Frustrations!!!
09-25-02, 04:23 PM
#1
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Frustrations!!!
ARRGGG!!! I need to vent a little.
Okay, I got the Microtech EMS on Monday. I spent the day installing it and getting my car ready to start. After making a couple errors and having to re-wire some stuff (had to take off the upper intake manifold 4 times
), I got it all working the way it should. I then turn the key and water sprays from my water pump everywhere. Kill it, Monday is over.
I got a new water pump (for $60 freaking bucks, pretty expensive) and installed that after finally hunting down the water pump housing to the block gasket, which was a bitch to find. I checked and re-checked everything and fired her up. It started, cool. I messed with the TPS adjustments and the idle mixture and all that. Then I tried to drive it. Same problems as the stock ECU, falls on its face as the rpm's increase. I figure it needs to be tuned, but I don't have a laptop so I have to wait until Wednesday to see my mechanic/tuner. End day.
This morning, I got up and went to Bucky's Mufflers (I'm not too happy about that, but my usual exhaust guy is out of town) to get my damn muffler secured. $50 later it doesn't knock against the frame and I have real hangers in the back. Sweet. Then I hobble my car up to my tuner and we start tearing into it. Timing was whacked because the main pulley is some crazy aftermarket one that doesn't line up right (or something stupid like that). Eventually, we make our own marks and get the timing set. The idle is really lumpy and the engine kinda searches for a decent rpm. This sucks ***. We check compression (I held my breath here) and it passed with flying colors (exhale
). So then I had to rip off my upper intake manifold again (ARG!) and pull out the injectors. They are now at the cleaners getting tested and all that. I'll be getting them back in later this afternoon.
So, in conclusion, I've spent three days (plus 7 months before that
) pissing around on my car which was supposed to be done Monday afternoon. Hopefully, the cleaned injectors and a new fuel filter will take care of the idle so I can actually tune this thing.
Phew, I'll update this later tonight for those interested. Sorry about the long post, but you guys know what I'm feeling right now.
Okay, I got the Microtech EMS on Monday. I spent the day installing it and getting my car ready to start. After making a couple errors and having to re-wire some stuff (had to take off the upper intake manifold 4 times
), I got it all working the way it should. I then turn the key and water sprays from my water pump everywhere. Kill it, Monday is over.I got a new water pump (for $60 freaking bucks, pretty expensive) and installed that after finally hunting down the water pump housing to the block gasket, which was a bitch to find. I checked and re-checked everything and fired her up. It started, cool. I messed with the TPS adjustments and the idle mixture and all that. Then I tried to drive it. Same problems as the stock ECU, falls on its face as the rpm's increase. I figure it needs to be tuned, but I don't have a laptop so I have to wait until Wednesday to see my mechanic/tuner. End day.
This morning, I got up and went to Bucky's Mufflers (I'm not too happy about that, but my usual exhaust guy is out of town) to get my damn muffler secured. $50 later it doesn't knock against the frame and I have real hangers in the back. Sweet. Then I hobble my car up to my tuner and we start tearing into it. Timing was whacked because the main pulley is some crazy aftermarket one that doesn't line up right (or something stupid like that). Eventually, we make our own marks and get the timing set. The idle is really lumpy and the engine kinda searches for a decent rpm. This sucks ***. We check compression (I held my breath here) and it passed with flying colors (exhale
). So then I had to rip off my upper intake manifold again (ARG!) and pull out the injectors. They are now at the cleaners getting tested and all that. I'll be getting them back in later this afternoon.So, in conclusion, I've spent three days (plus 7 months before that
) pissing around on my car which was supposed to be done Monday afternoon. Hopefully, the cleaned injectors and a new fuel filter will take care of the idle so I can actually tune this thing.Phew, I'll update this later tonight for those interested. Sorry about the long post, but you guys know what I'm feeling right now.
09-25-02, 10:12 PM
#3
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Yeah, me too.
