NiGHTS]

I thought the Sulfur (Rotten Eggs) smell was from when you have a bad catalytic converter? I've changed my fuel a couple of times but that damn smell is still there no matter what...

I'm thinking it's fuel related also. Or a combination of small things. It's obviously running rich because of the bad mileage and black tail pipe. I'm guessing the smell is from running rich also.

 

[NiGHTS]

Just unplugged that hose Dave, off the FPR. No fuel came out and it 'appears' to be ok...there is no fuel around it so at this point I think it's not leaking. There is however, a clicking sound coming from that area...well, around where the injectors are anyway...hard to pin-point exactly but it's from that area...any idea's on that one?

If the FPR is busted, do you think it would make a loud clicking sound? Maybe it's nothing...

 

[NiGHTS]

I've had this problem for months now...I'm all out of idea's...