A Little Help with Some MAJOR Problems!!!???

[Dragon TalonTsi]

I have a few problems to share; #1- It feels like fuel cut, but I cant get past 4 1/2grand in any gear, whether I am boosting or not, no matter if I speed through or slowly get there, I cant get it, WTF??? #2- Lately, my car has had trouble starting, it turns over, but doesnt start fully (whether it's cold or not)... I have a feeling it is the fuel system, but i cant find the fuel filter, where is the location on the 4g63's, 2nd gen's and I need Pictures, of course.... #3- my plugs keep getting fouled, all the time..... I need some help bad, and I am not afraid to ask for help............

 

[JDNSBR]

I have a few problems to share; #1- It feels like fuel cut, but I cant get past 4 1/2grand in any gear, whether I am boosting or not, no matter if I speed through or slowly get there, I cant get it, WTF??? #2- Lately, my car has had trouble starting, it turns over, but doesnt start fully (whether it's cold or not)... I have a feeling it is the fuel system, but i cant find the fuel filter, where is the location on the 4g63's, 2nd gen's and I need Pictures, of course.... #3- my plugs keep getting fouled, all the time..... I need some help bad, and I am not afraid to ask for help............

Since you say you keep fouling out plugs I think that is the reason for most of your problems. What kind of gas are you running? You should be running nothing less than 93 or 91 if you're on west coast . Check your plugs. You should be running the NGK BPR6ES. Make sure they are gapped to .028. Check your wires and make sure you are getting spark to all of your plugs. Like you also said I would also change the fuel filter if this has not been changed yet. The fuel filter should be beside your battery on the firewall.

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

Well, what about the "fuel cut" at 4 1/2 grand? Premium of course 93 octane here in the Midwest, see my mods and that will tell you what i am running, i have checked all that, and have done all the neccessary replacements for my car, and then some.... but i am still having problems.....

 

[PaulN]

I know on my 1G if you follow the fuel line from the fuel rail it leads right to a canister on the firewall. That canister is the fuel filter. Check and see if yours is the same by doing the same. Follow the fuel line from the fuel rail backwards and see if you can find the fuel filter.

This reminds me. I need a new air filter and fuel filter myself. Thanks.

 

[PaulN]

Well, what about the "fuel cut" at 4 1/2 grand? Premium of course 93 octane here in the Midwest, see my mods and that will tell you what i am running, i have checked all that, and have done all the neccessary replacements for my car, and then some.... but i am still having problems.....

Follow JDNSBR's steps above and then report back. A clogged filter can cause problems with fuel delivery.

 

[JDNSBR]

Do a boost leak test.

 

[PaulN]

At least you beat oldman to it. Do a leak test. Here's the procedure in case you didn't know about it:

How to build a tester:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201554

How to do it:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169435

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

My Mechanic had done a thourough Vacuum and Boost leak check on my head and valvetrain, and my turbo, no leaks, and i am about to change the fuel filter right now, and what about my problem with me not getting past 4 1/2 grand in any gear and any speed?????

 

[JDNSBR]

Read this thread. Check what we told you. There are other places that can have boost leaks. Follow the links given to you, do a boost leak test. These could be the reasons for this.

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

Okay, the fuel filter will not come off, the banjo bolt is stuck, once i get that off, we'll be fine.... there are no leaks, my intake is not clogged, my turbo is new, just got it ported, everything is fine, maintenance wise, the fuel system is the only thing right now stopping me...... can anyone find out why i cant go past 4 1/2 grand in any gear?.....

 

[JDNSBR]

HAVE YOU ACTUALLY PERFORMED A BOOST LEAK TEST?


Have you tried richening up your settings on the AFC around 4 grand? What are your settings across the board? Also, I see on your wish list is a fuel system? So you have an AFC with no injectors? How about a pump? How many lbs of boost are you trying to run? You might be hitting fuel cut. Do not try to run anything over 12lbs without proper injectors.

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

I'm sorry, i have PTE 680cc's now, originally i had 550's, that is the only thing for my fuel system that i have...., no, i told you my Mechanic did an all out test on everything on my car, no leaks anywhere, i am only boosting about 10 psi on my turbo, i am runnig a little more rich than corrected, not lean at all, it almost feels like a governor when i get past 4 grand, what else?......

 

[Carter97GSX]

You need to do a boost leak test yourself. Do not trust your mechanic saying that its not leaking. For all you know he just made sure all the hose clamps were tight and told you he checked it. Even if he did pressure test it, and I've never seen a mechanic who did that, you never really know if he did it how its described in the link above. I had a boost leak and it felt just like your'e describing, and it happened at a specific RPM like that too.

