So i replaced all my front bushings on the control arms and suspension. While i was doing it the cv joint popped out because i forgot to prop it up when i took the control arm off, so i popped it back in and it definetely went in right and all the way. But when i went to drive it it was jerking really bad. When i turn the actual wheel with the car in gear on jacks it feels like it has too much play. Does that mean i need a new one know or is there anything i could try to fix this, it was fine before it popped out.

 

I would check other things too (Maybe tie rods since there is a lot of play...and make sure everything on the LCA is tight)...I know you were working on the axle, but it just might be coincidence that it's jerking after you popped the CV out. I'm not sure on the axle though, I've never had that happen. Every time I've had one come out, it's gone back in, and never given me any problems afterward.

 

Well i just put it on jacks and put it in gear and i could see it bouncing around like crazy, so something is definitely not right with with the cv joint, but i am just wondering if their is any reason why it would do this. ie. when the axle dropped when i removed the control arm could it have damaged it, or is it possible that messing around with it could fix it. I know it is aligned just like it was before because the boot is not twisted or stretched out too far. What would you recommend, should i remove the boot and take a look at it or should i just buy a new one.

 

Can you post pictures of the axle where it inserts into the hub and transmission, as well as video showing the axle bouncing around?

 

well i have to be at work in a few hours so i kinda need to get this fixed soon so i am just gonna get one and replace it, it's only $50 from napa. It wasn't perfect before it fell out ie. it would make some noise on jacks, but i never noticed it while driving. I am 95% sure thats the problem, so i am just gonna go ahead and take it off to replace it maybe when i take it off i will find it wasnt't popped in right but I can't imagine how it wouldn't

 

its possible that when it popped out it separated and one of the bearings in the joint came out and is rolling around in the boot. that would definitely make it jump around.

 

yeah i have a feeling it's something along those lines

 

i got it changed it was pretty easy. But mine definitely didn't seat correctly when i popped it back in, it was about an inch longer than the re manufactured one. I don't know how that is possible i messed around with it for a while after i got it out and there was no way to get it to move in farther. But everything is good know except for my freekin 14mpg problem. Oh yeah and my trunk seems to have doubled as an excellent rain collector. I am glad i replaced all my bushings though it rides so much better know.

 

What are your guesses at this point?

 

Well it was weird for a while i was checking my plugs every few days to make sure they were looking good, since i expected them to be covered in carbon however they were always fine. Today it was running rough and two of the cylinders weren't firing so i cleaned the plugs which were wet and covered in carbon and it ran fine. This could just be from running rich so I am workin on connecting with this guy who says he has a p28 chipped with hondata that he says i can use for a little bit. Tommorow i am also planning on looking at my sparks and making sure they are good. My dizzy and rotor look brand new so it would surprise me but I have no other ideas. Also should i put my old o2 sensor back in since that didn't help my problem at all, i do not want to ruin a new sensor by running such a rich mixture. Oh yeah I am also gonna take a look at the cat and make sure it isn't clogged or anything.

 

Yeah, just reinstall the old O2 sensor if it's not damaged.

Did you get misfire CEL codes? What ignition components have you already replaced?

 

No i didn't get any cels, i have only replaced the plugs i want to check my spark if it looks blue like it did when i first got the car then i will wait to replace the wires, dizzy and rotor until i try another ecu in there. It seems quite possible my injector drivers are bad. BTW i did check each injector like you said while idling with a screwdriver and i could make out consistent clicking from each one. So i would assume that means my actuall injectors are good right?

 

Joelmatt, you've got to solve this mystery!

 

names joel btw, but your telling me. Besides the cost of the awful gas mileage thing i can't sleep at night when i have problems like this. Last night after i had changed all my bushing I took it out for a drive at 4 am then i realized something was wrong causing it to shake i went to bad kinda mad about that hopin i would get some good sleep i sat up for an hour wondering what it could be then i woke up at 8 and couldn't sleep cause i just kept thinkin about what it was so i woke up and started messing with it. It sucks I am pretty much always thinkin about what could be causing my mileage.

I did just check my sparks. I am not sure if i would say it was bluish more of a purple/magenta color is what it looked like. However like i said the plugs are covered in carbon so it would be surprising to see a perfect spark. Now that i think about it they could have gotten like that from when i ran it on jacks multiple times when i was diagnosing the cv problem. It probly never got up to operating temp.

 

Yeah Joel, I am the same way. It's curse when you are a perfectionist!

Just buy one new plug and check the spark color on it. But I agree, the engine probably just needs a long run to get good and hot.

 

Yeah i will try that, I would assume that if my rotor or dizzy were bad i would notice some wear right, but i don't notice a bit of wear at all. They look brand new i mean the engine only has 43k. I agree though man perfectionism definitely can be a blessing and a curse.

 

A faulty coil is a common cause for weak spark, if this happened to be your problem.