Alright I'll try to describe the problem as best I can. When I start the car it runs good for about 10 seconds then a check engine light pops on and the idle lowers, and it runs rougher than it should and has inadequate power. I've checked the check engine light and it says something like ignition control failure. Thinking it could be the ignition control module under the coil packs I checked each spark plug wire for spark and all are receiving a spark, I then replaced anything that could effect the timing or ignition control, I've replaced the cam position sensor, crankshaft position sensor, and the knock sensor. None of these solved the problem. The next thing I'm going to replace is a fuel filter thinking the 10 sec of good running might be due to the large boost of fuel pressure in the line from the fuel pump pressurizing the line before the engine starts and then maybe it drops off and causes a lack in fuel throwing the check engine light. Please if you have dealt with this problem before, or if you have an idea of how to fix it, I would greatly appreciate some advice on what it might be.

 

what yr? checking the fuel pressure wouldnt hurt.

 

^^ i agree with craby sounds like a fuel problem to me

 

Its a 94, if the fuel filter doesn't fix it I might check the fuel pressure, it can't hurt changing the filter.

 

If the check engine light is on you should take care of that problem, otherwise the engine might just keep running bad. What is the DTC number? You mentined the Ignition Module. Besides triggering the coils the ignition module also adjusts spark timing under control of the PCM. If the module does not receive or respond to the timing signals from the PCM, it goes into timing default mode and the engine will run poorly.

 

ok, would the ignition control module not working trigger 10 sec after the car has been running though? I don't know how that works thats what strikes me as strange I would think if its working improperly wouldn't it effect the motor as soon as its running?

 

thats why im thinking fuel

 

Well the fuel filter change didn't do anything so ignition control module it is. There isn't anything else it could be.

 

what was the fuel pressure? there are a couple ignition control codes. dtc82

the other is a dtc42

 

it may even be a problem as simple as the coils themselves if you havent checked them yet...i had that problem a few months back and thought it was a fuel problem at first..