my car sounds like a subaru

[Boostedexcel]

As I'm driving on the freeway, I downshift into 3rd from 4th wind the car out and hit the redline then BAM. The car backfires and I feel a sudden lose in power. The car still drives somewhat okay but shakes at low RPMs and sounds almost like a subaru. Does this sound like I blew out a spark plug?

 

[JDack 86]

Head Gasket.

Should probably do a cylinder compression test afterwards too.

; )

 

[Dorifto]

Could be a number of things. Not to rain on the parade, but that sounds about how my engine went, before I bought my car. What I originally thought was a headgasket issue turned out to be a chunk missing from piston #2 as a result of severe detonation and overboosting. You could also have blown out a spark plug, it is somewhat common. Could have blown a ring as well. Could also have something as simple as a boost leak.

Check your oil, if you smell fuel or see a white cloudy substance on the cap, something's leaking into the crankcase, and tells you it's either a headgasket, ring, or piston issue. If your plugs are messed up, obviously it's a plug issue.

I have seen a fuel injector die before, causing a dead cylinder and poor low-speed running, as you describe. Not sure if an injector issue would trip an ECU code or not, or if it would do any internal damage as a result of running dangerously lean.

 

[Boostedexcel]

head gasket, huh? That doesnt sound so good

 

[Boostedexcel]

I also wanted to mention that the car isnt puffing smoke, pulling normal vacumn, and made about a 1/2 hour drive back home. Does is stil sound like I have internal damage?

 

[EagleTalonTim]

my car did that once and it was actually the computer cutting the fuel. You may want to check the ecu out on a diagnostic test. Sounds more like an electrical problem if the motor does not smoke and there is no antifreeze in the oil and the motor is not knocking.

Or.....it could be that you spun a beering on your crank and it just has not started knocking yet.

 

[Boostedexcel]

I think Im gonna start with the spark plugs...if it is a bad spark plug, which brand and gap is recommended for a stock 6-bolt with a 16g and nothing else?

 

[AJGoldie]

My '91 did that, but had a rod knock.

 

[TURB0]

I had this happen in my car also..however not while driving.

Turned out my brother spilled a bunch of water on my valve cover and it seeped to my plugs. After I got them pulled and dried it ran like a champ again.

 

[Boostedexcel]

Yeah, Im praying its just a blown out plug. What a good plug to use?

 

[delta448]

Yeah, Im praying its just a blown out plug. What a good plug to use?

NGK BPR6ES for about 12-15psi, NGK BPR7ES 15-20psi, -basically you'll want the coldest plug that doesn't foul.

 

[15poundsoffun]

check your injector clips i had this happen to me one came loose and it run funny just like what your saying check for pluse too or use a test one or the other as long as you feel them working

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

Could be a number of things. Not to rain on the parade, but that sounds about how my engine went, before I bought my car. What I originally thought was a headgasket issue turned out to be a chunk missing from piston #2 as a result of severe detonation and overboosting. You could also have blown out a spark plug, it is somewhat common. Could have blown a ring as well. Could also have something as simple as a boost leak.

Check your oil, if you smell fuel or see a white cloudy substance on the cap, something's leaking into the crankcase, and tells you it's either a headgasket, ring, or piston issue. If your plugs are messed up, obviously it's a plug issue.

I have seen a fuel injector die before, causing a dead cylinder and poor low-speed running, as you describe. Not sure if an injector issue would trip an ECU code or not, or if it would do any internal damage as a result of running dangerously lean.

This reply states anything or all that could be possible. Just hope you get the least trouble some. Any CE light? Its some kind of cylinder missfire, by the "sound" of things.

 

[meliketoball]

Not to steal your thread but my car is doing the exact same thing; The car backfired, you can hear the motor sounding like a subaru and feel it rumble a bit, definitely feel the loss of power and the check engine light went on. After I checked it with ODB II scan tool, it threw out the "multiple cylinders misfiring" code. So I checked my spark plugs and saw that spark plug in cylinder 3 was chipped. So, I replaced all 4 and cleared the codes. I test drove it and seemed back to normal then after a while it came back, except the backfiring was gone and after I rev it past 3k RPM, the power would come back. I think I have bad spark plug wires.

 

[Jeff822]

Sounds like you could also have blown off an IC pipe or one partially disconnected somewhere. I'd start with the small things first.

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

It's nice to give him the the best case scenario in hopes to just have been a blown off ic pipe, but I am willing to bet it is not if it sounds like a subaru.

Do a compression check, after a friend of mine was in similar situation, same situation like you, did a 3rd gear to 4th gear run. Next thing you know he hears something, car sounds like a subaru, loss of power, CE light. It was cylinder 1 missfire. Checked spark plug and it was done. Thought ok maybe thats it. Did a compression check, 0 compression on cylinder 1. It fugked up some stuff in there, now it needs a rebuild.

 

[Boostedexcel]

Thanks for the great input guys...

The only reason I think I still have good compression is the fact that I still pull really good vacumn. About 19hz at idle and about 24 on decel.

Im going to figure this out after work so hopefully I can write the conclusion to thread

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

Good compression, thats a good sign, so maybe you wont get the worst case scenario. Keep us updated.

 

[Boostedexcel]

The end to the saga....

Injector plug came loose

Damn I feel stupid!!!! Thanx for all your help guys!!!!

 

[chrisfullwood]

dont worry about it it happens. be thankful it was something simple, all to often when stuff like that happens, it always seems to be mostly serious.

for e.g. my 6 bolt, ran fine, had a little idle issue. then fired up one morning, headgasket gone, isc gone, tb gasket leaking, and 2 vacuum hoses leaking, all in the same day, thankfully the car ran afterwards and i just got the isc today, and i finally have a palm IIIc in the mail so i can see whats going on. all i need now is the aeromotive fpr to control my fuel so i can really run my car.

remember, as someone else said (dont remember where i saw it)
your not paranoid if you own a mitsubishi.

stay cool.