Weird issue

[siguy2k]

1992 ex. New cap, rotor, plugs, wires, timing belt, water pump, alternator, raidator, oil pressure sender, o2 sensor. Has short intake, header and yonaka exhaust. I plan to get a o2 spacer. The issue i have is once and awhile the cel will come on. Sometimes its just code 1 but sometimes 1 and 43. Also the car is doggy still and idles rough. And say youre cruising at 30 light off, right when the cel comes on it runs better and you can actually feel the car smooth out. Its very weird. Thanks in advance.

[H311RA151N]

Code 1 and 43 means the oxygen sensor is bad. Replace it. Don't use Bosch. It won't work.

43 is fuel supply system but is triggered very often by a faulty O2 sensor.

1 is primary O2 sensor.

Those two combined is a damn near definite O2 sensor issue.

1992 EX should have the F22A6 with the sensor underneath the car facing up right after the oil pan.

Also, don't get any splice in sensor. Direct fit with the connector. And again, do not use Bosch. I use NTK. $85 at Bumper to Bumper as I recall but many other places carry them.

[siguy2k]

It's a brand new denso. Actually second brand new one. I don't get how it runs better when the light comes on.

[H311RA151N]

Didn't see where you said oxygen sensor. My mistake.

With a known good oxygen sensor and codes 1 and 43 some people have experienced such issues with the ignition timing being way off. It can also be caused by a rather large or definitely noticeable pre-oxygen sensor exhaust leak. A clogged fuel filter can also cause such symptoms.

EDIT... I also remember someone here had a very similar issue and one of his fuel injectors were bad.

It would be wise to check the fuel pressure as well. Could also be the fuel pressure regulator or even the fuel pump. You just need to start testing and checking things.

Here is that thread. bruno8747 was the guy. http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=82328

[siguy2k]

Didn't see where you said oxygen sensor. My mistake.

With a known good oxygen sensor and codes 1 and 43 some people have experienced such issues with the ignition timing being way off. It can also be caused by a rather large or definitely noticeable pre-oxygen sensor exhaust leak. A clogged fuel filter can also cause such symptoms.

I'll get a fuel filter. Also I tried checking timing and the write up I read said the marks should be on the pulley but the only marks I could see were under trans plug. It's a auto. Also my timing light was intermittent and isn't the light as it works on my 350 v8 fine. Thanks for the help.

[H311RA151N]

I'll get a fuel filter. Also I tried checking timing and the write up I read said the marks should be on the pulley but the only marks I could see were under trans plug. It's a auto. Also my timing light was intermittent and isn't the light as it works on my 350 v8 fine. Thanks for the help.

Trans plug is the correct location.

The middle line of the three should have been in the >.

Use a good timing light and check it. There are some good cheapies out there.

I'm not positive it's the fuel filter. When your in the situation your in (intermittent code 1 and code 43 with a new Denso oxygen sensor) it could be a number of things. However, you cannot go wrong putting a new fuel filter on it. See where your at with a new fuel filter then start testing & checking things.

[siguy2k]

If filter and timing don't solve it what else has been known to?

[H311RA151N]

If filter and timing don't solve it what else has been known to?

I don't know whats really known to, your issue isn't really all that common. But a few of the trusted OGs on here can be found in threads throughout the years telling people to check fuel pressure and injectors with your particular issue.

What the issue is simply put is you have oxygen sensor like codes without a faulty oxygen sensor. The code 1 being on when it does it and the code 43 coming on along with it when it feels like it would point to a scenario where the data the oxygen sensor is sending is way to rich or way to lean. It's quite a bit more likely that it's too lean. If its so lean the ECU cannot compensate for it then that could cause the issue. Just speaking out loud here. I imagine it's a fuel related issue. Especially with the periodic code 43.

[wagon-r]

If the car smooths out when the CEL comes on, it supports that the sensor is bad. The computer is probably going into a backup mode and ignoring the oxygen sensor when the CEL comes on, instead relying on a preset schedule of fuel injector pulse width versus engine load. If it runs better on a preset schedule then trying to follow the oxygen sensor, the sensor is probably bad.