Dilbones

hey guys.

I ran a diagnostic test on my engine and apparently I need a new shift solenoid, egr valve, and apparently my sixth cylinder is misfiring. I put new sparkplugs in the car when i bought it. I replaced the coil. I don't know what could be wrong with the engine and im not tryna burn up my cat w unburned fuel.

any suggestions?

huch

Check your long term fuel trims in bank 1 and 2. If you're they're in the double digits, like 12-15% (either +/-) it's probably your fuel injectors.

MikeLex

Year of the car?

Dilbones

it's a 94 es300. Idk if it's the injectors bc my mechanic said tht he replaced one of the clogged ones. I've ran about three tanks of gas through my car with fuel injector cleaner as well. I'll take it to autozone to run the diagnostics again to check the long term fuel trim tho.

The symptoms of double digit ltft values sound pretty similar to what my car's goin thru right now tho. ...high idle and poor gas mileage with bad acceleration, so we'll see.

worldforgo

If it was an Injector, you usually Injector Malfunction code.

MikeLex

Don't take for granted that you need to replace a bunch of parts just because codes related to them popped up. A 17-year old car is prone to have bad electrical connections and carbon issues affecting engine operation. For example, if an engine is carbonized the O2 sensors "understand" that the mixture is lean and commands the ECM to add more fuel, which results in a positive two-digit LTFT. So don't get too anxious to start throwing parts at it before a proper diagnose can be made.

huch

not always.

Dilbones

@mikelex. u gotta good point man. Honestly I have no clue where to begin, but I guess I'll just finish up some body work while ideas come to me. Thanks guys

GEORGE_JET

Did you gap the plugs before you installed them? Since it is #6, you can use a screwdriver to listen to the injector. Place the handle against your ear, and the tip of the screwdriver to the injector. Compare the sound to the injector 2 and 4. The next thing you can do is a compression test.
You did not mention if it is setting a code, or is it a dead cylinder. If it is firing, with occasional misfires, you could also check for vac leaks.

Dilbones

@GEORGE_JET...

I know the cylinder's not firing at all. My dad an I took the coil out of the engine w the spark plug in it and we cranked the engine while holding the plug to the block. We saw no spark. We took the same coil from cylinder six and hooked it up to the connecting wire from cylinder two and it sparked.
We took the coil and plug from cylinder two and hooked it up to the connecting wire from cylinder six and it did NOT spark.
We're thinking its an electrical problem. My neighbor said the connecting wires lead to some sort of bank? Could anyone fill me in on this?

GEORGE_JET

The coils are driven by the IGNITER, and the igniter is driven bye the ECM. I am sure you have visually checked the connector, and the wiring up to it. If you have a schematic, you could ohm the wires from the coil, to the igniter and from the igniter to the ecm. Or you could just purchase a used igniter from ebay or such and try substitution.

MikeLex

The connector and the wiring to cyl #6 may look good even when they're not.

Dilbones

So, george, you're suggesting that i check the resistance in the wires coming from the igniter? What would be a good indication that I need a new igniter? Also, I should mention that every time I drive the car, I get an electrical smell that comes from the area where the wires enter the timing belt cover.
I made the correlation recently, and I'm thinking that this smell has something to do with my lack of spark.

GEORGE_JET

94 lexus ign.doc

Check out the schematic, you have 5 good cylinders to compare resistance readings. It is possible that there is a short in the harness as you suspect. Compare resistances, while inspecting the harness. Good luck