Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

I have had my Eclipse GS N/A sitting for over a year and a half and finally got it running again. It takes a few too many cranks to get it started, but when it does run it sputters while driving and when I get close to 4000rpms then it really sputters and sometimes cant make it over that. When it is cold you are not able to get it over 4000.

My thought is that my fuel pressure regulator is bad and is either not letting fuel return to the tank and is getting shot through the injectors in turn making it run rich and starting like crap.

Any thoughts as to what might be the problem?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

did you put fresh gas in it?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Fresh spark plugs and wires?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Fresh fuel with sea foam, iso heat.
New plugs, wires, Recharged filter. fuel filter was replaced before it broke.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Timing/timing belt correct?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

yup everything is in order the timing belt has about 20000 on it if that.

I think my MPI relay is bad, my pump doesn't receive power so I have it hardwired like my talon and that thing starts just fine.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

before I started doing any real work on the car it started just fine but when I dug into all the things I needed to do to it it just stopped starting correctly.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

O2 Sensor?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

swapped it with another spare I have with no change so I swapped back.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Compression Test

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

if it comes down to it I will do that but I don't believe that will be the source.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

coil pack? Or maybe when you put the fresh gas in you loosend up some sludge and clogged your Fuel injectors?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

coil pack was replaced about a year before it sat. I had one other person say I may have clogged injectors. What is the possibility of a clogged filter or a bad FPR?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

I know that I'm not being helpful here but your topic headline reminds me of an Ex......

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

That gave me a good chuckle. doesn't always have to be an ex for some. (poor guys)

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Well filter is probably more likely than your injectors as it would of caught it all first I guess. But FPR.... eh... I wouldnt think you would have these issues. It sounds like a lack of fuel or spark versus running pig rich. Just IMO. Im just thinking with it sitting for a year or so, unless you drained the tank before it sat the gas easily varnished and you may have just broke all that up with your mix of good gas, sea foam, and ISO Heat.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Well it a for sure running very rich. You can smell it a ton in the exhaust and all four of my plugs are already covered in soot. I have a buddy with a 91 turbo that let his sit for a while like a few months and had that but it cleared up in 3 days.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

COIL PACK!!! i would replace it but dont get a msd one.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Nothing is going in this stock car except stock parts for sure. That would sure suck if its a second bad coil pack... That just doesn't seem right.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

switched out coil pack with the talon's with no change. I am going towards FPR or bad fuel. A guy at work told me to take off the vacuum hose to the FPR and see if fuel comes out but he did not tell me what that would indicate.

In my eyes I believe I am seeing too much fuel for the car to bear.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

A bad/leaking FPR would cause a lack of fuel I would imagine.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

what about the possibility of it just not opening quite enough and causing a blockage?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

The chances of that seem pretty slim, but if you can get a spare there is no harm in trying it.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

i had a 2g na, try youre cam angle sensor, i had the most problems with that. my car would run but it kinda had the same symptoms with the rpm's

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

I pulled the vacuum line off of my fuel pressure regulator and tiny spits of fuel came out and a co-worker of mine said that's a sure indication that it is junk.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Fuel coming out of the vaccuum port on the FPR indicates a torn diaphram which means the fuel coming out of the vaccuum port is going into your intake manifold. Hence; running too rich.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Problem solved :)

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

and to probably answer my question in a dumb way.. The torn diaphragm is from drying out for the almost 2 years it sat with no start and no lubrication?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Very possible.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

One final thing before I say enough with this thread... I must have a vacuum leak somewhere that is causing my idle to be around 1200-1300rpm. and my question is that, does it matter which vacuum line I have that could be causing this or is it a specific hose?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Check all of the lines that attach to the throttle body. Make sure that they are connected to the appropriate emissions controls.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Back to the beginning... I replaced the FPR and it ran last night and now trying to start it this morning it will not start at all. It gives a shake like it got its fuel then I get nothing at all and it sits and cranks, that's all.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Are you sure you pressed the fpr in correctly?
It is very easy to have it not seal.

Have you replaced the fuel filter already?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

If i were you i would just drain the tank, put small amount of gas in, seafoam it, then fill with good gas.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

waY the filter is new... I'm not draining the tank yet. How exactly are you supposed to press them in other than pressing it in?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

I just got it started which I pulled the vacuum line off which idk if that made any difference or not but the rpm's are pretty good now without stuttering but I am noticing once difference in the way it runs when it gets to 4000rpm.

Compared to the old FPR, when I reached 4000 it sputtered a lot until it got warmed up and then I would be able to reach higher rpm's. Now Instead of stuttering it seams to load up instead. Now I haven't taken it for a ride yet which I am about to go do. But If anyone has any ideas to this then good.

The other thing I can think of as to why it wont start good is maybe because of a lot of air in the fuel rail since I opened one end? Also does it make a difference as to what car it came off of? Like a from a turbo model FPR on an N/A setup? maybe there is a difference in regulating pressure?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Screw the too much air idea considering I took it for a ride to get things of need and if it sits for 5 min compared to cold I get the same result.

It sounds like it wants to start then I get nothing. It starts but then slowly dies. Finally starts but is very clunky but eventually clears out. When in first gear (when cold) it still is very sensitive per say if u press the gas down it lunges then clears back to normal. It still hesitates randomly when driving.

Canister of gas and a match?

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

I'd definitely stop driving it. You could lean out and blow it up.

I'm starting to lean towards a clogged fuel rail, but even that is highly unlikely.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

I need a car to drive. If I can get a pc quick to setup my data logger I could monitor it.

Re: Starts like ass, sputters and runs rich
 

Is there anyone that lives close to Eagan, and if not anywhere where I could bring my car to? I am looking for someone that has a vacuum gauge and a compression tester so I can get these 2 things out of the way and maybe figure out my problem as to whats going on with my car and why it's still not running right.

I am considering replacing related fuel parts to maybe get the problem solved. But not until I get these 2 test out of the way so I'm not wasting money.