car hesitates and wont out out full power!! new dsm owner, please help!!!!

[wingking]

hey guys i just bought my first dsm! its a 1992 eagle talon tsi fwd, but i have a couple problems with it. the car has trouble starting but always starts after a couple tries. what could be the problem with that? also, i was told that it needed a new MAF when i bought it, and it was unplugged so the check engine light was on. when its not pluged in, the car hesitates and putters when i try to push it even just a little bit. but when i do plug it in, the check engine light goes off, but no matter what i do, it wont rev past 2500rpm. ive replaced the MAF with a new one and it still does the exact same thing. also, there is a lot of smog coming out of the exhaust! since ive gotten it, ive replaced the spark plugs, wires, MAF, new K&N air filter, new cat converter. what could be causing the problem?! im not on here much so if you could email me your replies at [email protected] if not just post here and ill try and check it! ANY LITTLE BIT OF INFO WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL!!!! THANKS!!!!

 

[cbrue122]

A little more info about the current state of the car (user profile or posts) would be helpful.

First, I would make sure my fuel control is working correctly. Did the previous owner mod the fuel system in any way?

What color is the smog? Black smoke along with an obvious unburnt fuel smell tells you the engine is running rich and white is a sign of coolant has made it into a combustion cylinder and gray smoke along with a pretty distinctive smell is burning oil.

 

[lccynmbr13]

Follow the fuel rail all the way to the driver side and you'll see the factory fuel pressure regulator. There are two vaccum hoses attached to it make sure each hose is attached with no tears and follow them from the regulator to the final destination and verify that they're attached. My buddies spyder had a hold in his vac line and the car wouldn't rev past 2500/3000ish rpm.

 

[hydrastas]

fuel filter might be clogged, or pump going out. done a compression test lately?

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

Things to check:

1. Check the CAPS in the ECU (Check this first)
2. TPS sensor (With a logger it should read 10% closed and 100% @WOT with no dead spots)
3. O2 sensor (Find someone with a logger to make sure all of your sensors have good readings)
4. Keep the MAS plugged in (no need to have it unplugged)
5. Boost leak test (Make a tester from home depot and go to town)
6. Fuel Filter (Replace it, it's time for a new one)
7. Fuel Pump (Not a good way to test this, save for last)
8. Coil Pack (Swap it out with a known good one)
9. Spark Plugs (Just replace them anyway BPR6ES)
10. Spark Plug wires (Check for water in the spark plug wells, holes in the boots, and the resistance of the wire)
11. Base Ignition Timing (Do it the correct way by grounding the test terminal by the battery. Set to 5*BTDC)

If you don't understand how to perform any of these tests use the search feature and it will reveal all the info you would ever want to know about these topics.

Good luck

~Andrew~