Odd ignition/fuel problem?

[ibrkalot]

I searched the threads and havent found any one problem identicle to mine tho a few are similar. I am new to these cars so forgive me if I missed a thread explaining my problem.

A few days ago while driving around right as I would hit about 8psi+ my car would randomly sputter say once, then a second or less would go by then do it again, kind of like a mis-fire. Then a little later on the way home it did it a few times while not under boost just above idle. When this happens the cel comes on but then goes right back out.

I checked for boost leak and that went ok.
I changed the plugs, put in NGK's and gapped them at .082. After that I drove the car and it ran alot better and had less of the mystery problem but was still there at boost.
If im in 2nd gear and immediatley go wot it the problem happens. However is i gradually give it gas til it's at about 9psi-ish then shove it on down to the floor it doesnt do it at all. So basically if I let it boost gradually no problem but if I just mash the gas it does it.

I have magnacore wires but are going to change them tonight. They are new but I have read a few post's saying after changing plugs these wire's have failed for a few ppl. I am giong to put Accel's on it and see what happens.

Does this sound like an ignition problem though? I just find it odd that if I gradually build boost it doesnt do it.

Also could it be a tune problem?
I just got this car and it had a few mods done to it allready. I havent got the chance to get it tuned. I was looking at safc-ii's and loggers ect. but I think it wuold prob be best if I just took it somewhere to have it done vs. doing it myself. I dont want something extremely radical just a mild street car.

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Current mod's to it are..

14b turbo
2.5 downpipe / 3" catback
95' ecu
fmic
190 fuelpump

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I have an AEM fuel rail for it, I still need to buy an fpr though. I seen where most ppl on here if not all swear by Aeromotive.

Also I have a ported 02 to go on it.
A set of HKS cam's
A 1g tb
Few other misc. things I got from a friend.

 

[fulanititoo8198]

I've been dealing with a similar problem for a while now. Check your wires, plugs, which you already did so good. Check your ignition coil, and power transistor via chiltons. If nothing then I would check fuel pressure, injectors, and so on. A logger would help you out too. Also I noticed you said ngks gapped at .082, you meant .28 right?

 

[ibrkalot]

I've been dealing with a similar problem for a while now. Check your wires, plugs, which you already did so good. Check your ignition coil, and power transistor via chiltons. If nothing then I would check fuel pressure, injectors, and so on. A logger would help you out too. Also I noticed you said ngks gapped at .082, you meant .28 right?

Correct, .28 .. slight typo.

I have not ruled out the wires as they are new but you never know.. Being I have read a few horror stories about magnacore's it may be possible. I am going to change wires tonight and see what avails.

When I got the car it had just left a foreign specialty shop. The owner who I buoght it off of literally sold it to me in the shop parkinglot. It has a new (stock) fpr on it and I was told it is running the correct fuel pressure. You know how that goes though.

I dont know much abuot these cars, just what I have read on this forum and a few other pages i.e. vfaq, ect. They seem to be rather finiky creatures.

I will change the wires to a new set of Accel's and post back results. If that does not work it's farther on down the line.

Thanks for your input

 

[ibrkalot]

Ok I went an picked up some misc. stuff today and am ready to tear into my car. I wrote down how the firing order is on the plugs before I yank them off because I am also changing valve covers.

I made an image (please excuse the ms paint quality) of how they were on there. Does this seem like the correct way for a 97 with a 95 ecu to have the plug wires installed?
This pic is from the view of standing in front of the car looking staright ahead. I have seen a few diagrams on firing order's but my coil pack is in a straight line and goes horizontalthe same way as my cylinders. The diagrams I have viewed were dif.

Also I bought new vacuum line so I am going to replace all of it while im under the hood. I am getting an odd whistle sound that sounds like it may be a leak.

 

[ibrkalot]

Well I just got back form the maiden "hope this fixed it" voyage.

I yanked the throttlebody off and cleaned it up, wasent very gummed up which was a little suprising. Yanked off the plug wires an threw them on the bench. Pulled the new plugs out an they looked ok, put them on the bench as well.

I did the vacuum line method I found here
http://web.archive.org/web/20040622114931/http://www.taboospeedshop.com/emissions1.htm

Replaced the vac lines w/all new line.
Had an egr block off plate made early this morning.

Since I was allready at the part store I went ahead an bought new plugs anyhow. Gapped them, put on a new set of wires. Put the tb back on, used spray sealer on the gaskets for it and the i/c pipe going to it. Put a new used valve cover on.

Anyhow..
I live right by the interstate. I took it out and it ran perfect at 9psi which is what I had it cranked down to. So I brought her back home an cranked it on up to 17psi and took it back out an it ran perfect.