I have a 1999 chevrolet tracker.It idles rough,runs rough,real lean.The tailpipe is black,black & burns alot of fuel.I changed tps sensor,still problem.Engine light on & off.The first codes was # 2 cylinder not firing,tps & some kind of transmission module??.Changed plugs,help very little,light came back on #4 cylinder not firing.It is giving all kinda different trouble codes .Thank u for your time.My e-mail is [email protected]

Hi there:
Black smoke is caused by excess fuel that has entered the cylinder area and cannot be burned completely. Another term for excess fuel is "running rich." Poor fuel mileage is also a common complaint when black smoke comes out of the tailpipe. Black smoke out the tailpipe is the least cause for alarm. Excess fuel will usually effect engine performance, reduce fuel economy, and produce a fuel odor.

How did the fuel get into the cylinder in the first place? Some of the causes of excess fuel are a carburetor that is out of adjustment, a faulty fuel pump, a leaky fuel injector, or a faulty engine computer or computer sensor. If black smoke is present, check the engine oil as in the white smoke example to make sure excess fuel has not contaminated it. Do not start the engine if a heavy, raw fuel smell can be detected in the engine oil. Call your mechanic and advise him of what you have found.

Hope this helps; also keep in mind that your feedback is important and I`ll appreciate your time and consideration if you leave some testimonial comment about this answer.

Thank you for using FixYa, have a nice day.

If its burning fuel and the plugs are black with soot, then its burning rich. the codes you said are P0300 generic misfire and P1153 heated O2 sensor B2 S1, I would first suspect that O2 sensor. Bank 2 is the passenger side (right side) of the engine and doesn`t explain why the left side plugs are black with soot, unless you say the left side by looking at the front of the engine. If this is the case then definitely replace the forward O2 sensor in front of the catalytic converter on the passenger side of the engine.

Needs tune up, or idle sensor,got any check engine lite on?

could be egr system , intake air sensor , tps, vacuum leak, map sensor, bad distributor cap, wires, plugs, best way is to install a real time scanner( not a code scanner) with a fuel pressure guage, that should help narrrow your search

Check fuel pressure should be 60lbs key on engine off. If less than 60 replace fuel pump.

Any check engine light? When you start out cold the computer plugs in numbers for the sensors until the engine warms up then it relys on the sensors which sound like are going bad. I would suspect an oxygen sensor first since this will cause the lean then rich situation you describe. auto parts stores have scanners they will hook up free and this would show if the voltages coming from the 02 sensor are off. Also the scanner will show cross counts which is the voltage moving up and down in response to rich and lean air mixture detected in the exhaust. If this is helpful please reply and good luck

You should have your TPS and EGR looked at as those cause rough idles...Other causes are bad idle air control valve, bad plugs, bad distributor cap & rotor, a bad wire, bad O2 sensor, etc...

Either a bad MAP sensor, or TPS. What is the code for the check engine light? This will most likely tell you what it is.

yes both of these items can cause your problems

Bad injector first, or bad intake gasket, then damaged head. Good Luck contact me if you need more help. Its has to one of the above.