TA running rich.......w/in

[Jason97T/A]

Hey guys.......I have another problem with my car........like i said before, it is a 97 TA with 110xxx. It has flowmaster catback, slp cold-air, lt4 knock module, and descreened MAF. Everything else is stock. Anyways, when i start up the car i can smell a little gas and when i rev it up a little it will puff out some black smoke. It also has a semi-rough idle. There is no SES light for misfire or anything, plugs have been changed, cats are functional. Opti is fairly new. Also i remember when i had it in the garage a while back and started it up, it left a lil black residue on the garage door that came out of the exhaust. Anybody have any ideas on what the problem is? Thanks!!!!!!!
Jason

[Bond Hawk]

If your O2 sensors are original, they could be the culprit. Try switching your MAF with a stock one, although usually a descreened MAF will make it run lean. Our cars tend to come from the factory with tuning that makes them run rich.

[wolfdogs]

most lt1's with de-screened maf's experience a rough idle. thats the one thing the screen does....is smooth out the air flow for more even combustion at low rpm's.

[Jason97T/A]

I dont believe the MAF Sensor is the problem on this Ken....but to throw that solution out, cant i just unplug the sensor and it should even out right? or wrong? Anyway, i figure it could be the engine running rich that is causing it......oh and the 02 sensors are brand new...any ideas?

Jason

[Flash 97 WS/6]

Just wanted to toss in $.02 about "it left a lil black residue on the garage door that came out of the exhaust"... Any car will do this regardless of the state of tune, that's just carbon buildup and good ol' H2O that condenses in the exhaust. Trust me, if you were running rich enough to get raw fuel out the end of the pipe...well...you wouldn't have a garage door to worry about!

I would have agree that the de-screened MAF is most likely causing it, sure did a number on my idle when I removed / destroyed mine. You might get a bit smoother idle without it connected, but I wouldn't count on it because the factory fuel tables for speed density mode are generally too rich and not specifically tuned to your engine variances etc... Have you tried cleaning the MAF sensor wires?

[Jason97T/A]

No i havent.............how do u clean the MAF wires? And maybe ill throw the screen back in it to see how it runs.........and if it helps, ill get another maf sensor.........but what about the black smoke out the tailpipes? Obviously its running rich? I can smell fuel when i start the car and for a little while after.....thanks!

[Flash 97 WS/6]

The MAF wires (the ones inside, normally just behind the screen) can be cleaned with carb cleaner, alcohol etc. Just be careful because they are easy to break. (I like just spraying 'em with carb cleaner myself)

As for the smoke... it's hard for me to tell, most any car will smell a little rich and create a little smoke if revved when cold. It's just the nature of the beasts, they are "choked" or run rich on purpose until warm. Also, at 110k on the clock you may be getting a little oil through the valve seals when it sets, then burning it upon startup. Doesn't take much oil to create smoke. It's also very hard (for me anyway) to tell black smoke from blue smoke unless you are putting out a serious plume!

I only have 25k miles on my '97 and I guarantee if I go start it up and "gun it" within the first 4-5 minutes, it will puff a bit of smoke and spray that black liquid crap all over my garage door! Can you guess how I know?