Stock AWD with not enough power

[BaliTSI]

Well I have a '92 TSi AWD. I got the car with a really messed up engine so I got a low mile JDM. I have a new clutch, plugs, water pump, intake-. exhaust-, and valve cover gaskets, timing belt, timing belt tensioner, all accessories belts, etc. I had a shop do the install, I wish I had the knowledge and tools to do it myself...
My problem is that the car doesn't have enough power: at lower RPMs it pulls OK - could definately pull better, but at high RPMs it is really weak! At 60 MPH I would downshift into 4th, floor it and the car would slowly get faster I swear my '86 non supercharged MR2 does better!!!! I had a compression test done: it's a 175 all around. Boost gauge goes up to 7 - 10 psi. The car gets REALLY loud at higher RPMs also. I get about 15 mpg!!!! Also at about every fifth hot start the car acts weird on me: I start the car, put it in 1st take off and in 2 seconds the car stalls... the engine doesn't stop, but there is no response for the gas pedal. After a few seconds it revs up again. I can't get the idle lower than 1200 either....
I am listing all this because I think they all have to do something with each other I just don't know what! But ofcourse my main concern is the weakness of the car!!!
Any help would be very appreciated!!!

 

[Gigaah]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I thought 1G compressoion was max 160 something.

 

[realhp=turbo]

175 to 180 I belive is pretty much a new motor but average is like 150 to 165. I belive your problem with ur gutlessness is that you need to re-adjust the timing gears. It sounds like ur a tooth or 2 off its easy to do on accident if youve never changed a timing belt before. Search for timing belt instaltion and pay close attention to the cam gear portion.
mike

 

[BaliTSI]

Yes, you are right the 1G's compression is a 165 after rolling out of the factory. Mine is 175...either the shops gauge is off balance or I heared the compression can get higher from carbon deposit in the head.
I will look into the timing though...

 

[bullettdsm]

Blocked exhaust will also give you same symptoms. Do you still have your cat on? They clog up and cause problems like these that others attribute to auto tranny problems. You can sit in neutral and rev it but when you drive it the problem becomes aparent. Check it out.
MB

 

[bullettdsm]

Oops, the way we check is unbolt the cat and drive with power :laugh:
MB

 

[92awddsm]

Also check the ecu for leaking caps. Ive had similar problem when my ecu was taking a dump

 

[PEN15]

JDM intake could have butterflies partially shut or closed= no power.

Could be a Non-Turbo JDM engine=high compression and you got screwed.

BOOST LEAK!= no power and high idle

Do some simple troubleshooting.

A vague problem will get a vague answer.

.

 

[dawgedeclipse]

Are you using all of the JDM parts? Coil pack, intake manifold etc? If so this IS your problem. I had this all setup and it did the same( had to prove to my father that until I get my eprom fixed and chipped it wouldnt work). I went back to the USDM intake manifold and now i have no more problems. Also make sure the engine you got is from a turbo, though, the higher compression would give more power until it blows up.

 

[BaliTSI]

I used the USDM intake manifold and stuff, I am only usinfg the JDM engine and tranny.
I will check for boost leak and I will also check the exhaust and ECU.
Thanks for the replys!!

 

[realhp=turbo]

Did you look at the cam gears yet? I really belive that its your timing.

 

[1993TalonTsiAWD]

I want to know what boost guage your looking at...stock or after market

Derek

Also one quick way to see if it's a turbo engine is too take out a spark plug and shine a light in there, if you see a big T then it's turbo, just thought that might help..although I'm pretty sure it's a turbo engine to begin with

 

[sjgYFZ200]

/\
Where is he supposed to look, on the pistons? I would think they would be covered in carbon and impossible to read...

Definatly sounds like a boost leak, or coujld be something as simple as a mis-adjusted throttle cable, how is it in neutral?

 

[Nautica985]

get a datalogger

 

[1993TalonTsiAWD]

You get a pen light and look in there most of the time (I say most) you can see it, It's hard to miss plus it was just a thought, if it has carbon build up then no, he won't see it, but he may be able to.

Derek

 

[BaliTSI]

It has a stock boost gauge. In neutral it was revving up and down with the old engine. With the new one the idle is stable but it sometimes is as low as 1200 sometimes as high as 2500!!!! 1200 was my lowest idle the srew is all the way screwed in.
I will be checking for boostleak tomorrow!

 

[Tsi_User]

sounds lke a vaccum leak somewhere in the system, check the VFAQ about idle surge problems and run through them also.

 

[Mindslayer]

It has a stock boost gauge. In neutral it was revving up and down with the old engine. With the new one the idle is stable but it sometimes is as low as 1200 sometimes as high as 2500!!!! 1200 was my lowest idle the srew is all the way screwed in.
I will be checking for boostleak tomorrow!

Change your ignition wires. I did that and it fix my problem some what but it also maybe the cat too.

 

[BaliTSI]

Okay, things are going slower than I would like them to, but there is some progress! The timing was off indeed! Fixing that took care of the loud sound and vibration at high rpm's.
But the car still feels kinda lazy. I can actually feel power loss and gain during acceleration. I stil haven't checked for boosteak yet but that is the very next thing I will do! Thanks for everyone's input! I will keep you guys updated!