Help im running like crap after valve cover gasket change

[420aStonerBlock]

Help! I installed a new valve cover last night on my 96 non turbo because i was leaking oil like mad (alteast a quart or so every 500 miles.). Anyway after i installed it is bogging like none other. If i give it like 10% throttle or so it is fine but more than that and it is just a wall. I know i broke a vacume hose off of a little, kinda blow off valve looking thing on the right side of the block next to the exhaust manifold. It attaches the the back of the throttle body on a nipple. I replaced that and it got alot better but still bogging down at rpms below about 4k somtimes, well most of the time. I reset the computer and my oil is fine. One thing i did notice was when i was installing the gasket i heard a fairly loud pop sound when i was tightening the upper right screw, but it wasn't even touching the valve cover yet, it was tight but was only about half the way screwed in. I looked around to see if somthing got cracked or somthing and found nothing. I have drove it 50 miles and is it retaing oil, i have no idea what is wrong! Help me please.

 

[staticbrainwash]

Sounds like you may have cross threaded that bolt. Hence why it feels tight but not all the way down.

Otherwise i don't know man. Make sure you don't have anymore vac leaks.

 

[420aStonerBlock]

No it wasnt cross threading cause it was going in fine and was not super tight or anything just had some friction to it. I got it all the way down and it was just like all the other bolts. Yea its probably a vacume line, ill look again when i get off work.

 

[95TalonOwner]

You probably need new plug wires. I bet they just went bad or you damaged them when you were changing your gasket.

 

[link16]

you might have overtightened the valve bolt, you might have to drill it out in worst case, but i would think it would do no harm to pull it all off again and redo the whole thing but reuse that gasket, it is made of rubber if i am not mistaken. Try the plugs and wires too you might have gotten some oil down in there or even put the wrong wires to the wrong plugs causing the fire sequence to be off due to improper placement....it can happen to anyone get back to us and tell us how it works out

 

[420aStonerBlock]

im thinking it might be the wires, i know they are in the right sequence i like quadrouple checked it, plus on a n/t its pretty hard to #### it up, it has the numbers right on it. Would oil/degreaser in the wires affect anything. I changed my plugs and it did the same thing but i didnt replace the wires.

 

[95TalonOwner]

Yeah the only things I can think of related to your current problem and current valve cover removal is that the wires are damaged or the coil pack is damaged. It is damn near impossible to put the wires in the wrong order because of how short they are.

 

[420aStonerBlock]

how easily are the coil packs damaged? I took it off gently and set it on the ground gently, then put it back on gently. Could you damage it by screwing it in too tight?

 

[mitsured420]

Check your pcv line and valve if its not hooked up right you could be sucking air from your crankcase,also pull your plug wires and make sure theres no oil on them 420s have a common problem filling plug gallys with oil,causes bad misfire.

 

[420aStonerBlock]

yea i didnt even think of that. i cleaned off everything except for the spark plug wires, thats probably the problem, i will see in 30 minutes when i get off.

 

[oldman]

Moved to 420a bolt on so someone there can double check your plug wire order.

 

[RWKustoms]

The only thing I can think of that could change after a VC gasket install would be something associated with your plug wires. Check to make sure that all wires are pushed in tightly over/on each spark plug and the coilpack connections also. Also check the connector to the coilpack to make sure it's pushed in all the way. From your description it sounds like you're not running on all cylinders hence why it's bogging like that. Hope this helps.

And btw that "blowoff looking thing" is your EGR valve.

 

[420aStonerBlock]

What does the egr valve do?

 

[c4uldr0n]

EGR is for emmisions, it circulates hotter exhaust gasses back into your intake manifold to burn fuel cleaner.

 

[420aStonerBlock]

Wait, wouldnt that just be a super super small turbo then? Cause thats what a turbo does....doesnt it? Obviously on a much larger scale and forced through turbines and stuff but still. Woohoo! Lol.

 

[420aStonerBlock]

Wait, wouldnt that just be a super super small turbo then? Cause thats what a turbo does....doesnt it? Obviously on a much larger scale and forced through turbines and stuff but still. Woohoo! Lol.

 

[95TalonOwner]

Wait, wouldnt that just be a super super small turbo then? Cause thats what a turbo does....doesnt it? Obviously on a much larger scale and forced through turbines and stuff but still. Woohoo! Lol.

No, it is not even close to being like a turbo.

 

[mitsured420]

A turbo presureizes your intake increasing the volumectric efficienty of the motor(more air/fuel=more power) the egr valve recirculates exaust gas back into you intake to reduse an emission called NOX,it also increases fuel milage by filling some of you cylinders with inert gas(cant be burned) the egr is just a valve,check for corect vucuum to it it should only open during cruise/wot,it would cause misfire if its open during idle,makes exaust real stinky like rotten eggs.

 

[BigRand]

I just replaced my valvecover last night, because I was trying to change my oil, and the oil cap was stuck on their spinning in place....and I didn't want to break it off.

As for putting in your wires, you need to make sure you hear 2 clicks, one when attaching them to the coil pack, and one when applying the wires to the valvecover itself. (i'm sure you know that but I'm saying it)

I'm pretty sure you know their is an order to tightening the valve cover, but since you haven't reported any leaks, i'm pretty sure you did that right.

Make sure there are no holes for the pcv valve, as well as hose from breather to intake.

At last, pull your spark plugs and check them.

 

[totaleclipse_05]

I would bet that you didn't seat the spark plug wires down all the way like Rand said. Make sure you push them down until you hear the clicks. I missed one when I switched plug s on my car once and it ran like crap until I found one that wasn't seated on the plug all the way.

 

[xXaTaXx]

Make sure of a few things (if you haven't fixxed this already).
(might be a bit out of order, sorry)

a) Like everyone's told you... Check your plug wires' connection. Did you by chance[when removing them] pull the wire by anything except for the boot?
b) Check your actual PLUGS. How soon after you put on the new VC gasket did you start the car? did you use blue RTV? are you sure none might have dripped into the head?
c) Facing your car, the intake manifold should have three nipples coming from one spot (leftmost on the manifold). Make sure none of those lines are cracked. When I changed my VC, I only slightly cracked one and it made a big difference.
d) Get a multimeter and check for continuity on the terminals of your coilpack, and the resistance of your plug wires.
e) Remove the VC again and make sure no forign objects are playing teletubby around your cams/valves.

If that all fails, I'd say it's just angry at you because you forgot to buy it flowers on its Birthday! 's are very tempermental.

Just another .0001c
(like the 'real money' value of camel points. =D)
Chris.

EDIT: How's your Air cleaner looking? check that?
Also-- The pipe coming off your throttle body does NOT goto that 'bov looking thing'. it goes elsewhere. I think that would probably activate your EGR flow much higher then it should be at low rpm's. That'd definately cause boggin down
The pipe coming off that solenoid should go up, over the VC/Intake manifold to the right most nipple on the left section of the I.M.

In the future, expecially w/ our cars... pictures and details are worth every bit of effort.

Just covering all the bases ;D