1993 245 horrible rumble, dying, exhaust stinks

ordinaryboy1986 · Post by **ordinaryboy1986** » 02 Jan 2019, 20:09

Been having pretty weak cold starts the last 6 months. Last week I go to start my car and it tries to turn over but just cranks and if I give it gas it’s wouldn’t start to turn over but if I gave it gas it’s wouldn’t die. Spark plugs, cap and rotor, plugs, oil change, oil filter and air filter have been changed in the last few months. I suspected my timing belt so I finally got it chAnged. Turn the key and she’s fired up with less of a rumble I give her a little gas and she’s fine. Drive her on the freeway she’s doing good. Next day I go to start her and she has a horrrrrie rumble wants to die but finally chills out and is running. ExhAust smells horrible and maybe a bit like gas. I haven’t changed the fuel filter in a year but fuel pump wasn’t done a little over year ago. Any help would be greatly Appreciated! She’s my baby and I won’t give up.

Thanks y’all!

ordinaryboy1986 · Post by **ordinaryboy1986** » 03 Jan 2019, 12:13

Would a improper gap on the spark plugs maybe have anything to do with this? Once car gets warm it will start good and drive decent.

dj_v70 · Post by **dj_v70** » 03 Jan 2019, 13:54

It sounds like your engine is flooding on start up.

I’d start with a known good tune up before going any further.

I doubt fuel filter or pump.

ordinaryboy1986 · Post by **ordinaryboy1986** » 03 Jan 2019, 17:04

Going to do plugs with proper gap, cap and rotor, oil change, oil filter and fuel filter this weekend. Maybe an exhaust leak?

dj_v70 · Post by **dj_v70** » 04 Jan 2019, 10:22

Exhaust leaks make noise but don’t cause drivability issues.

Consider changing out wires if they are old also (quality name brand only). I am not expecting your issue is due to this, but it is possible.

After tuning up, save old parts. If it doesn’t fix your issue, you can use them for swapping back in for troubleshooting issues in the future. And even if it does solve the issue, you can swap back in one part at a time to see which part is bad. After that, throw away the bad part and save the rest for future troubleshooting.

ordinaryboy1986 · Post by **ordinaryboy1986** » 04 Jan 2019, 13:08

I have plug wires from about 6 months ago. But I guess I might as well. Ever since I replaced the timing belt it’s been driving really well after it warms up. Buttttt every morning when I start it here in California it fires up but the rumble is bad and The car tends to have a bit of a high rev idle then when it warms up it calms down and sounds great with no rumble. Going to tune her up this weekend hope it works out

dj_v70 · Post by **dj_v70** » 04 Jan 2019, 19:42

I just re-read orig post. Most of tuneup was done a few months ago. If it was done before problems started, i’d revisit cap/rotor/wires but probably wouldn’t bother with plugs again though. If you have used known good parts, you could use those instead.

Also, did you check for codes on engine diagnostics?

ordinaryboy1986 · Post by **ordinaryboy1986** » 08 Jan 2019, 12:33

Changed plugs to Volvo plugs and changed the cap and rotor. Problem still exist. Pulling a 2 1 4 and a 2 2 4 code. I changed the coolant temp sensor a year ago and checked the wiring and it all seemed okay. Went to start car this morning and very rough start with exhaust and blackish smoke at first. Car settled down but was spitting a bit of water out of the exhaust. No white smoke. Once car warmed up idle dropped down nice and car sounded and drove well.

It be awesome if I could just get that vicious cold start problem to go away. Car starts up great warm

dj_v70 · Post by **dj_v70** » 08 Jan 2019, 13:03

a) 214 is usually crank position sensor on top of transmission. You access from back of engine. This sensor pigtail deteriorates with age and causes all kinds of havoc. Did you inspect pigtail?

b) 224 is coolant temp as you noted. This is more likely your issue. You need to disconnect connector from computer and use an ohm meter to see if you get the correct answer for current ambient temperature. If not, check ohms directly at sensor.

ordinaryboy1986 · Post by **ordinaryboy1986** » 08 Jan 2019, 13:44

Option A I will do after work. Option b might be a little outta my ability but I can try. Would a bad coolant temp sensor really give me this much trouble? It’s just That first start of the day that gives me the trouble then it’s running good after that. Can you give me a step by step for option b? I’d be stoked! Thanks!