Odd problem I can't diagnose: vibrating, clanking, etc.

[patrarch]

Every once and awhile- say once a month or 2 months- when I try to start my 97 Eclipse GSX it starts and then immediately begins shaking so violently the entire car feels like it's going to explode. When I rev the RPM's it just gets worse until it eventually just stalls itself. It idles at about 100-200 shaking violently if I don't rev until it stalls itself. The more attempts at starting it I do, the worse the vibrating and clanking gets. I check all of the connections, pipes and visible signs and there is nothing wrong. I let the car sit for a few hours, start it, and it starts just fine, and it acts like nothing happened for about another month until it does this again. I don't know if it's related, but after boost when I shift I blow large amounts of white smoke that smells awful, but I have no signs of a blown HG and no turbo shaft play so I have no idea what's causing it. I have a recent (3-4 months ago) timing belt/water pump/tensioner replacement. I just installed a XS Power FMIC & Short route piping, but it had all of these problems before the install. The install has neither effected it positive or negatively. If anyone has any ideas, let me know. I'm going to be replacing my fuel filter soon hopefully. About a year ago a mechanic told me it was bad, and rusting, and needed to be replaced but I never did it. I was told a bad fuel filter could be making me run lean and cause smoke like that (and it may not even be white, i may be colorblind). When I go WOT, though, it blows the least smoke of all. When I shift at 4000-5000 rpms it blows the most smoke. When my turbo spools it has an abnormally loud whistle (not a normal turbo sound). Also, when I tighten my Dejon Type S BOV harder, the more smoke I blow after boost, but the better the car runs. Right now I have it all the way loose, and it is blowing less smoke. I have 90,000 miles on it, and I just changed the oil yesterday, using full synthetic now. Every oil change I've done @ 2,000 miles and used engine treatment. Either the smoking problem began when I got my Dejon Type S BOV, or that's when I noticed it, or it just made it worse.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks

Also, after the vibrating/shaking incidents, I get trouble codes "Camshaft angle sensor circuit malfunction" and "Fuel trim management malfunctin (bank 1)". Occassionally I get Random/multiple cylinder misfire codes also.

 

[patrarch]

I didn't do the timing replacement. I had a mechanic do it, and it was running beautifully after the replacement for awhile, so I don't think it happened then.

 

[patrarch]

Yeah hak, I thought so too. But I checked for turbo shaft play and I have none, and there is no oil in my coolant resevoir and the smoke does not smell sweet like burning coolant. I really don't think it's a blown HG or the turbo. The bad o2 sensor is a possibility, though.

 

[patrarch]

It happened again today. Apparently it's getting more frequent. I tried to start it a bunch of times and it just vibrated, bogged and died. I tried it a bunch of times in a row then it wouldn't even turn over. I sat for 10 seconds and tried again it was still doing the vibrating thing. I checked all the connections and couplers and jiggled all the visible electrical connections (mas, cas, etc) to see if any were loose. Checked all exposed wires for splits and they were all right. Tried to start the car again and it started fine.

Also with my smoking problem, I barely blow any smoke when I shift @ redline. I blow huge clouds @ 4000-5000 rpms.

 

[Splitpi]

Could it be a fuel clogging issue?

 

[jake_95eclipse]

Have you tried checking the bearings? It could also be your MAF Sensor. I am having the same problem with my 95 GST, but it won't run at all.

 

[patrarch]

Splitpi, what could be causing fuel clogging? Where are trouble areas? I know fuel filter could be one, but what are some others? I've run a lot of fuel system cleaner recently and I am replacing my fuel filter ASAP (90,000 miles - never been replaced, when I bought the car a mechanic told me it was rusted and needed to be replaced a long time ago)

Yeah I thought about the maf. My ideas are the maf (or even the filter), o2 sensor, cas(how likely is it for the cas to go bad? and how would you know whether it was the cas itself, or an electrical connection/wire that's a part of it?), fuel filter. I can't afford to throw parts at it, though. I'm still getting around to replacing the fuel filter (it's cheap, so i'll do it anyway). The maf, o2 sensor and cas are all about 100$ each unless I can go to a junkyard, but I don't have time to go hunting. I haven't checked the exhaust side of the turbo, either, because I don't have the time to go through that extensive of a check on it. There is no play on the intake side, though. Keep the ideas coming, please, i'm afraid this is getting worse and more frequent and eventually it will be like yours, jake, and not even start at all.

 

[jake_95eclipse]

I'm having the same problem, an I'm not to sure how to check the CAS. From what I've heard they do go out a lot on the 2nd gens. If I hear of anything I'll let you know. Try checking www.thepartsbin.com they might have the parts you need for a little cheaper.

 

[patrarch]

The thing that gets me is it only happens every once and awhile. It would be much easier to figure out if it happened all the time. If the CAS was bad, or there was a fuel clog, wouldn't it do this all the time? It happening randomly makes me think it's a connection or wiring that gets jostled. It's also weird that it ONLY happens at start, never once has it ever showed any signs while driving or idling.

 

[jake_95eclipse]

Try checking the MAF Sensor. IF it is old it could be that it just has some wear and tear. And are you getting spark to all 4 when it is doing it?

 

[patrarch]

How do I go about "checking" the maf sensor? what am I looking for? The only CEL codes I get when it does its vibrating thing are camshaft angle sensor malfunction and fuel trim management malfunction. i don't get any random/multiple cylinder misfires except when I was driving it with a bad boost leak. haven't had any cylinder misfire codes since I fixed the leak. Theres no residue on the plugs anytime they are removed, either.

 

[jake_95eclipse]

If your not gettin air/fuel metering the MAF is probably fine. The CAS would be my main concern if it was throwing that code. And the Fuel trim management, I'm not to sure about. Is the Fuel pump turning when you try to fire it? Or it could be that the fuel filter is clogged. Do you smell fuel when it is trying to fire?

 

[patrarch]

Well I think i'm going to replace my fuel filter tomorrow, and then if that doesn't help i'm going to replace the CAS. I'll let you guys know how it goes. If you have any more ideas let me know.

 

[jake_95eclipse]

To check the MAF. Unplug it and if it still does it, then its not your problem. But if it stops then it is.