ANSWERS : Workshop

I have a 1992 Mitsubishi eclipse that has odd power surges.  It is sluggish about 90% of the time and then it has random boosts where I leave about 4 yards of rubber on the road.  I was wondering if anybody has any ideas on how to fix this.  i intend to give thew car to my girlfriend but i have a bit more experience on junky cars than she dose and i don't want her spinning here tires in the snow due to the boosts in power.  

Comments

[Re-design]

Sounds like it is dangerous as is and a real mechanic should take a look at it.

[abadfart]

I am no stranger to engines the problem is that i have had 2 injected cars and never had fuel system problems with the other one so all of my experience has been with carbs

[Re-design]

Still, the description of the symptom is dangerous since it's random and apparently full power is applied. It's irresponsible to drive this car until it's fixed and fixed right. This is not a problem to tinker with.

[bwrussell]

Sounds like clogged or bad fuel injectors, fuel pump, or something else in the fuel system. You can try a bottle of some fuel injector cleaner, STP makes some I think. If it improves then you know where the problem is, if not you can't rule it out though.
I wouldn't be driving this car in the snow, or probably at all, since a power surge at the wrong time could easily end with you, your girlfriend, or someone else dead.

[abadfart]

no kidding when you are on the highway and suddenly accelerate you could be driving straight to where somebody is merging

[seandogue]

(removed by author or community request)

[abadfart]

i didn't think about the fuel filter but it couldn't hurt to check while i have it on the lift at work (we have a large motor pool at work and i bribed the head mechanic to let me use the garage to let me drop that cat and check it out).

[abadfart]

it is a cable actuated accelerator and I changed the coil packs to get rid of a miss fire and the plugs and wires but i suppose the timing might be off.

[bwrussell]

It's possible when you were messing with the wiring you cooked the ECU, although this car might be to old for that.

[abadfart]

no i disconnected the battery before i did the packs

[bwrussell]

Of course, I ment after when everything was hooked up again.