I just received a 92 lumina from a friend and it has been sitting for about 8 months. when i started it for the first time i had to keep one foot on gas and the other on brake. Filled the tank with new gas and it ran fine for about 2 hours, went into a store for 5 minutes and tried to start , it started the engine raced for about 5 seconds then shut down. car would not start again until i started pumping on gas peddle, ran very rough and i could not take my foot off gas or it would stall. Black smoke so i figure lean mixture, O2 Sensor haven't a clue. Any ideas please post ,Thanks

Black smoke=Rich, too much fuel. Make sure there isn't a nest or something in the airbox. Otherwise, MAF, fuel pressure regulator, etc. No codes?

No codes, I am not sure but battery was dead for at least 8 months so i bought a new one . does the computer need to relearn engine or that does not matter? Thanks for reply.

No nest, checked for debris.

The ECM does need to "relearn" its setting before it wil run right. Unplug the battery for about ten minutes to reset it again. Hook it back up and start it. It will probably idle pretty rough, and if it stalls cut it back on, but dont rev it any and dont hit the gas pedal to keep it running. It should smooth out after about 5 minutes. When it does that cut it off, restart it, and take it for a short drive on the interstate.
BTW, if its been siting for a while, make sure you change the oil VERY soon. Its probalby not providing much pretection if its been in there for 8 months.

sounds like a sticky IAC to me.

I took apart air filter housing and 3" hose going to throttle body and there was oil in the hose about a teaspoon, cleaned float, loaded with heavy residue.
Where exactly is MAF sensor?

MAF is in that intake duct. In between the airbox and the intake. Float?

Butterfly

1992 is there a MAF sensor or MAP sensor?

Should be a MAP in a '92.
I forgot you probably want to know where it is too. I dunno exactly where it is on a Lumina, I do know its at the back of the engine compartment on my Corsica, so that may be a good palce to start looking. Has a three wire connector and a single vaccum hose leading to it. Its black plastic rectangle about 3 inches long, an inch wide, and a half inch or so tall.

I had the same problem...replacing the Idle Control Valve (on my '93 3.1 motor) did the trick...it's right on top of the intake coming from the aircleaner...oval and black.. about ~$35 if memory serves me right.

Might be the TPS, so you may want to at least test it.

This morning i finally got a code after i found a cracked vacum line, 15 coolant temp sensor. Has anyone heard of this making the car run like crap?
Thanks.

well, I guess it's possible to make it run like crap, because the ECM uses temperature to tell the engine how to run (fuel/air mixture, etc.). I believe the code 15 is the low temperature code, so the sensor could be junk, but check the wiring connections at the ecm and at the sensor before you replace it.

If your getting a CTS code before the car even gets warm id think about maybe getting a new ECM. Those go bad too, just like any other electrical part. The CTS wouldnt prevent the car from running normally, jsut give you shitty gas mileage.

If your getting a CTS code before the car even gets warm id think about maybe getting a new ECM. Those go bad too, just like any other electrical part. The CTS wouldnt prevent the car from running normally, jsut give you shitty gas mileage.

With a few exceptions. I once towed in an Olds that wouldn't start, actually sounded like it was flooded, and the plugs came out wet with fuel. Put in a new set, and it ran for about 30 seconds (and very rich) before drowning out again. Plugs came out soaked with fuel again. This one had stored a CTS fault code, I replaced it, and it was fine after. That's the only time I remember running into that. It was apparantly telling the ECM something very wrong about temp, and causing a full rich start-up strategy.

Connection on CTS was bad, cleaned up and reconnected so far no problems, found 4 dry rotted vacumm hose and expect to find more.

I had my mech at work look at car today, port hole for EGR was packed solid with soot and a couple of cracked vacuum lines. Car running like a champ. I want to thank everyone for all there input.

i just had somethin happen to my car today. there is white smoke comming out from the muffler and it smells like gasoline. also the engine sounds like its trying to stay on. but its stumblign. any help. I just got this car as a gift from my father

white smoke? Usually indicates you're burning anti-freeze. What year and engine?

92 3.1 multiport

head or intake gasket. A compression test should tell you which.

which is the worst to replace?

head gaskets are a little more work, and a little more money, but you have to take the intake off to replace head gaskets anyway.

i just had somethin happen to my car today. there is white smoke comming out from the muffler and it smells like gasoline. also the engine sounds like its trying to stay on. but its stumblign. any help. I just got this car as a gift from my father

An extreme amount of unburned fuel vapor on the exhaust will smoke white (fuel vapor actually, not smoke), coolant burning usually has a distinctive smell that one would associate with coolant (sweet, sugary) You should probably pull the plugs out and have a look. If burning coolant, that plug will be coated white, if fuel isn't burning, it will show as wet and smell strongly of fuel. Incompletely burned fuel will smoke black, and sooty. Oil and tranny fluid burn blue/white.

just replaced the spark plugs. they were soo black. the back sparkplugs were a pain but we managed.


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the engine seemed to run smoother but it sounds liek it wants to stall.

Did you make sure the plugs were gapped right before you put them in? You could also try an idle relearn.

yea my friend did them at .45