what should compression be?

[spatulahunter1]

hi, i have a 95 tsi awd auto with 120,000 miles. The car has been in the shop for 10 months and i finally got it back after they decided they couldnt figure it out. A friend and I have been working on it all night trying to find out whats going on (it will only rev up to about 2500 rpms, it will stall out unless you lay on the gas, exhaust is leaking out from somewhere under the hood, and you can smell gas under the hood when its running).
We started off by running a compression check and we got close to 170 on each cylinder. The chiltons manual i have does not say what compression should be or if it does we couldnt find it. Does anyone know off hand what it should be at?

 

[blackGSX2g]

Compression is good...I believe the service limit is around 133 psi so you are fine there. Have you checked for boost leaks? If its an exhaust leak, check both exhaust manifold, turbo, and o2 housing gaskets. You may also want to make sure your injectors are clean and the o-rings on them have not deteriorated. Do you have any trouble codes?

 

[asexton6969]

exhaust is leaking out from somewhere under the hood, and you can smell gas under the hood when its running

Im confused as to what you mean by exhaust is leaking. It has to be coming from the exhaust manifold or below. Try and explain a lil better.

 

[spatulahunter1]

exhaust is leaking out from somewhere under the hood, and you can smell gas under the hood when its running

Im confused as to what you mean by exhaust is leaking. It has to be coming from the exhaust manifold or below. Try and explain a lil better.

exhaust is coming up inside the engine bay when the car is running, im not quite sure where it is leaking out of. We just started working on the car last night no there is alot we need to figure out yet. The gas smell is coming from around the injectors somewhere but im not sure where, the car is running really rich so that might be why.

 

[Turbo Talon DL]

Are you SURE thats smoke from your exhaust or gas leaking on something hot and evaporating? Can you hear any kind of exhaust leak? You'd know an exhaust leak when hear one. Buy some new injector O rings and some lower insulators for the gas leak that you told us you have. I think the mechanic (i use that loosely..technician for a respectable mechanic) you had monkeying your car is slightly clueless if he couldnt stabalize an idle. Did you check for vacuum leaks? That will cause a car to stumble over its shoe laces off the gas, and will not allow it to rev for shyt. good luck bro...i feel your pain.

 

[blackGSX2g]

Test for boost leaks and replace injector o-rings and report back.

 

[blackGSX2g]

and if you are positive you have an exhaust leak under your hood somewhere and still cannot track it down for some reason, go to an automotive store and pick up a can of seafoam. Run it through a vaccuum line while your car is running and it clean out your combustion chamber, valves, etc as well as produce large amounts of smoke. If the smoke is leaking anywhere, you will find the source.

 

[spatulahunter1]

actually i think i do have a vacuum leak. There is what looks to be a solenoid under my airbox, its black and has 2 hoses coming out of it and one isnt hooked into anything, also there are 2 metal tubes one on top of the fan and one below it that dont have anything hooked into them. I just took pictures of them that i will post later on when i get my camera cable back (my friend has it).
Im actually not sure if it was exhaust or if it was from fuel i was inside the car while my friend was under the hood, he is more knowledgable than me so i figured he was right when he said exhaust.

 

[oldman]

This would have been a lot easier if you had completed your car profile.

 

[spatulahunter1]

well the car is bone stock and all other relevant info is in my post. If there is anything else you need to know i would be happy to tell

 

[blackGSX2g]

The solonoid underneath your airbox that you are talking about is your BCS (Boost Control Solonoid) it basically is an eletronic boost controller that allows your computer to have some control over boost levels. This is usually bypassed if you have an aftermarket boost controller installed.

 

[spatulahunter1]

The solonoid underneath your airbox that you are talking about is your BCS (Boost Control Solonoid) it basically is an eletronic boost controller that allows your computer to have some control over boost levels. This is usually bypassed if you have an aftermarket boost controller installed.

i do not have a boost controller so where should the hoses that come out of that go to?

 

[blackGSX2g]

This link shows where all the vaccuum lines are supposed to go.

http://www.taboospeedshop.com/emissions1.htm

 

[spatulahunter1]

thank you

 

[spatulahunter1]

1. we checked the plugs and wires they are good
2. we checked the timing marks for the cam gears and we are hoping they are aligned with the crankshaft (the timing belt was changed while it was at the mechanic.
3. The compression is good
4. We are gonna check boost leaks tommorow.
5.The exhaust leak is after the downpipe so i dont think it shoudl cause any trouble
6. We are gonna check the turbo tommorow when we do a leak test.
7. we are gonna gonna do a tune up as soon as we get it running.

I think the car is getting fuel cut, it will not rev up past 2500 rpms and it feels like its cutting out and sputtering. Could bad timing cause fuel cut to protect the engine?

We fixed a vacuum leak and it seems to run a little better and we ran injector cleaner and it kicked out black smoke for a little while and then also seemed to run better.

 

[spatulahunter1]

wow im really confused as to why that reply posted before your post. That doesnt make any sense.

also how can i retrieve trouble codes?

 

[Anubis_4_99]

i'd make sure your turbo is in good shape too.. check your injector grounds, etc

 

[oldman]

A lot a good ideas are being thrown around but not really being follow through, I will try and help you organize it.

1. Check plugs and wires.

2. Check and make sure timing marks are lined up.

3. Double check your compression test prcedure against this http://www.geocities.com/dsmgrrrl/FAQs/compression.htm, repeat if needed.

4. Perform a thorough boost leak test and fix all leaks.

5. Locate that exhaust leak (if any) you suspect and fix it.

6. Check the turbo for any signs of trouble.

7. Give it a complete tune up since it has been sitting for 10 months.

Sounds like you may have multiple problems, go through the check list patiently. It should at least help you eliminate things and give you a clearer direction of what next. Good luck.

 

[spatulahunter1]

We just checked the turbo, it has no shaft play and i couldnt see any cracks in the housing. Should i take if off just to be sure?

 

[oldman]

We just checked the turbo, it has no shaft play and i couldnt see any cracks in the housing. Should i take if off just to be sure?

It's amazing how you answered my questions before I even asked.

If the turbine is spinning freely then it should not have caused your problem but just to be sure, at least check the licp for oil. Keep in mind if your breather is connected to the intake, expect some oil already present.

 

[spatulahunter1]

could something with one of the cars computers cause it act like it is? Does anyone know how to retrieve the trouble codes or do i have to have the reader for it?