Dont know where to begin

[Rahdigga8188]

Ok I'm posting this for a friend who is too stubborn to ask for help hmself. We just drove out to go pick up a 90 tsi he bought, and it was pretty stripped so we had to go straight to aftermarket parts( which i advised against) to get it home. heres a list of the mods


hks 272 cams
walbro 255
big 16g
downpipe only
ported and polished head and intake manifold.

The guy who was sellings the car was runnin 11.2's all day before the parts were stripped from it. So we limped it home and its runnin like crap. its runnin so rich if you lean over to look at something while it runnin it burns your eyes. The timing is jumping all over thr place and we can get it to hold anything near a steady idle to check the base timing. there is nothing where the egr should be, not even a block off plate WTF its not throwing any codes. So i tell hime that it could be a combination of the 255 and not recirculating but he wont listen. he says he doesnt need an fpr. i told him we should try to get it as close to stck as possible first to make problem identification a lil easier but he doesnt like to be proven wrong and is stubborn about it. when he takes it out for a spin it goes no where, which i told him is probably because his plugs are fouled to all hell. Anyone have any ideas. I need help, helping him cause I hate to see so much potential go to waste.

 

[donmagicjuan]

First of all, you do need an AFPR with a 255 lph fuel pump. The stock regulator gets overrun at idle, which causes excessively high fuel pressure and subsequent pig-rich AFRs. Anyone that tells you this mod is unnecessary has never monitored fuel pressures with the larger pump and stock regulator.

Secondly, try recirculating the BOV. If those two things don't result in a marked improvement, or a different problem develops, post back and we can go from there.

 

[Auto RS T]

Start by fabbing up/purchasing a block off plate for where the EGR was.

Then reset the biss. I would think that the idle quality would be affected by the cams.

Definately get an Aftermarket fuel pressure regulator for the 255.

Re-circulate the BOV.

If it is burning your eyes, you should tube the downpipe away from the car.

 

[EclipseTrbo420A]

I say your fight isnt here, its getting him to do what you already said....If he wants to be a **** about it, then let him blow the car up. You told him already.....let the blown motor proove him wrong. Then charge him to fix it.

Idle with cams is spiratic.

 

[jdhutchin]

If there's no blockoff plate where the EGR goes, there will be exhaust shooting out of one of the holes there, that's why it stings your eyes if your face is in the engine bay. Blockoff plates are dirt cheap, easy to find (even autozone sells them) and pretty easy to install. If it's not a california car the EGR removal won't throw a CEL anyways.

 

[donmagicjuan]

Wow, I don't know how I missed that. Do you mean the EGR valve has been removed and nothing is covering the holes from the intake and exhaust? That would definitely result in some strange performance issues!

 

[Rahdigga8188]

yeah that right thers nothing there, at all. and i figured the idle would be sporadic but this is ridiculous. and we tried to log it to see what it was doin and its weird. it will idle between 450 and 650 but timing is hardly the same at any time, meaning it will drop to 450 and be at 4degrees go up a lil then drop back down and be at 6 degrees. also when you step on the pedal should you instantly feel air coming out of the valve cover where it would route back into the intake. i mean instantly. i just thought that was a lil weird.

 

[jdhutchin]

I'd add the blockoff plate and fuel pressure regulator before you try picking your brains trying to figure out what else to do. Cars are pretty complex, you never know when something that seems simple will fix a big problem.

 

[donmagicjuan]

Uh, where does the valve cover breather line go right now if it's not to the intake? Also, is something plugging the hole in the intake pipe if it's not routed there currently? Crankcase pressure is caused by piston blowby. A small amount of blowby is normal, and the PCV system normally functions to keep pressure from building in the crankcase by routing the gases back to the intake. I've never checked what goes on at the breather line when opening the throttle, but if you suspect something is up, I would check the PCV valve and do a compression test. Good results on those tests should rule out any potential problems with what you're seeing.

 

[Auto RS T]

Also besides the intake/breather line, I was wondering where the Throttle body lines are routed or are they blocked off?

If the bov is uncirculated still, the hole in the intake tube will suck in unmetered air, just like that breather line if it isn't plugged.

You also can't time the car with the logger plugged in. This puts the car in idle adjustment mode. (DLC Grounded)

Firewall connector grounded = Timing Adjustment Mode

Firewall connector grounded and Data Link Connector grounded = Idle Adjustment Mode

That air escaping from the valve cover does sound like blowby. Checking the PCV and compression are definately good ideas.

Block that EGR valve hole, test the compression and PCV valve. Then follow the timing and idle setting procedures and see where you are.