Another day down and nothing to show. The injectors came back along with the prognosis that they were already in tip-top shape (which I guess is good, but it leaves my problem a mystery). Re-installed those and tried it. Still missing. Tested all the injectors (to make sure primaries were firing at idle and secondaries were not). All tested a-okay. Switched plugs, tested coils, re-grounded CAS, engine, ECU. Nope. Then we called it a day. Both my tuner and I are at a complete loss as to why the car is behaving how it is. We've tried everything we could come up with and have nothing to show for it.
Hmmmm, two days before I go back to school. I must have my car done before then (personal goal, not actually needed for school or anything).
---If anyone has ANY ideas as to what this might be, no matter how far off base, I'd love to hear them.---
Another day down and nothing to show. The injectors came back along with the prognosis that they were already in tip-top shape (which I guess is good, but it leaves my problem a mystery). Re-installed those and tried it. Still missing. Tested all the injectors (to make sure primaries were firing at idle and secondaries were not). All tested a-okay. Switched plugs, tested coils, re-grounded CAS, engine, ECU. Nope. Then we called it a day. Both my tuner and I are at a complete loss as to why the car is behaving how it is. We've tried everything we could come up with and have nothing to show for it.
Hmmmm, two days before I go back to school. I must have my car done before then (personal goal, not actually needed for school or anything).
---If anyone has ANY ideas as to what this might be, no matter how far off base, I'd love to hear them.---
09-25-02, 11:14 PM
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i'm sure this is nothing new to ya...but,have you checked for vacuum leaks?they have been haunting me,had a hell of a time getting my car to idle and run properly,and 90% of it turned out to be vacuum leaks...did you ohm out the tps to see if it had any flatspots?beats me...does your tuner have a a/f gauge to see where your running when it"falls on its face".whenever i have problems,i try to remind myself,that all you need is compression,spark and fuel[at the right time],and it should run.
d
d
09-25-02, 11:48 PM
#5
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Actually, the system has an A/F meter on the handset. Very handy. I haven't bothered to check at what setting it's happening yet because it is misfiring so badly.
We definitely checked for vacuum leaks. I did this myself twice this morning (thorough checks) and then my tuner didn't trust me so he went over the whole thing with his "vacuum leak tester". It was great 15 minutes later when he said, "no leaks" and looked up to see me with a huge grin on my face.
I'm also pretty sure it's not the TPS. The ECU lets you "zero" the TPS before you start anything so that should take care of the problem anyway (the handset shows a 0% increase in the TPS at idle, I checked to make sure)
Thanks for the ideas wankelhead. When (if?) I get this thing running nice I assume I'll be driving around quite a bit. Maybe I'll swing down there and give you a ride and show it to you since you're so interested. Be a good excuse to do some spirited driving anyway. Hehe...
We definitely checked for vacuum leaks.
I did this myself twice this morning (thorough checks) and then my tuner didn't trust me so he went over the whole thing with his "vacuum leak tester". It was great 15 minutes later when he said, "no leaks" and looked up to see me with a huge grin on my face.I'm also pretty sure it's not the TPS. The ECU lets you "zero" the TPS before you start anything so that should take care of the problem anyway (the handset shows a 0% increase in the TPS at idle, I checked to make sure
)Thanks for the ideas wankelhead. When (if?) I get this thing running nice I assume I'll be driving around quite a bit. Maybe I'll swing down there and give you a ride and show it to you since you're so interested. Be a good excuse to do some spirited driving anyway. Hehe...
09-26-02, 12:14 AM
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Okay, I just had nice email conversation with 10secRX7. He gave me some good things to check and hopefully I can route out the problem tomorrow. Phew, what a week.
09-26-02, 12:29 AM
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Originally posted by Redwood
Maybe I'll swing down there and give you a ride and show it to you since you're so interested. Be a good excuse to do some spirited driving anyway. Hehe...
Maybe I'll swing down there and give you a ride and show it to you since you're so interested. Be a good excuse to do some spirited driving anyway. Hehe...
hehe
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