B_Swapped93

I thought I left the days of running rich behind apparently not , like last winter the car can't run in the cold(it's -5*C here). I had to remove the idle screw all together to even get it idling somewhat, as for when I try and start it it just stumbles then if you open the throttle it start going. But as soon as you take your foot of it dies the car seems to be running rich(see plug pics) again so I don't think lack of fuel is the issue. the only thing I could say that's "wrong" is there is ALOT of slack on the timing belt as in you can't really get it tight, the belt is a gates racing one with 20K km's on it can they stretch ?. On idle at 2K I swear I can hear a "mis" but if I give it gas it seems to go away, I know this method isn't good but I can't seem to find it via pulling the plug wires. Maybe it's just a rough idle will clean the IACV and TB out along with bleed the coolant sys if I can since I got my new rad. I don't have my wideband hooked up yet so I can't say what the A/FR is keep in mind the car was FINE prior to replacing the VC gasket.

help is seriously appreciated !!!!

obd1, new b20v/s300 further specs can be given

JDMswagSerf

Seems to be you have some issues with this
I know it ran well before as you say. But ever consider the ecu being the culprit.
Also didn't you previously say your cams were advanced a bit?

And the belt isn't supposed to stretch, that would cause it to possibly skip a tooth.
Try an oem belt.
Idk wgat else. Besides bad spark?
GL

B_Swapped93

Brand new s300 and I still have my old p30 which it did the same thing with last year, the timing was off I corrected it. gates racing one is strong and I'd rather have it considering what he car see's. plug wires have never given me any issues, plugs them self are pretty new and I cleaned them off. i'll get a new distributer cap. ECT is new also

jdmjunkieXL

Because track car

JDMswagSerf

Try turning it on with out ect connected?

fcm

If car starts easly when cold, [engine] but harder to start when warm and your running rich, is a symptom(s) of a bad ECT sensor, you have checked that, right? 94

B_Swapped93

It's the exact opposite of that, the car is near impossible to start cold and even when it get's "warm"(takes forever) it still struggles. it seems that it's not getting enough air as I had to completely back out the idle screw all the way just to get it stumbling. Found another thing the timing belt(gates racing) won't tighten the tensioner is new but could the belt have stretched ? there's some serious deflection on the front(closest to rad) like 5-6 inches !.

B_Swapped93

fixed timing belt issue, so in short what would cause the car having trouble starting/stay running when it's cold out.

kaycee_00

Your using regular gas right, no e85 or anything?

B_Swapped93

91/94 from Petro Canada, when the car does get up to temp it likes to almost die also every now and then. Will clean the iacv for the 1,000th time lol already sprayed out the TB and intake manifold. it's not "missing" has a rough and lumpy idle but I think some of that is due to the pro 1 cams(were degree'd in).

kaycee_00

Do you know if the tune you have on the s300 is using closed loop? If it does, and you have your wideband wired to the ecu the car might be trying to reference it for the right fuel values to keep the afr at a set point.

B_Swapped93

My aem wideband is on backorder, no open then closed loop like it should. It's something to do with the cold that's why I'm stumped

kaycee_00

Tps and map sensor in working order too?

B_Swapped93

yup no CEL's and reading what they should on Hondata(map), I don't want to try and lean it out even tho I have the tools(s300) to do so. I'd say it's being fuel starved but the plugs are black. So the next thing I'd say is air 74mm tb and ultra mani so most likely not. Reason I think it's being "starved" of something is I have to let it idle(thus opening the throttle plate) at 1.5-2K before it "behaves" the idle is higher with the pro 1's no car should need to idle at 2K to sustain idle even with bigger cams.

kaycee_00

Did you recently add the manifold and throttle body?

I'd just wait till you can put a wideband on it and really see what's going on afr wise. If it was running fine before you did the valve cover gasket, and you didn't mix up or break any of the sensors then the problem shouldn't be something mechanical related.

B_Swapped93

ok update things are looking a bit better, at first start up you have to hold the gas down and keep the rev's at 3kish. Mean while it back fires quite a bit after a min or so you can take your foot of the gas and it will idle normally (kinda). Got some new OEM Honda plug wires...the last ignition component I haven't replaced yet.