Engine Lack of Power

[werx]

I have a 96 Talon AWD with a 6 bolt engine swap and an AFPR. I'm trying to determine if it's a vacuum leak, head gasket or cpu problem. When i step on the gas while the car is idling the rpms dip below 1000 before revving up. So I tried to take for a short spin and it would keep dying out when I gave it gas. Also my water temp gauge is working erratically and the fuel pressure gauge doesn't work at all. The check engine light is on. I'm not which direction to start diagnosing. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[delta448]

If the car is drivable take it to a parts store and have them pull the CEL codes for you (free).

The dash coolant gauge uses a separate sensor than the one the ECU uses.
Where is your fuel pressure gauge plumbed into? Is it an electrical gauge with a sender?

 

[werx]

Okay I'll see what I can do about getting the codes read.

 

[ExpresS]

Let us know how this goes. I'm having a similar problem. How's your alternator?

 

[werx]

Only code popping up that I can see is the random misfire code. I erased the code so I'm waiting to see if it pops back on. It's still stalling when I give it gas in first gear. There is no coolant mixing with the oil but it won't build up speed. Would a bent valve, timing belt off a tooth, or leaking seals some where cause this problem? Oh and the alternator is new.

 

[delta448]

Random misfire is probably due to the CAS swap.

Check mechanical timing first, and there may be more, but I suspect that your base ignition timing may be incorrect. Got a timing light?

 

[werx]

Nope. I don't have a timing light. I was wondering if timing would cause this problem but I thing I'm going to do a leak down test and hopefully that would narrow down the possible problem.

 

[g4ebguy90]

unhook your MAF and tell me if it runs better. Sounds similar. Mine only ran better when accelerating that is, idle was still a bit iffy.

 

[nitroazz]

Just because an alternator is new, doesn't mean it works. I had one shop in a place I lived warranty the new one they sold me 2 times. 1st one was a bad coil and the second one was the broken ground stud.

Otherwise, check wiring, fuses, vacuum lines. Just start at the gauges and work your way back or start at the battery and follow it forward.

It could be a number of things. Good hunting!

 

[delta448]

Leakdown test? Sure, might as well.

You can check the alternator output by measuring battery voltage at idle.

The MAS would throw codes for IAT and BARO if it were bad.

How about a boost leak test? It would have to be a pretty bad leak, or to have been present for a while, but I can see a leak doing this.

 

[ShadowRS99]

I had a similar problem on a car with a bad coil. Check that, too.

 

[werx]

It's been a long time since I posted this so let me give you an update and conclusion. I gave up and took it to Doug at Xtreme Performance and he fixed the issues. Come to find out that my main problem was that I had 2 rusty valves on cylinder 4 and at least one valve I bent trying to time the motor. He did a compression test at first a could tell I wasn't getting much compression. He then took the valve cover off and saw damage so I gave him permission to take off the head and that's when he really saw the carnage. smh....It appears at some point the motor/head had been left out in the rain...before I got it. After he had fixed the head it started right up and purrs like a kitten now. Well at least until I stomp on it.