Random Lean Issue HELP

Snailed

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If a pictures says a thousand words, what about a video.

But for those who want to read. It's a 92 vx hatch with a JDM OBD1 DOHC ZC. Mods are ebay i/h and magnaflow exhaust along with a 255 walbro.

The problem:
The car randomly runs extremely lean. I say random cause the problems are very random and hard to catch on video. For the most part the car runs good with plenty of power and very smooth. It has 2 problems, one of which didn't show in the video. The one that showed in the video started about 1 month ago. Everything will be fine and then it decides to slowly lean out until it hits 22.4 afr and then quickly jumps back to 14.7. It will do this idling and driving. It does it more often in warmer weather if it matters. While it leans out the car will lose power and run rough almost to the point of stalling then quickly return to normal just before it stalls.

Problem #2 which didn't show is similar but fast. It jumps 15 to 22.4 to 15 with in a couple of seconds. When it hits 22.4 the car decels like a semi truck jake brake. This afr switching causes an annoying somewhat violent bucking sensation. This problem start last year summer. This problem only happens at part throttle and not accelerating.

I'm lost as to what it can be. I replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter, O2, Rebuild Distributor.

PLEASE HELP
 

XpL0d3r

I had a Civic once.
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I'd check the fuel injectors, one could be clogged or dirty causing you to run lean.

Not sure if weak spark could cause it, but wouldn't hurt to check your spark plugs, and replace the wires if it's been a while.

Didn't watch the whole video (I'm at work) but do you have a CEL? I had a similar issue when ended up being an o2 sensor. You said you replaced it, but have you checked the wiring for damage, etc as well?

What's that red wire going over your intake from behind the battery?
 


Snailed

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Thank you for your reply.

The red "wire" is actually a hose for my stethoscope,lol. The car has newer plugs and wires. they were replaced last year. My brother said it threw a code 10,11, and 21. They disappeared as soon as he checked the codes. They have not shown up since. Let me know if this changes anything. Also I tried running my Neptune RTP ecu but I couldn't get the afr's to co-operate or at least rich smell, so I reinstalled the current ecu. I have a set of new Venom 550cc injectors that I can swap in if need be.
 

Snailed

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I did a little reading on dirty,clogged and failing fuel injectors and I don't think this is my problem. I think this because the car has good power, good mpg, good start up (little rich but good) and how random this lean problem is. From what I understand a dirty injector would mean the car would have this problem constantly. Also as you can see in the video the car "fixes" itself for quite some time before it does it again. Correct me if I'm wrong here.
 


Esotericimage

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I would try another ECU and if it still does it, then you can rule out an ECU issue.
 

XpL0d3r

I had a Civic once.
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What ECU do you have? DOHC ZC is Non-Vtec, IIRC. If you were getting code 21, that is for a Vtec solenoid....

Are you sure it was code 11? On a stock ECU that code should not be there. 11 is an open code, so if you had the Neptune RTP in there, I'd suggest hitting up HRTuning just to see what it is. It may not be useful at all since the issue is intermittent, but any info helps, I guess.
 

Snailed

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I tried swapping the CROME Pro chip into different ECUs, no fix. As for the ECU I'm running a P28 with a P29 map. I dismissed 21 right away as I don't have vtec. Code 11 usually is an overtemp code that some tuners put on there chips from what I read. The car was not overheating so I have no clue why it threw it. The codes have not returned so I'm blaming them on a fluke.

Off Topic, I like that you name your cars. Mine is called "Green Goblin". It came to be as a buddy said "this green civic is going to gobble up the competition when turboed. Hey Green Goblin!" I liked and it stuck.
 

Esotericimage

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I didnt read that he hooked up the demon to it. Unless you had a tune on it for your application, then yea. Probably ran it rich. Hope not enough to wash out the rings because if they did then you have more problems then just a stumbling idle.

Use the codes the demon gave you and see if you can pinpoint the error.
 


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