Car is fogging for skeeters with black smoke HELP!!

[Rxtc]

The car is all stock. about 120K 1992 Laser RS AWD

the car won't rev past 2K

black smoke out tail pipe

boost gauge reads full boost, but you can't hear ther turbo.

fouled 2 sets of plugs, pure black.

plug wires smoothed the idle, but still nothing past 2K

it caught one time, and reved to 7K but went back to 1500 and sputtered.

no check engine light, no codes set.

any ideas?

 

[Wildman95GS-T]

Did you try disconnecting the plug to your mas and then reconnect it ?

 

[Rxtc]

yes, no difference, I did notice if I give it very small amounts of throtte it will rev to 3K

 

[Rxtc]

ok, pulled the plug on the MAS again, this time the check engine light came on, boost gauge stopped working, but the car revs to 4 - 4500 and you can hear the turbo spool....... but still making a cloud, and sounds like its missing

 

[ddavisaf]

My car blows black smoke! Is there a fix?
My car blows gray smoke! Is there a fix?
From an October 10, 1998 post by David Gawlowski:

"This is caused by uncombusted [unburned] fuel. Could be plugs, timing, clogged air filter, air/fuel mixture, wires, coil, etc. Start with the cheapest answer and work your way up."

Check out David's Turbocharger Troubleshooting diagnostic chart for a comprehensive guide to smoking and other engine problems.

Does the car sputter and misfire real bad while driving?

My car stumbles/misses when accelerating. Is there a fix?
This is usually poor ignition, caused by:

bad, incorrect, platinum or poorly gapped spark plugs
bad or loose plug wires
bad ignition coil
bad transistor pack
Try swapping each one out until you fix the problem. Testing the components may or may not reveal the problem; many people have had components (especially wires) test ok, but perform badly on the car. Plug wires may also be loose in the coil pack, although they may look fine.

Other possible causes include a bad battery connection (or bad battery), leading to poor power to the fuel pump; misaligned timing belt; excessively high airflow through the 1G MAS, leading to 'missed' counts; incorrect routing of the vacuum hoses on the throttle body (there was a mistake in a shop manual somewhere); decaying of the ECU capacitors (a must read - go here for details); worn camshaft lobes (normally only a possible problem on certain aftermarket parts called Web Cams); or (in at least one case) a broken thermostat.

Those with an interest in spark plug theory will enjoy these posts by Matt Blue at NGK. Those wondering about performance wires might want to read Shane Thom's second-hand narrative on the subject.

 

[ddavisaf]

Let me know if that helps or not. It's a good starting point for you, if you try all of the possible fixes in the above post and nothing works, then we'll go from there. If something does fix it post back and let us know what it was.

 

[Rxtc]

ok, pulled the plug on the MAS again, this time the check engine light came on, boost gauge stopped working, but the car revs to 4 - 4500 and you can hear the turbo spool....... but still making a cloud, and sounds like its missing

would this mean the MAS is bad?

I unplugged it a 3rd time......and drove it, it will run a lil choppy, and pull to 5K or so, then the power cuts, and takes a minute to come back.

I also noticed the boost gauge is irratic......and usually pegs it.

 

[ddavisaf]

Stock boost gauge uses signals from the ECU to display what the ECU thinks you're running for boost. Therefore, it's not accurate. Get an aftermarket boost gauge.

Secondly. I just posted a SLEW of information for you to look at and use to troubleshoot. Which you simply decided to ignore. If you want help, then you need to help yourself and follow my instructions...

First thing you can do is a boost leak test. Click Here to find out how.

After you do a boost leak test, go through the info I posted above and use that to troubleshoot. Don't ask another question until you do a boost leak test at least.

 

[Rxtc]

Stock boost gauge uses signals from the ECU to display what the ECU thinks you're running for boost. Therefore, it's not accurate. Get an aftermarket boost gauge.

Secondly. I just posted a SLEW of information for you to look at and use to troubleshoot. Which you simply decided to ignore. If you want help, then you need to help yourself and follow my instructions...

First thing you can do is a boost leak test. Click Here to find out how.

After you do a boost leak test, go through the info I posted above and use that to troubleshoot. Don't ask another question until you do a boost leak test at least.

Woah, simma down now.....

Excuse me for posting with out refreshing my page, and missing your first post.

- boost leak test done, and nothing found.

- if you read my initial posts, its fouled 2 sets of plugs..... so no more new plugs.

- I left out the wires are new, and I tripple checked them for connection.... there is a definate click when on the plugs, but I am not warm and fuzzy about the coil fit.

- swapped the coil off of my 90 GSX, problem didn't go away

I have no clue what, or where the transistor pak is, or I would swap it and check too.

No one thinks its odd the car revs higher, and boosts with out the MAS plugged in?

As far as a boost gauge, I'll worry about that when the car drives.

Thanx for your help, but not your attitude

 

[ddavisaf]

Excuse me for posting with out refreshing my page, and missing your first post.

