1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Huge power loss in GSL-SE

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Old 03-08-09, 03:17 AM
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Go to the local Harbor Freight if there is one in your area and spend the $5-$6 and get a line spark tester.
Old 03-08-09, 04:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Rx-7Doctor
Go to the local Harbor Freight if there is one in your area and spend the $5-$6 and get a line spark tester.
Old 03-08-09, 08:41 AM
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Originally Posted by rx-7ames
spark plugs have less than 1k miles on them.

Chad, my camera is packed up with all of my stuff from Iraq. It is being shipped back right now. I'm not sure when i'll get it but i'll try to get some pics soon. I did post pics of my seats, steering wheel, and shifter. I was wanting to get some dynamat and new carpet laid in before I put all the interior back together too. I don't know when that will be though with this current problem. I can't justify putting a lot of time and money into cosmetics when I can't even drive the car.

I'm really starting to think about scraping the fuel injection and just going carburated. I feel like I'm at a loss here.
A Dellorto 48 Carburetor or a Webber 45 DCOE would be nice but I would hate to see that because I still dont think it is the FI.

As far as carpet, I have tried 3 different carpet kits and was unhappy with the section that sets down in the floors. Find a good clean factory black carpet from an 81-83 to lay in yours. That will be the best fit.
Old 03-08-09, 01:34 PM
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Good factory carpet seems hard to come by but I'll try and hold out for the good stuff. I don't really want to go with a carburetor. I want to learn about fuel injection because eventually i want a turbo FB and I don't want to do blow through. I want to keep up with the technology too.
Old 03-15-09, 06:54 PM
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If you have not figured this out I recommend that you test the TPS and reset as needed.
Old 03-15-09, 10:02 PM
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I checked the TPS a few days ago. It checked out using the light method but I can't figure out how to check it with by reading the resistance or voltage. I have zero experience with a multi meter.

I can't figure it out. I feel I'm at a loss so I found someone else to work on it. There is a rotary mechanic about 2 hours away from me. I'm towing my car to him next weekend. Thanks for everyone's help. I'll give everyone an update as soon as anything changes or he figures out what is wrong.
Old 03-15-09, 10:03 PM
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It might cost me an arm and a leg but I have already spent a lot of money and even more time trying to figure out what is wrong.
Old 03-15-09, 11:56 PM
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Did you test it with the engine at full operating temperature and had only one light on?





Originally Posted by rx-7ames
I checked the TPS a few days ago. It checked out using the light method but I can't figure out how to check it with by reading the resistance or voltage. I have zero experience with a multi meter.

I can't figure it out. I feel I'm at a loss so I found someone else to work on it. There is a rotary mechanic about 2 hours away from me. I'm towing my car to him next weekend. Thanks for everyone's help. I'll give everyone an update as soon as anything changes or he figures out what is wrong.
Old 03-16-09, 03:15 AM
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Smile

Originally Posted by rx-7ames
I'll give everyone an update as soon as anything changes or he figures out what is wrong.
Yes, it will be interesting to find out.

I feel like one of my kids is in the hospital and the nurse cant tell me whats wrong!
Hope my old girl is ok and will be back to running down the street soon.
Old 03-16-09, 09:03 AM
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The car was at full operating temp and only one light was on.
Old 03-16-09, 12:02 PM
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Did you test for spark with the engine running by using a inline spark plug tester?
Could run the engine and disconnect the leading plug from L1 first and see if anything changes, then from L2 and see if anything changes.

If your engine dies with one or the other disconnected I would suspect it is not firing on that one.

Did you perform the fuel quantity test?
Old 03-16-09, 02:42 PM
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I cant find a spark plug tester. I havn't checked volume either. Maybe I'll do that before I send it off.
Old 03-21-09, 02:19 AM
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I feel really dumb

Okay, I think I may need to go back to auto mechanics 101. I'm not sure exactly what happened but after checking everything again from page one I found that I am actually not getting any spark to the leading plugs. Like I said, I feel really dumb. I was only running off of trailing plugs.

It turns out that the leading coils have gone bad. Both coils that were being fired by the MSD 6A have gone bad. They are getting extremely hot for some reason. I'm going to get them replaced and I might call MSD to ask them about the way I have them hooked up. I have them both hooked up through a parallel connection . The second coil is just piggy backed off the first coil. I may need to hook them up through a series. If MSD can't confirm the way to fire two coils off the same MSD box then I may need to do some more research or start a new thread.

Thanks for everyone's help. I feel like I wasted a lot of people's time but I guess it is all in the name of learning.
Old 03-21-09, 07:57 AM
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go back to stock until you get it figured out. Or scratch it all and do the DFLIS or something to that lettering which is suppose to be better than MSD and cheaper
Old 03-21-09, 09:48 AM
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Its good you figured it out let us know what you do to fix it for good (scrapping the msd/ stock/ whatever )
Old 03-21-09, 01:53 PM
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My 1st post in response to this-

1 of 2 things happening here.

1) lost your leading spark

2) lost power to one of the injectors

Just think of it this way. You learned a lot about the car and the diagnosis process.





Originally Posted by rx-7ames
Okay, I think I may need to go back to auto mechanics 101. I'm not sure exactly what happened but after checking everything again from page one I found that I am actually not getting any spark to the leading plugs. Like I said, I feel really dumb. I was only running off of trailing plugs.

It turns out that the leading coils have gone bad. Both coils that were being fired by the MSD 6A have gone bad. They are getting extremely hot for some reason. I'm going to get them replaced and I might call MSD to ask them about the way I have them hooked up. I have them both hooked up through a parallel connection . The second coil is just piggy backed off the first coil. I may need to hook them up through a series. If MSD can't confirm the way to fire two coils off the same MSD box then I may need to do some more research or start a new thread.

