86 Svo Running Very Rich

[FELLENLONG]

My newly aqiured 86 svo has a very rich running habit. Here is what it is doing--On start up it sounds like it is running on 3 cylinders-then as it warms up for about 5 seconds it sounds like it is running on all four,then the idle will increase to almost three grand and hold at that rpm's. The car runs very rich,you can smell the fuel! I have done the following to try to cure the problem--New-plugs-oxygen sensor,ECT sensor and air filter.I have checked the codes ,no new codes,checked fuel preasure-shows a steady 38 PSI .I hope someone can help figure this problem out!! I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT!!

[SVOeric]

Sounds like you may have a leaky or sticky injector.

If you have a spare injector, I would try swapping them one at a time til you find the one that makes a difference.

I had a set of aftermarket injectors in my SVO when I bought it, and it ran like that all the tmie til I swapped them out.

[venomizd93]

Check your ECT, my SHO did the same thing and I looked at everything else but that. Only for the fact that I changed it out 8 months earlier with a NAPA(crap) ECT. Who'd of thought NAPA parts are only good for 8 months....heheheh. Trust me on this one when it comes to ECT's buy OEM Ford...one solid brass piece. About $35-$45 depending on where you get it. My car would idle fine until it warmed up and then it would hold a rev at 2k....really pissed me off. Are your pipes coated with black carbon...like pretty thick????

My car didn't thow any O2 sensor codes or ECT codes for that matter either, in fact it didn't throw anything. I assume you don't have a vacuum leak???? Is the ICM stuck? or the bypass clogged with carbon???

[FELLENLONG]

RE SVO RICH RUNNING

I will check these other area's for problems!!!

[AT6svo]

other ideas

IF the car is changing RPM at idle all by itself, the TPS sensor is highly suspect. It may either be loose and/or bad. Check for sensor mounting tightness and then check for voltage. KOEO voltage s/b roughly .96V +/- .02V. It should increase linearly as the throttle is opened to roughly 5.0V +/- .2V.

A bad TPS can also cause a rich (or lean) condition depending which way its off the curve.

The bad injector would also explain the rough idle and rich condtion if it is stuck open (or tends to stick open).

Your in Valencia I see too BTW, you'll have to make it out to the Fabuloous Fords Show this year at Knott's with your car.

hth,

[Eyelawdoc]

SVO Fixed

It tuns out the wiring to the ECT was not properly connected, leaving the ECT as an open circuit. The car's previous owner had done some "repairs" to the car and severed the reference ground wires (black with gray stripe) from the EEC to the TPS, ECT and the Knock Sensor. The TPS had been reconnected, but the reference ground wires for the ECT and Knock Sensor had been connected together to form a loop that went nowhere.

No wonder the scanner kept throwing an ECT code even after the sensor was replaced! Never would have found this without the aid of a breakout box and carefully tracing out each wire in the harness!

Thanks to Pat_In_LA for his help and assistance with troubleshooting ideas!

Now that all the all of the wires have been properly reconnected, the car starts, idles and runs normally!

It just goes back to what I am always harping about on these cars: if it doesn't run right ALWAYS CHECK THE WIRING!!

[slovanova]

What is the ECT and where is it located at?

[Eyelawdoc]

ECT

ECT stands for Engine Coolant Temperature sensor. It tells the EEC how warm/cold the engine is.Among other things it tells the EEC when the engine is warm enough to go into closed loop operations. It is located on the upper surface of the lower intake manifold, between fuel injectors #2 and #3.

[slovanova]

OK thanks. I am new to all this fuel injection stuff. My car is also running real rich, so I think I will change that out and see if that helps.

[Eyelawdoc]

Before you start running through $$ you should first check your fuel pressure regulator and measure your fuel pressure. Also get a code scanner and run the codes. These things get very expen$ive if you just go about replacing parts on a hunch. A logical, methodical approach based on test results will get you back on the road quicker and more affordably.

You may want to start a thread telling about your signs, symptoms, and test results/parts replaced so far. Give us armchair SVO mechanics a shot at it.

[venomizd93]

There is a way to find the ECT problem without a breakout box....there is a self sensor test that EECIV can do by using a jumper on the test port connector......there is even a way to test your injectors balance(crudely). Check out this website. If you don't have the money for a scanner this is the way to check the codes fairly easilyas well as run self diagnostics.

http://dalidesign.com/hbook/eectest.html

Thought the problem sounded familiar.........

[venomizd93]

I stand corrected.....

[slovanova]

Originally posted by Eyelawdoc
Before you start running through $$ you should first check your fuel pressure regulator and measure your fuel pressure. Also get a code scanner and run the codes. These things get very expen$ive if you just go about replacing parts on a hunch. A logical, methodical approach based on test results will get you back on the road quicker and more affordably.

You may want to start a thread telling about your signs, symptoms, and test results/parts replaced so far. Give us armchair SVO mechanics a shot at it.

Well, I am about to pull the head off my car, so I may just replace a few of the sensors whle I have it off.

[FELLENLONG]

re running rich

Well thanks to EYELAWDOC my 1986 svo is running alot better. Now it is time to tackle a clutch replacement and some exterior tlc and cleaning.Eyelawdoc and Pat in L.A can work on my svo anytime!!! Thanks again for the help from everyone> --MY svo thanks you all to!!

[Pat_in_L.A.]

It looks like it's finally smiling in that photo! :p