~~~'89 Reliant MAJOR Fuel consumption 2.2 TBI~~~

[MyNmIsMUD]

I own a 1989 Plymouth Reliant K 2.2 TBI 55,000 Actual miles.

I purchased this vehicle 2 years ago. It has never gave any problems. NONE! I have always got 27 to 30 MPG Highway.

Recently I noticed a surge when in drive. I thought it was a converter clutch problem seeing that it was only at an idle speed. If you placed a load or took a load off it would not surge. Then I noticed it would do it at low speeds also. As low as 25 mph. Sometime actually jerking at low speeds.

Then I checked my gas mileage and I usually get around 310 miles out of a tank of gas.My last check I got around 140 miles out of a tank. It is definitely burning rich. Tail pipe and muffler sooty black. And if you run it hard through shifts it trails a thick black cloud of smoke.

I have replaced the fuel regulator in the TBI. It was squirting a stream when I first bought it. I have checked that and it is not leaking.

I can not find any service centers that can pull any codes off the computer due to it's age.

PLEASE IF YOU CAN HELP ME NARROW DOWN THE PROBLEM IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRIEACATED!

This is my only car and I use it to commute from South Georgia to Charlotte NC where all my family lives.

Thanks!

Jim

[bamman]

Check the codes. Instructions can be found here:

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/fault/index.html

[MyNmIsMUD]

Thanks, pulled the codes with no problem, Code 12,37, 25, 23, 55. All computer controled stuff. Except the 55, (end codes).Checked the fuse to the ecm and no power on either side of fuse but fuse was fine. Used a jumper wire to give power back to ecm and cleared codes. Car is running fine and no codes have re-appeared. I still have a slight pulse still at idle speeds I still think that is my converter clutch, other wise fuel mileage is back again and car is not skeeter fogging the neighborhood.

Any suggestions on the pulse at idle speeds let me know.

Thanks for the help!

[89ARIES]

Knowing nothing about cars, but just thinking, could the sole fuel injector be clogged and is simply dumping to my gas?

[Jacks1986Lebaron]

Check the connections to each sensor that you had a code for, sometimes they can just be loose or have dirt/grime causing them not to make a good clean connection.

Just in case:


Code 12 The battery has been disconnected and the computer (ECU) has been reset.
Code 13 MAP sensor signal to the computer (ECU) not changing
Code 14 MAP sensor signal out of range
Code 15 No signal received by the computer (ECU) from the speed sensor
Code 16 Battery voltage drop below ‘normal’ when engine running
Code 17 Coolant sensor not reporting more than 160° after 8 minutes of engine running

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Code 21 Oxygen sensor reporting too lean or too rich after 2 – 12 minutes with temp over 170° and RPM above 1500
Code 22 Coolant temperature sensor out of range
Code 23 Air charge temperature sensor out of range
Code 24 Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) signal out of range
Code 25 Air Idle Speed motor shorted or voltage out of range
Code 26 1985 + Turbo models: engine injector driver circuit one shorted or open
TBI models: injector peak current not achieved
Code 27 Turbo engine injector driver circuit two shorted or open

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Code 31 Purge Solenoid open or shorted
Code 32 Power Limited light lamp failure
Code 33 A/C relay open or shorted
Code 34 84 – 87 models with EGR, EGR solenoid open or shorted
===========1987 and later models: cruise control servo failure
Code 35 Radiator fan relay open or shorted
Code 36 Wastegate or other solenoid open or shorted
Code 37 Baro-read solenoid open or shorted

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Code 41 Alternator field control circuit open or shorted
Code 42 1984 model injector circuit 1 open or shorted
========1986+ models: ASD relay open or shorted
Code 43 Ignition coil driver circuit open or shorted
Code 44 1984 logic module diagnostic failure
1985-86 battery temp out of range
=====1987+ Signal to J2 not present at SEMC
Code 45 Turbo engines boost above predefined range
Code 46 Battery charging voltage out of range
Code 47 Battery charging voltage out of range

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Code 51
Code 52 1984 engine running too rich or lean
----------1985+: code 51=running too lean, code 52=running too rich
Code 53 Logic module fault
Code 54 Signal loss from the fuel injector sync pickup during engine rotation. (HEP)
Code 55 End of fault code list