car running rough, hot. stalls at lights. suggestions?

[asazii]

1991 3.1 Beretta. Check engine light is on. Car running very rough, stalls at stoplights. I put it into neutral while stopped to keep the rpm's up and prevent stalling. It idles very rough while in D but not really in Neutral or Park. Accelerates and drives pretty rough and feels like it's "stuttering". Engine heats up extremely hot to where the hood prop is almost too hot to touch even after only 5 mins of driving. Had some flames coming out of the exhaust at one point.

Had brought it into a mechanic and codes 41, 51, 52 were pulling. He advised to change the sparks and fuel filter, which is why I already did this, and possibly regulator. I changed the regulator as already had the part, wow what a freaking job that was, thanks to a diagram from another board member here. That obviously did not work. This is getting frustrating to say the least.

Maybe fuel pump? It has also been suggested to check into the ICM and coolant temp sensor? The oil pressure gauge is always above max, I was advised by the mechanic this was due to the sensor needing replacing but not a big deal, would this be a factor at all?

I do not want to give up on my Beretta. I am the second owner, have had it for 3 years and it only has 93,000 KMS on it – roughly 58,000 miles. Has not given me any major problems really until this. Also really can’t afford a new car right now.

[ifixalot]

41 says its an ECM problem since you I don't think you have a cam sensor in that car
51 and 52 again point to a fault in the ECM, specifiaclly the prom chip but I don't think those go bad so I think the connections are
bad.
I have had problems with the contacts to the ECM getting corroded and not making connection.
I suggest you get under there, pull the connector off and see if all is clean or do you have green corrosion on it.
Next, I'd pull the plugs and see if all are black and sooty or is it one or two that are bad. Maybe you've had
one spark coil go bad, I've had that happen.

[3X00-Modified]

I agree with jskiguy, if you have a spare ECM or can get your hands on one with the same prom try swapping them out... Then move on to testing ignition components such as the ignition control module then the coils.

[asazii]

Ya the sparks were black and sooty when they were changed. Where is the ECM located? Pardon my ignorance, but I am no car expert, obviously.

[ifixalot]

Black sooty plugs indicates you are running rich. Were all of them black and sooty or was one fairly clean?
The ECM is located under the dash board on the passenger side of the car.
You have a 91? I think that is behind the kick panel behind the speaker.
On my 96 it is behind the glove box.
Disconnect your battery before you disconnect the ECM. Look for green corrosion on the pins.
This could be caused from moisture especially if you have a firewall leak.
They should be shinny. Clean them with a toothbrush and WD-40 and work the socket on and off a few times.
If the connections are clean, you need to take off the small cover on the box and look at the removable PROM.
It'll be about 3/4" by 2". Make sure it is in tight and that there is no corrosion around it either.

[asazii]

Yes they all were. Changed the spark plug wires as well. And it has been running rich ever since this problem started. I will try and get to the ECM, sounds a little complicated but hell, can't be as bad as the regulator. Another thing I noticed was gas in the air filter hose when I pulled it off to do the regulator

[3X00-Modified]

I'd try to resolve the bad ECM codes first, then see if you get codes for other items and go from there... If you had fuel in the air filter hose that's a bit odd since if the regulator was bad the fuel going through the vac line would end up post TB, not pre TB and in the hose... There is really no other way for gas to make it there unless it was leaking that badly and would flood back through the TB into the hose.

[asazii]

Where is the ICM located? Was able to find the ECM as described above, removed the glove box and kicker panel. Have yet to pull it out but everything under there looks clean and dry.

[3X00-Modified]

ICM is under the coils which is mounted under the front exhaust manifold.