[Shotimes] running bad, have codes, please help

Justin Schick jschick@aafp.org
Mon, 03 May 2004 20:36:16 -0500


Greetings all,

The high mileage gremlins have struck again. The trusty 92 has been
getting crappy mileage lately, and having some intermittent issues
(especially directly after starting it cold) that were getting a bit
worrisome. Culminated today by repeating it every time I went to go
somewhere - I'd get it started and the idle would be real rough and
lopey, CE light would come on, and any throttle input would make it bog
/ hesitate and want to die. Eventually when it'd warm up to operating
temperature the light would finally go out, and all symptoms immediately
vanished. On long trips the cycle would appear again, and then just as
mysteriously vanish again (usually lasting for 5 minutes or so).

I ran the KOEO and KOER tests this evening. I got many codes, mainly
because I'm too stupid to do the goose test right. I will share the
pertinent ones I'd appreciate feedback on:

KOEO
519 - power steering pressure switch circuit open
215 - coil #1 circuit fail (!)
452 - insufficient input from vehicle speed sensor

KOER
116 - ECT (?)

I used the code list on SHOTimes. 

519 - This is just because I have the VAPS unplugged (on purpose mind
you), right? Anything else this could be pointing to or I should worry
about?

215 - Yikes. I thought the coil was the yellowish jelly filled box the
non-sparkplug side of the wires plugs into - are there three separate
ones? If so, should I replace all of them while doing #1? Can the
coil(s) be tested on or off the car? If I'm reading the chart right, why
would this not trip the CE light?

452 - Just need to buy a new VSS if the old one is plugged in and
otherwise looks ok? Can it be anything else? Should I even care since
the mechanical aspect of the speedo works just fine, and the car
normally drives perfectly?

116 - This code doesn't exist, but 115, 117 and 118 all point to the
ECT, should I just assume I counted wrong and replace it while I'm
bending over for the coil(s), if they're even available? It's kinda old
and I assume is part of my poor mileage problem (250-ish miles per tank,
and I don't rag on it THAT bad).

Thanks in advance for any input,

Justin
silver 92 SHO in KCMO
205k and trying to keep her counting quickly