Thanks for everyone's help. I feel like I wasted a lot of people's time but I guess it is all in the name of learning.
Old 03-21-09, 07:28 PM
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i definitely learned a lot about the car. This is what I have done. I am still using the MSD but I am using only one leading coil and going from there to the distributor, then to the leading plugs. With it set up like that the car is actually a lot stronger then when I was running two coils going from the coils to the plugs. the car feels much stronger running this way then stock too. If for some reason this coil burns out then I might have a bad ignition box. I think it is just the way I had the two coils running off of one ignition box, although several threads said that was perfectly acceptable. Anyhow, I am going to call MSD when they are open on Monday and see what they have to say.
Old 03-22-09, 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Rx-7Doctor
My 1st post in response to this-

1 of 2 things happening here.

1) lost your leading spark

2) lost power to one of the injectors

Just think of it this way. You learned a lot about the car and the diagnosis process.


Hey doc----Are you showing off your expertise----just kidding :-)

Seriously though, you are the man!
Old 03-22-09, 07:46 PM
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^ It was more frustrating than anything else being that there are only a handful of things that cause that issue. Also the fact that I can't just run over to a members house and help them. :-)
Old 03-22-09, 08:30 PM
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My car has been exhibiting IDENTICAL symptoms off and on, i found two problems. the intermittent low power issue was as a result of the injector connectors being brittle and broken, making intermittent contact. See the writeup in the archives for the repair procedure on this, they have part numbers for the connectors and everything.

My idle issue (wouldnt idle on its own until warm, and then it was very rough, and power was lacking some), was a lower intake manifold gasket leak. yesterday i pulled the upper and lower intake manifold off, installed a racing beat road race header, collector, and glasspack pointed out the pass side. then i reinstalled the LIM with new gasket, and new oring, rubbers, and plastic end piece on the injectors. did the same thing with the UIM, resealing everything. I also removed the aux port sleeves and sealed up the linkage holes. The car cranks up cold, idles perfectly at 800rpm (after fiddling with the idle a bit), and runs like a scalded dog. Might be worth looking into.
Old 03-22-09, 09:18 PM
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Those fuel injector clips/connectors from NAPA----are they the same type as stock? I hat the metal clips on those connectors.
Old 03-22-09, 09:31 PM
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Originally Posted by mjm4jc
Those fuel injector clips/connectors from NAPA----are they the same type as stock? I hat the metal clips on those connectors.
honestly i couldnt tell ya. this is the first time ive had to dig into a rotary far enough to expose the injectors, and mine were so far deteriorated all that was left were the two metal pines attached to the wires. i had to electrical tape them to the injectors just to keep the car running long enough to order the connectors (its my daily driver). the new ones are easy to clip on and take off, and they keep a tight hold on the injectors. the only real question is how long will they last now that there is a header and no heatshield on my motor.
Old 03-22-09, 10:47 PM
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No problem with a properly working 6A or 6AL box being able to fire two stock coils or 2 second gen coils (leading or trailing). I have run or am running every possible of combination these boxes and coils. To run off the magnetic pick up with two (three) coils, I remove the leading ignitor (front) and file down some spade plugs to fit in the tiny ignitor plugs. The purple and green wires from the MSD connect to these plugs. Green towards the battery, purple towards engine. The orange goes to both + coil terminals. Thin black goes to both negative coil terminals. Doesn't matter if the wires split before the coils or piggyback. Spark plug wire direct from each of the coils to a leading plug. I leave the trailing ignition stock. There are several methods.


Originally Posted by rx-7ames
i definitely learned a lot about the car. This is what I have done. I am still using the MSD but I am using only one leading coil and going from there to the distributor, then to the leading plugs. With it set up like that the car is actually a lot stronger then when I was running two coils going from the coils to the plugs. the car feels much stronger running this way then stock too. If for some reason this coil burns out then I might have a bad ignition box. I think it is just the way I had the two coils running off of one ignition box, although several threads said that was perfectly acceptable. Anyhow, I am going to call MSD when they are open on Monday and see what they have to say.
Old 03-23-09, 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by 74RX4
No problem with a properly working 6A or 6AL box being able to fire two stock coils or 2 second gen coils (leading or trailing). I have run or am running every possible of combination these boxes and coils. To run off the magnetic pick up with two (three) coils, I remove the leading ignitor (front) and file down some spade plugs to fit in the tiny ignitor plugs. The purple and green wires from the MSD connect to these plugs. Green towards the battery, purple towards engine. The orange goes to both + coil terminals. Thin black goes to both negative coil terminals. Doesn't matter if the wires split before the coils or piggyback. Spark plug wire direct from each of the coils to a leading plug. I leave the trailing ignition stock. There are several methods.
That is exactly how I had mine hooked up. The problem is, it burnt out both of my coils. Luckily they were only a month old. I got them both replaced for free. The coils get too hot to touch. As far as I know they aren't supposed to get hot at all. The MSD 6A is brand new too. I hope it isn't bad but if it burns out the single coil I have connected then I will exchange it.
Old 03-24-09, 11:39 PM
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WA The same thing happened to me

the same thing is happening to me I was burning out at 8500rpm and my car died but when i started it up again i had only like half power someone on here told me that i blew my motor cause now it runs only on the back 2 plugs but backfires on the frony and wont start can anyone tell me what i did i went out and got a used motor today and i would like to know if it is even nessesary to put a new motor in so any info would help


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