Hey guys, I wanna thank you about my other posts, this place is most helpful... now everytime i use keyless entry an angel gets its wings anyways I just did the math on fill up and im getting like 17mpg... i have been using the AC but i still think this is pretty damn bad! you think the fuel injectors need a cleaning, the car has 83k on it? I changed the air filter and I just had all the oils checked and i just got new transmission fluid so everything is up to par. 17mpg compared to the 28 i was getting with my Prizm... i know the cars dont compare but money is tight! thanks for any help

 

Have you checked your ECU for any codes such as a bad knock sensor?

 

I am sorry. i tried searching and searching. I cant find any information on how to pull ecu codes. what do i need to get the codes and how do i do it? i am going to stop by the local bookstore and see if i can find the haynes manual. my cel is not on..but the car seems to misfire. the engines just "jerks" every once in a while. please help...thankx

 

A bad oxygen sensor can drastically reduce mileage. However, it will probably throw your engine light off and you can go to Autozone to check the codes for free. My guess is that you need a good tuneup. I would do several things: new spark plugs (NGK), fuel filter, throttle body cleanup and fuel injector cleanup (use BG 44K or Techron). How many gas tanks did you track your mileage for? If only one or two, it could be bad gas. BTW, I assume you've checked the easy things like tire pressure.

 

How to pull ECU Codes

First, I hope you are using the correct grade of gas (premium).

Second, if no codes show up, dirty fuel injectors defineatly might be suspect. Try adding a bottle of Chevron Techron Concentrate (available at Chevron stations, Autozone etc) with a full tank of gas. Do this at least twice. My butt dyno felt a defineat improvement.

Third - since your car has 89k etc - were the Spark Plugs changed around 60k as recommeded?

Finally - it just might be how and where you drive. The VQ engines run rich until the engine is fully warmed up. So if you are like me and do mostly repeated short trips (less then 3 miles in my case)- you cannot expect much gas mileage. Having said that, on my last tank - it was about 75% city driving and with 3 passes at the drag strip - I still got 20 MPG.

 

Maybe oxygen sensor or knock sensor is bad.
I just changed my KS a couple weeks ago..and the MPG gets really good...about 350 miles a tank with city driving..

 

i did check my tire pressure and i had one tire at like 20psi when it supposed to be 29, however i pumped it and anyways im getting 5spoke 16s any day now so if thats the problem it will be solved.... tomorrow im gonna check the codes and see what comes up and let you guys know. im gonna run through some cleaners in my next couple of fillups but im betting a KS and spark plug replacement can only help since the car does have 83k on it and i highly doubt it was pampered...

now is it realistic for me to fix the plugs and ks by myself? i dont really have any experience but i sure wanna try and ive skimmed over the instructions, it SEEMS possible.... what do you more experienced people think? otherwise its gonna cost me more and itll take me a lot longer to scrounge the cash together...

 

thanx for the info on how to pull codes. it helped alot. i got a code 06 04 = cylinder five misfire. now i just have to figure out how to fix this. any suggestions??? thanx alot guys