Hey 3geez. LTNS.
Just logged in last night, it told me my last login was December 2005. Hehe. Yeah, my life's went by a bit since then. Back when I joined, I had a 3g, a beautiful little gold 88 DX coupe. I decided to mess with it, was looking for info on the web, and came across your wonderful community. I made like 4 posts, then I was gone... As things occasionally do in life, they change.
I was offered a job down in So Cal, decided to move there for a bit. While I was there got offered a grand for my 3g (biggest mistake ever, I'll miss you...), saved some money, saw this 94 Camry V6 Coupe I thought was the shit, but rather turned about to be a total piece of shit. Slipping tranny, oil leaks, total gas hog...
Then the job turned out not to be all it was cracked up to be. Turned out 12-14 hr days driving all over So Cal doing furniture installs/deliveries really wasn't my thing. I had to come back home, get rid of the car, and got grandpa's hand me down 99 Taurus. Man, I went from bad to worse. I got so sick of driving land yacht, trying to get it around corners without hitting anything. I thought about saving for a newer car, but then remembered those good times with my old 3g. So, I scoured Craigslist for a few months. The market for 3gs here in the Bay Area isn't all that. They're usually previously owned by teenagers that thrashed them all to hell, or ruined them with hideous "custom" graphics, decals, paint, etc., or day laborers that run them into the ground and stuff the trunk full of tools, lawn mowers, etc. Then they're either asking for way too much, or there's other crap involved like DMV back taxes, won't pass smog, etc.
Finally last month, I found my new baby, this beautiful 89 SEi. It was owned by this young guy that got it from his grandpa, used it as a commuter for awhile, then just decided he needed it out of his driveway. Man, I struck gold. The interior, other than cracked leather seats, is perfect. Then his grandpa took it upon himself to take care of the fading paint with a quick weekend spray job. Hehe. It could've been worse. All the power stuff works great, except for the passenger side which is a little off track, and I love the sunroof, so smooth with no leaks.
It's been running great for the past month. Man, it hauls ass! So much quicker than my old carbed DX, this EFI really is something! The tires squeal, I take off from lights like nothing. I love it! There were a few issues, however. The gas mileage seemed to suck a bit. Maybe my foot was just a bit too heavy. :p But I don't remember my DX sucking so much gas like that. Does EFI really kill the MPG? Then, sometimes it has a hard time starting. It would just crank and crank, like the engine was flooded on a carbed car, or the spark plugs/wires were bad. The guy I bought it from told me it needed work, and he showed me a repair estimate he got. One of the things it included was new injectors, so I thought that might be a problem. Found a set on autopartswarehouse for 70 bucks, plus core exchange. His mechanic quoted him $120 per injector, just for the parts! Hah. I ordered the injectors, then hit up Autozone for a new cap, rotor, wires, and plugs, and got to work.
Unlike some of the guys here, the only thing I usually do after I pop the hood on a car is just check the oil. :p This is the first time I've really started taking a wrench to anything in a serious way.
First, did the plugs, cap, rotor, and wires. The ones that were in there were in pretty sorry shape. I thought this should make a difference. It did, slightly. Ran a little smoother, a little better acceleration. Then the starting probs came back. I thought it's got to be those injectors. And that's where we are now...
Me and my new baby. You dig that spray paint?
Real clean. Hey, I like Obama. Guess you can say I like my Presidential Candidates like I like my cars. :p
Love the interior. Check the SEi-only goodles like center console with cup holders, and steering wheel radio controls!
199,335 miles. Hey, it's just getting started! (Isn't it?)
Bose (blows?) audio. Worth keeping you think?
First thing I did when I got it was spray the engine off with Gunk Engine brite. Man, what a difference.
Hmm, think it's time for a new tranny mount? What's with those cracks? Am I millimeters from certain dooooooom?
Old injectors, new injectors, and seals. And the one tool you should always have around for all car repair, beer. :p
Injectors are out. Is it supposed to look that dirty in there?
And then, I put on the new seals, the new injectors, seemed easy enough.
Well, started right up the first time, took it for a spin around the block a few times, seemed a bit smoother. Then got home, tried to start, just cranks again. WTF. Even worse this time. Hmm... Gotta be something else. Should I try the fuel filter next? Ignition coil? Your input is certainly welcome.
Well, sorry for making this so long, and I guess it's now become a tech support thing, tho I meant this to be a "I'm back/show off the ride" thing. I guess it's all that now. :p
I've been poking around the various forums a bit, and I must say the place is looking better than ever. I try to be posting here a lot more in the near future. Be seeing ya.
plasmadis
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