 

[PaulN]

You've got people trying to help. We can't (and won't) solve the problem if you don't do what is asked and report back with findings.

Gotta put forth some effort here on your own.

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

Okay, My Mech is an ASE Cert'd Master Tech, i know he knows what he is doing, and he specializes on imports, he does custom jobs on our cars, he has a machine that does the vaccuum leak test, it plugs straight into your intake on the turbo's compressor wheel, he has one for your exhaust, intercooler, intake, everything, so when he says there is no leak, i trust him........ i have put forth the effort, i just got the fuel filter off and put the new one on, clean as a whistle, but it still wont start........ bummer.....

 

[oldman]

Okay, My Mech is an ASE Cert'd Master Tech, i know he knows what he is doing, and he specializes on imports, he does custom jobs on our cars, he has a machine that does the vaccuum leak test, it plugs straight into your intake on the turbo's compressor wheel, he has one for your exhaust, intercooler, intake, everything, so when he says there is no leak, i trust him........ i have put forth the effort, i just got the fuel filter off and put the new one on, clean as a whistle, but it still wont start........ bummer.....

Then why did you come on here asking for help? Why couldn't your "ASE Cert'd Master Tech" just fix your problem? How many hours did he charge you for the boost leak test? Anyone who has gone through a thorough boost leak test after a complete reassembling of your intake tract knows it will at least take up to 5 hrs if not days (waiting for parts such as seals) to completely rid of all leaks, it's a continues process of fixing leaks then retesting, find more leaks, fix them then retest.........etc. until you're able to pressurize the entire intake, not in pieces, up to 5psi above whatever your current boost level is.

Did your "ASE Cert'd Master Tech" also tell you that hitting fuel cut has nothing to do with your fuel system what so ever (unless you think you're hitting fuel cut but you're not), fuel cut is induced solely by unaturally high maf reading usually caused by defective maf, infinite boost, boost creep, boost leaks....etc? Just like a gas pedal actually being an AIR PEDAL, fuel cut is actually an AIR CUT, this is why one can never rule out boost leaks when dealing with fuel cut.

If you want us to help you solve your problem then follow the suggestions given, if not take your car back to your mechanic and TELL him to fix and complete his own work in which you have already paid him for. Is boost leak your only problem, probably not but it's step #1, keep in mind we are here to help you clean up the mess your mechanic created in the first place.

Lastly, what are your safc adjustments for the 680s and what are your fuel pressure, rpm, vacuum readings at idle?

 

[My96AWD]

my car wouldn't run right when i didn't have the ground strap hooked up. It did the same thing yours is.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

I wonder if it could be the ECU. It would only take a couple of minutes to open it up and see if it has any fish smell to it.

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

Then why did you come on here asking for help? Why couldn't your "ASE Cert'd Master Tech" just fix your problem? How many hours did he charge you for the boost leak test? Anyone who has gone through a thorough boost leak test after a complete reassembling of your intake tract knows it will at least take up to 5 hrs if not days (waiting for parts such as seals) to completely rid of all leaks, it's a continues process of fixing leaks then retesting, find more leaks, fix them then retest.........etc. until you're able to pressurize the entire intake, not in pieces, up to 5psi above whatever your current boost level is.

Did your "ASE Cert'd Master Tech" also tell you that hitting fuel cut has nothing to do with your fuel system what so ever (unless you think you're hitting fuel cut but you're not), fuel cut is induced solely by unaturally high maf reading usually caused by defective maf, infinite boost, boost creep, boost leaks....etc? Just like a gas pedal actually being an AIR PEDAL, fuel cut is actually an AIR CUT, this is why one can never rule out boost leaks when dealing with fuel cut.

If you want us to help you solve your problem then follow the suggestions given, if not take your car back to your mechanic and TELL him to fix and complete his own work in which you have already paid him for. Is boost leak your only problem, probably not but it's step #1, keep in mind we are here to help you clean up the mess your mechanic created in the first place.

Lastly, what are your safc adjustments for the 680s and what are your fuel pressure, rpm, vacuum readings at idle?

