Car was running a little rough. . . I thought the idle was a bit low, and it felt kinda, lumpy (not in a good way) I thought, ok it needs a bit of a blow out. . . took it to redline in 3rd gear - hit redline and "ummphff!" - suddenley she felt really rough, no power, sounding noisey and a small amount of smoke (not much) coming from engine when I opened hood...still runs but feels like someone is holding it...and now its REALLY rough???!!
****, have I seriously Killed something?

 

check compression...sounds like a thrashed rotor...

 

bad motor

 

Thanx, good diag!

 

time for a new engine

 

Serious ? The whole engine?

 

If it still runs it is probably just one rotor. A complete rebuild none the less. When mine went it acted the same way. It would die under the load of the altranator if I had the headlights on.

 

yeah actually, it still runs, and with AL the electrics on, lights, stereo etc. . . just as rough as anything.

 

try a basic tuneup... Check plugs, wires, check for spark, adjust a/f etc.. I recently got a beat up 82 and it had a bad ignitor, it ran like ****, would baerly start and die at like 4K also make sure the wires are connected to the right plugs my car had them reversed so that was half the problem. You may also need to rebuild the carb.. If there is smoke coming from the engine bay you are probably leaking somewhere so check around for leaks or anykind, coolant, oil, brake fluid....

 

i've told atleast 5 people that dont automatically jump to the conlusion of a blown motor. my car did the EXACT same thing. it was the fuel pump going bad. test your fuel pressure.

EDIT!!! this isnt 83gslrx7; this is FB II, i'm on my friends comp and forgot to switch over. pm me at FB II if you need any more help on checking this out. thx.

-zac

 

Thanks FBII - I PM'd you. I actually have noticed lately my fuel pump sounding LOUDER and LOUDER. How would one test for Fuel pump pressure? (I'm a better DJ than I am a mechanic!)

 

Frazzed distributor shaft is another option that exhibits the same behavior. I had it happen to my '80. I was pulling out in traffic on Cooper St. and nailed in in first gear.....little puddle of water broke traction completely and she revved to 9,000 rpm in a hot second and then it was like the engine went terminal. Horrible rough idle, no power, wanting to die if the revs dropped too low. I was sick to my stomache. Luckily, home was just around the corner and I limped it there, small smoke coming from the tailpipes and all. I was absolutely sure I had killed it, even though the 12A only had 12,000 miles on a complete rebuild from Rotary Performance of Garland, TX. I had it flat-bed towed to their shop (I lived in central Arlington at the time...) and told them to fix it no matter what, figuring on another $3500 bill. Lo and behold, Ari calls two days later and told me it was the distributor and they simply replaced it. The car was completely cured and revved happily to 8500, when necessary, with no complaints from that day on. Hope the same is true of your engine, effendi...

 

Wow, Mar3, thanx, there is HOPE after all. The above story you have told is almost an identical replica of my exact situation, right down to the stomach feeling that I have killed her. (Except for the water - but I still did rev it harder when this happened!) . . . I will certinally be looking at the dizzy BEFORE I go trashing the whole engine. . . here's hoping!