I posted one hour and 26 minutes before you replied....

Thanx for your help, but not your attitude

Nothing wrong with my attitude. And Thanks is spelled Thanks.... http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194292

If you're needing help, then you should follow advice given. We get tired of posting the same thing over and over again when people can simply goto the vfaq and find the info themselves. Yet here we are still, helping people that don't want to try and help themselves. Smartass remarks such as

Thanx for your help, but not your attitude

don't encourage us to continue helping those people that need help.

Anyway. Are we ready to fix your car now that we've settled our differences?

 

[Rxtc]

I posted one hour and 26 minutes before you replied....

like I said, I didn't refresh the page...... I didn't say I re-opened the page looking for new replies..... it was left up since I last posted........ so 2, 3, o4 4 hours later, if I don't refresh, reload, or open a new browser..... I won't see your post.

Nothing wrong with my attitude. And Thanks is spelled Thanks.... http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194292

I really hope ur joking...... I've never ran into any true car guys, that are that anal about english, or grammar

If you're needing help, then you should follow advice given. We get tired of posting the same thing over and over again when people can simply goto the vfaq and find the info themselves. Yet here we are still, helping people that don't want to try and help themselves. Smartass remarks such as don't encourage us to continue helping those people that need help.

I was there first....... nothing at all about my problem, most of the links that are still good are about modding the car, not Drivabilty issues....

Anyway. Are we ready to fix your car now that we've settled our differences?

Yes.... but you never answere 2 of my question, well 3.

1. Is it the MAS?

2. Isn't it odd the car tries to run better when the MAS is unplugged?

3. Where is the transistor pack?


ThanX

 

[ddavisaf]

I really hope ur joking...... I've never ran into any true car guys, that are that anal about english, or grammar

ThanX

Well, welcome to Tuners... you read the thread. Grammer IS important here. Good luck.

 

[Rxtc]

Thanx, now....

.... does anyone think is the mass air flow?

or think its odd that the car runs better with it unplugged?

 

[Wildman95GS-T]

The mas gets it's signal from the ecu, as ddavisaf posted one of your problems could be the capacitors going bad in your ecu giving the mas the wrong info. If you can get your hand on another one, try swapping it out, if this does not fix your problem try swapping out your mas.

 

[oldman]

The mas gets it's signal from the ecu, as ddavisaf posted one of your problems could be the capacitors going bad in your ecu giving the mas the wrong info. If you can get your hand on another one, try swapping it out, if this does not fix your problem try swapping out your mas.

The ECU doesn't send signals to the mas rather the mas sending signals to the ECU, though I would agree that the ecu should be pulled and checked.

does anyone think is the mass air flow?or think its odd that the car runs better with it unplugged?

Yes, it can be the maf, borrow one and try.

I would also suggest a compression test, post back results.

 

[Wildman95GS-T]

Oops, sorry about that, i guess old age is catching up with me. Thanks for fixing my goof up

 

[Talesin]

Definitely check your ECU. The stock boost gauge is controlled by it.. and I don't think mine *ever* pegs.
If not the ECU, then the MAS may be fried... reporting a TON of air, so the ECU tries to compensate with more fuel, for an extreme-boost condition that doesn't exist. And maybe even fuel-cutting in the process.

If you have a buddy with a '90 DSM, you might be able to just borrow his MAS (or even ECU) for a minute to check your car.





And if, on the off chance, it sounds like a two-stroke lawnmower, try resetting your ECU. Pull the lower-right fuse in the box just to the left of the clutch pedal, for about 30 seconds to five minutes, depending. I was having a similar problem where it'd turn over, sound like a lawnmower for a few seconds, then die. Still have no idea what caused it, but resetting the ECU sure as hell fixed it every time.

Also... I didn't think the Laser HAD an AWD version. Just the FWD turbo and N/T. Maybe a rebadged Talon TSi AWD or Eclipse GSX?

 

[Rxtc]

Also... I didn't think the Laser HAD an AWD version. Just the FWD turbo and N/T. Maybe a rebadged Talon TSi AWD or Eclipse GSX?

Yep, you can get AWD lasers starting in 92..



unfortunately I don't know anyone with a DSM besides me.....


if the ECU is bad, will it know its bad? like throw a code for it?

 

[Talesin]

Well, the ECU should be putting out a 'heartbeat'... check VFAQ for how to read it out.
Or just pull out the ECU, open it up, and look to see if the capacitors are leaking... very common problem.

 

[Rxtc]

checked the ECU, got a steady string of short beeps....... so that means its good?

also found another MAF and put it in, same problem....

someone mentioned "transistors" could this be the contol module mounted to the intake?

thanx

 

[Rxtc]

ok, so I swapped in my "90's" ECU..... just to see what happens......


cha ching.... runs fine......


odd, that it didn't throw a code or anything, cause I didn't swap the wires....

So I opened up the case of the original Ecu and one maybe two caps were leaking....

 

[Wildman95GS-T]

I am glad you found the problem