not driveable after rebuild

[jls_frog]

Ok I'm running out of ideas about what is wrong with this car. I bought the car a few months ago with it overheating, it ended up having low compression, so i rebuilt the whole engine. The bottom end was, checked, bored and new oem pistons were put in. New bearings, ARP bolts through out and MLS head gasket were installed.The head has new valve stem seals, exhaust valve guides , and simple valve job done. New oem water and oil pump installed, with oem balance shaft removal kit. The car is a 98 gsx with automatic transmission.

After getting everything wired right and starting the first time the car started, idled rough and smelt like it was running rich. Since then i have replaced the front O2 sensor, rechecked the timing which is still perfect, rechecked gap on all new spark plugs(which were black when i pulled them out and smelled like fuel) and boost leak checked. I found a couple leaks and were able to fix them, still leaking from the Biss( ordering a new one Monday).

Today when I started it it cranks and idles fine even revs up to 4000 rpm with no problems, but after it warms a little and i put it into drive and start to move the car it looses all power and starts backfiring and popping. So i am hoping someone else might have an idea of what it might be. the turbo is hooked up oem style with a boost nipple coming off the j-pipe.


No check engine light on or codes
compression 170-178-175-170
mods to car
small 16g, and aftermarket down pipe with no cat.
also there are 3 dash light barely on which are battery, brake and trans temp, but i have read this is due to alternator going out and will be also replacing next week.

Thanks for any help.

J

 

[bryanwheat]

Those 3 lights on sounds like you have a failing alternator or a bad ground somewhere. I would test the voltage at the battery with the car running and see what you are getting.

 

[Turbotsiawd]

how long did the car sit posible bad gas?
newbie question but we all slip up every
once in a while

 

[brian9397gsx]

Really sounds like a timing issue, but with compression numbers like that probably not. Does it miss at idle?
Id be looking at an airflow issue like possibly maf disconnected either electrically or not connected to turbo inlet.

It could also be a low voltage issue if your alternator is failing, whats your voltage at while running? Just for a simple check fully charge your battery then try it.

 

[LOLVTEC]

check your coil pack, the ignitor if its plugged all the way in, also could be fuel pump is bad.

 

[renovatdkitchen]

My tsi had a lit battery and e brake light. Read that the alternator wa on its way out, however 3 starts later, the starter blew. Could also be a ground. There is a ground rewire guide thread here. Shows how to get a better ground.

Ps. Merry Christmas!

 

[chasedardis]

Idle if this will help but my buddy had same problem. When he removed the feed like to fuel rail his o ring got stuck in there and was clogging the rail it would idle rough and when u gave it gave it would just kinda of sputter.

 

[jls_frog]

Those 3 lights on sounds like you have a failing alternator or a bad ground somewhere. I would test the voltage at the battery with the car running and see what you are getting.

I will test the voltage tomorrow and get back to you. The alternator was tested at auto-zone while it was off the car and tested fine, which i know doesn't count for much.

renovatdkitchen My tsi had a lit battery and e brake light. Read that the alternator wa on its way out, however 3 starts later, the starter blew. Could also be a ground. There is a ground rewire guide thread here. Shows how to get a better ground.

I will double check my grounds, but i know there is one going to the upper bolt of the starter from the neg battery terminal, then neg battery terminal to chassis, and one going from fire wall to throttle cable bolt on intake.

VTEC check your coil pack, the ignitor if its plugged all the way in, also could be fuel pump is bad.

The coil pack has been plugged and unplugged a few times during all this for testing purposes, so i don't think that is the case, but it could be the fuel pump.

Turbotsiawd how long did the car sit posible bad gas?
newbie question but we all slip up every
once in a while

The car only sat for 3 months, but i plan on next week getting a gas can and adding some new fuel to the car.

brian9397gsx Really sounds like a timing issue, but with compression numbers like that probably not. Does it miss at idle?
Id be looking at an airflow issue like possibly maf disconnected either electrically or not connected to turbo inlet.

It could also be a low voltage issue if your alternator is failing, whats your voltage at while running? Just for a simple check fully charge your battery then try it.

The battery gets charged after every time I mess with the car, because i start and stop it a few times and it is never running for very long. I will check the voltage and post back tomorrow or Monday. It does not miss at idle, it idles a little rough but seems to be just fine, the issues start once it goes into gear.


Thanks for all the replies, and Merry Christmas to all.

J

 

[jimbob_843]

Do you have gas in the vacume lines coming from the fuel pressure regulator? It may be bad.

 

[jls_frog]

Do you have gas in the vacume lines coming from the fuel pressure regulator? It may be bad.

No gas in the vacuum line off of the fuel pressure regulator.

 

[jls_frog]

Ok alternator was bad, I now have a new alternator in and the car is still doing the same thing, once i put it into a gear it starts popping like its back firing. The video is not the best but you get the picture and can hear it. The three dim lit dash lights are gone though, also the car still smells like it is running really rich.

VID_20111228_152125.mp4 - YouTube

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[shockracer]

If you give it gas well in gear does it still back fire or go back to how it idles?

 

[68442]

I'm looking at the pictures on my phone but the firing order looks wrong.

 

[Rsawd95dsm]

Go back and check your plug wires. From what I can see in the pictures it should not go from left to right on the coil, 4-3-2-1- and on the head 4-3-2-1

 

[jls_frog]

If you give it gas well in gear does it still back fire or go back to how it idles?

It still backfires and wont get above 2000 rpm

 

[shockracer]

Definitely sounds spark related, as said check your firing order.

 

[JusMX141]

Yup...firing order is off.

 

[jls_frog]

Thank you all for the help, after all that headache that's all that was wrong.

 

[shockracer]

Cheers! Looks clean!

 

[renovatdkitchen]

Glad To hear you fixed it. At first, I thought you were playing some hip-hop music on the stereo.