95 GST, Idle Missing / Stuttering @ around 9psi.. Barely passed smog.

[mjfenix]

Hey guys,

Just some background info on the car- got it about a month and a half ago. Really clean, 113k miles, checked out by a couple of mechanics, they didn't notice any problems except a very very small leak in the EDIT: Not Head Gasket, the Valve Cover Gasket. It's bone stock except for the BoV is a 1g and there is a K&N Air Filter.

I did look at the smog reports, and after an inspection I did see that it barely passed the last one, and is running:

Test #1 -
15 MPH @ 1621 RPM
C0% = 0.19
C02% = 14.9
02% = 0.2
HC (PPM) = 85
NO (PPM) = 410

Test #2 -
25 MPH @ 2797 RPM
C0% = 0.03
C02% = 15.0
02% = 0.1
HC (PPM) = 31
NO (PPM) = 98

This is greek to me WTF, would I be running lean or rich? All I know is that it barely passed the smog test, with the HC @ 85 of a MAX 87 in the 1st (15mph) test.


Anyway, fast forwarding a few weeks, it started bogging/stuttering/missing while under higher boost PSI (around 8-9) psi.

- First thing I did was replace the spark plugs, I put in BPR6ES gapped at .028 The existing plugs I pulled out were BPR7ES, I haven't checked the gap though. Any reason he would run these instead?.. It's stock boost, I thought the 6ES was the way to go. I'm going to pull them tomorrow and take a look at make sure the gapping is correct, but I did it myself, and I took my time doing it, and made sure it was. I don't understand why it's missing more now during idle (and maybe even sometimes when the car is running, I can't tell) than before, since the previous plugs were pretty burnt.

- Second thing I did was clean the Mass Airflow Sensor, but it looked great anyway, it was very clean.

Then I started thinking that it might be a boost leak, so I bought an air compressor and got a boost leak tester. I took it out and bumped it up from 5psi and started to see these leaks.

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I increased it to around 10psi and up to around 13 or so. Couldn't get much higher, but I'm going to test again soon since it started to rain on me. I took some pictures of the main leak that I did find (the only one that I saw so far-- which was on multiple places on the BoV Gasket. Is this enough to cause my problem? I also noticed a gurgling/bubbling sound when I did the test, since I took of the oil cap to relieve crankcase pressure.. is this normal? Should I suspect PCV?

The next steps on my list are as follows:
1) New BoV
2) Second Leak Test
3) Check Gap on Spark Plugs
4) Spark Plug Wires
5) 02 Sensor

Also, I took a picture of some electrical hookup hanging down, that isn't attached to anything. What is it?

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All these problems are worrying me a bit.. Thanks for any input you guys could provide!

 

[Turbosnatch]

Did you fix the headgasket?

 

[mjfenix]

Nope, but the mechanic said that the leak is so minimal that it wouldn't affect anything, and the original owner had told me about the small leak before, and the stuttering problem was not happening at that point in time.

 

[mjfenix]

Any thoughts?

 

[mjfenix]

Double checked the spark plugs and they are already fouled out. Here's a shot of them:

I took these pictures yesterday, 4/13.. I put these brand new spark plugs in on 3/25. I gapped them to .028

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[Riceburning101]

White plugs usually means a lean running condition or detonation. It looks like you have stock IC piping make sure you spray whole pipe bc they are rubber and they crack not only at the connecting points. You need to check fuel pressure and check for a clogged or leaking fuel injector is where i would start with plugs that look like that.

 

[mjfenix]

Thanks man! I thought about the injectors as well. I'm going to do a second boost leak test tomorrow probably. I will update once I get some of this stuff done.

 

[mjfenix]

Replaced the Injector O-Rings and the lower injector seals yesterday.. injectors themselves looked very clean. I also installed some new NGK Plug Wires (RC-ME77). Drove it home, didn't seem to have any boost problems at all, will double check today/tomorrow..