Okay, I didn't mean to get blunt or sound like an a$$, but that is what he had told me, either a faulty fuel pump, fuel filter is clogged, or my ECU is going bad..... those are the symptoms he told me that i have..... My turbo is fine, my intake is brand new, my exhaust is custom made, he had done a thourough checks and services, including a boost leak, pressure leaks in the head, exhaust leaks, and it all came back negative, I have no CEL's on at all, my idle is a little off, at times it's 750-880, it fluxuates alot though. I know you guys are trying to help, he says that it is not that. I am still doing more research on this, i will let him know what you all think....

 

[oldman]

I have no CEL's on at all, my idle is a little off, at times it's 750-880, it fluxuates alot though. I know you guys are trying to help, he says that it is not that.

What about vacuum, fuel pressure readings as well as the adjustments on the afc?

I am still doing more research on this, i will let him know what you all think....

Why are you still relying on that mechanic? Ask him how much pressure and for how long did he pressurize the intake from the turbo inlet with the entire intake tract hooked up, not in pieces. If he can't answer that within 5 seconds, he didn't do it right.

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

What about vacuum, fuel pressure readings as well as the adjustments on the afc?


Why are you still relying on that mechanic? Ask him how much pressure and for how long did he pressurize the intake from the turbo inlet with the entire intake tract hooked up, not in pieces. If he can't answer that within 5 seconds, he didn't do it right.

Okay, I will ask him today. He is a Master Tech, i said that before, and his specialty is Imports, I am not naming his name or business, he is a great guy and great mechanic, he does hand made custom jobs all the time, and i did pay him alot of money for the work he "did." Can you go more into depth on the Problem i have with me not going past 4 1/2 grand in any gear? I really could use that help, so i can fully understand why...... and i will check with him again....

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

An ecu going out does not give a CEL.

Of course you have a master mechanic, so I'm sure both of you already new this.

I would check the ECU ASap (Do it yourself).

I have literally sold hundreds of sets of ECU capacitors on Ebay, so I am well aware of the symptoms. Franklly trying to troubleshoot the other things before checking the ECU is kinda silly. As it controls the fuel system and the timing.

Except the boost leaks, I won't argue against that. But actually a boost leak probably won't keep it from starting. The ECU sure can.

ECU is at the top of troubleshooting list with a DSM.

My work is done here.

If somebeody that's new and comes here asking advice won't listen; it's out of my hands.

 

[oldman]

Can you go more into depth on the Problem i have with me not going past 4 1/2 grand in any gear? I really could use that help, so i can fully understand why...... and i will check with him again....

I'm trying but you won't listen. First we need to determine if you're hitting fuel cut for sure, does this happen all the time, in every gear, only when boosting.....etc.? I need more info. Are we talking about bogging or litterally hitting a wall? You also keep avoiding my questions, if you don't know the answer find out, I'm sure the master mechanic has already gone through all the basics so you just need to ask him.

Lastly, what are your safc adjustments for the 680s and what are your fuel pressure, rpm, vacuum readings at idle?

Compression test numbers will also be helpful, if he tells you he hasn't done a compression test yet, take your car home.

 

[Dragon TalonTsi]

I'm trying but you won't listen. First we need to determine if you're hitting fuel cut for sure, does this happen all the time, in every gear, only when boosting.....etc.? I need more info. Are we talking about bogging or litterally hitting a wall? You also keep avoiding my questions, if you don't know the answer find out, I'm sure the master mechanic has already gone through all the basics so you just need to ask him.


Compression test numbers will also be helpful, if he tells you he hasn't done a compression test yet, take your car home.

??? I am not avoiding you, I am a busy man, so I can only check early in the morning, maybe the afternoon, and at night when I get home. It is like hitting a wall, just as if i had a governor on my car, it wont let me go past 4 1/2 grand in any gear, no matter what, whether i am boosting, or coasting slowly, it stops completely, and i cant go any faster than that, and it backfires at times too when i do it too much or try to hard to do that.........
110-180 for compression he said, and i just got my entire head rebuilt, fully ported and polished, aftermarket valvetrain, the works! I am taking it back to him tomorrow, and he is paying all the costs for this, not me, i just got it back not even 3 days ago, and this crap starts, i am really pissed off!! I just paid him a lot of money for this, and i cant even drive my car, at all, it did start when i got it back, but now it wont even hold an idle, let alone barely turn over..... thanks for all your help..... w/b

 

[oldman]

Honestly, everything you just said points to major boost leaks. Further more, if he truly said the compression was 110-180 and he didn't think there was anything wrong, cut your losses and do not bring the car back to him.

Three things needs to be done ASAP.

1. Check your timing marks.

2. If timing marks lined up, re-confirm the compression test numbers.

3. Boost leak test.