Running on two or three cylinders

[EM One Hundred]

My Elan just got new shift cables and I was on cloud nine with how well it drove...better than new! Then I needed fuel, filled up and it barely ran on a few cylinders. I checked all the plugs and wires and they looked good for color and gap so I suspected water in the gas. I bought a bottle of HEET which absorbs the water in fuel and put it in the tank let it sit overnight and when I started it the next day it was fine - ran great. I drove for about 20 minutes to lunch, left it sitting for 40 minutes and when I started it again it ran like crappola (technical term!) again. I decided to struggle home and about halfway there it started running fine again. I parked it and began research on this great site, but the Wiki isn't working for me. Still I found a couple of similar situations.

Now I'm thinking it is either a clogged fuel pickup in the tank, dirty filter or tired injectors and leaning toward the injectors since I have had no trouble before and it seems to happen when warm not cold. On the other hand, filling an empty tank could have unsettled some debris in the tank and let it float over the pickup or clog the filter. Or is it something else entirely?

Any inspired wisdom?

[GeoffSmith]

Try and find out which two Ross - pull the plug leads. I've asked GoogAl to have a look at the Wiki.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Ross: Although my car doesn't go anywhere just yet, I often need to move it around the shop. I ran into an issue that after sitting a long time, it would start with difficulty and most times, clear out after a few minutes of running. I replaced my fuel pump, pulsator, tank filter and fuel pressure regulator figuring it was just not getting the correct fuel pressure but the problem persisted. I checked and gapped my plugs (they were way off) and it seememd to work for a while but started starting and running poorly again until it got warm. I sent my injectors to RC ( they had 20K miles on them) and they told me the were dirty but they were now cleaned and back in balance. I put everything back together and the next few times I needed to move it to another stall, it started fine and ran fine. I let it sit a bit and when I went to move it again, I had the exact problem again. I bought a new set of plugs - the standard, original plugs (BKR6E), not the newest, performance designs, and gapped them and so far, it has started and run the last 4 or 5 times I moved it around. I even took it around the block a few times after I let it warm up.

I have never found a consistant cause for my issues and I suggest that you consider replacing the plugs (after setting the gap) and see what you get. If you feel it is leaky injectors, then:

Rock Auto has the correct injectors: ULTRAPOWER Part # MFI559 New Premium Quality for $32.89 each and postage to you is $9.15 or a total of $140.71.

There is a seller on eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/251835597533) that is also offering the correct injectors for $127.31 with free shipping.

Injectors are getting hard to find and these are being sourced from the GM/Isuzu obsolescence warehouse and will run out someday soon. You might want to grab a set before they are back to the $76.79 each that Rock Auto is asking for the FJ559 injectors.

Sorry that I can't say exactly what caused my issues or what fixed them, but my car has been starting much better since I replaced the spark plugs AFTER getting my injectors refurbished. I have since purchased 2 sets of new injectors since I have two more projects to work on.

[EM One Hundred]

It seems to me that the intermittent nature of this problem makes plugs an unlikely culprit, especially since they all look fine. Yes, I realize that they can look fine and not BE fine but after the car sputtered weakly for a couple miles after lunch it began running very strong again. Hence my wondering about a blockage in the fuel line. I guess I'd better bite the bullet and get injectors (Thanks BCN for the Rock Auto link) and assume the problem is there as Geoff suggests. And I will replace all four so it doesn't really matter which pair, right??

[epipete]

It could simply be that your fuel pump is shot and whilst still delivering fuel is not doing so according to spec, this happened to me once.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

It seems to me that the intermittent nature of this problem makes plugs an unlikely culprit, especially since they all look fine. Yes, I realize that they can look fine and nor BE fine but after the car sputtered weakly for a couple miles after lunch it began running very strong again.

I understand, but I replaced my fuel pressure system just for that reason and I had checked the plugs, that were clean and just mis-gapped. I blasted them and regapped them and the problem persisted so I replaced them after everything else and the last few times I turned on the battery, she started up just fine.

Plugs are a lot cheaper than injectors.

[HJ2]

You say this happened after you replaced shift cables.
Is it possible the big connectors next / under the coolant tank got buggered somehow?
I would start with cleaning these, as well as checking the ground straps. Not just visual, but take them off, clean them and put them back

You could also take the injectors out and clean them (or have them cleaned) ultrasonically and check for spray pattern / leaks
It would be good to know if you know which cylinder is involved by checking the spark plugs and / or fuel smell in the cylinder. If it is 2 cylinders that give up each time it is definitely injectors or coil-packs, depending which 2 cylinders fail as Geoff stated.

Don't worry, you'll get to it!

[EM One Hundred]

JOY

After installing the new injectors, my car runs beautifully and smoothly even after heat soaking for 30 minutes. I am thrilled. I was 90% certain it was the injectors when I took it into my mechanic and after it started this morning and ran smoothly then would barely run at his shop after sitting, I was 95% sure it was injectors. Now I'm 100% sure. It was injectors! THANK YOU to all the folks on the forum who made suggestions and especially to John for the Rock Auto source.

[HJ2]

Haha!

Happy Elanning!

[GeoffSmith]

All ready for Pikes Peak now Ross.

[EM One Hundred]

Pikes Peak Yes, Geoff but first a thousand mile trip up to the Black Hill of South Dakota in May. Will you have a Pikes Peak ride or do you need a seat?? I thought there was a Dodge truck with a Lotus badge that was reserved for you, no?

[GeoffSmith]

My Elan is ready and waiting..... for the steering wheel to be moved to the right side.