darkwaveboi

Alrite..where the hell do i start.

Tis was a good day of driving, engine pulled strong, and i was in a great mood, so i decided to go to the mall. I went and picked up my GF, car started great and still felt a little quick. As im 1 light away from the mall, i had a lazy foot and i accidentally stalled out the car.
I then cranked it, would not start, cranked it again, would not start. It was making firing noises, but wouldnt catch. I gave it gas while turning it over...no go...Finally after 30 seconds, the car gave in an *BARELY* started, and was idling poorer than ever. It normally sounds like 'dun dun dun dun' and it now sounded like 'DUN...DUN...DUN...' Idles at 500rpm (SAFC) when i went and gave it gas, it took FOREVER to get up to 2k rpm and on the way up there, it was shaking so hard that it was jumping off the engine mounts and wacking the subframe. As i was driving it, it was EXTREMELY loud (i managed to get it into the mall parking lot).
I got a compression tester..but it wouldnt fit, so i pulled the EGI fuse, turned it over for 10 seconds, pulled out T2 and cranked it over....PSH, PSH, PSH...even compression sounds 9 times in a row. Put back in plug, took out T1, same thing..9 even compression strokes...it was LOUD too. What could be wrong with it

***************
Abridged....Car would barely start and hold idle after stalling. Pulled plugs, Both rotors had even compression noise. engine is VERY LOUD and sounds uneven.

I had it towed to my HS for me to look at it tomorrow AM.

Sorry about it being so long

Jeff

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

Sounds like fouled spark plugs. Put in some new spark plugs and see what happens.

Dale

suprfast7

^

darkwaveboi

i know plugs can go bad fairly fast..but i replaced them roughly 1000-1500 miles ago.

what could make the engine sound loud and like a lawnmower?

it was about as loud as when i had my cat only halfway bolted on (and not very tight)

vaughnc

hmm...

Sounds like timing to me if it was running fine but now it's running like it's 20degrees off.

Rotorific

iTrader: (1)

yeap happened in a friend of mines s5 gxl he revved the **** out of it and it ended up stalling so we had to push start it cause it wouldnt start and it felt really sluggish....so we had to readjust the timing to get it running normal but i think it had to do with the shitload of fuel that was in there like it was flooded but running at the same time....so it ran shitty for 5 minutes then all was well....

hypntyz7

Anytime I hear the word lawnmower associated with a rotary, it worries me of the compression. Try the check again with the leadings.. the trailings dont give a good response by ear.

IF you pass that, you could have a fuel problem or a spark problem, and timing does not just jump around/out of place like a lot of people think, unless you left your CAS out.

Do a better compression check, change your plugs, and check for a big intake leak of some kind such as the main intake hose being loose, etc, or a problem with the exhaust. Believe it or not, you can take a perfectly running 7 to the shop, pull the stock exhaust, install a straight one, and the thing will not run right afterwards without some adjustment.

darkwaveboi

well....
I went and started it this morning...it sounded like crap, but it was more evened out.

Drove it into the shop, turned it off, and then turned it back on....

Everythign is back to normal!?

WTF??? it sounds fine, revs fine..I didnt have my radio hooked up and it sounds like when i floor it in 3rd/4th @ 55 that a LOT of air is flowin out the exhaust side of the engine..very loud SHHHHHH noise.

Popped the hood...it smelled kinda the same as yesterday...like something is burning..kinda rubbery. Any more help would be great.

GLHS

I have seen where O2 sensor wire came loose and touched the exhaust pipe and melted and this cause the car to run like you explained.

Hope this helps.

SureShot

Maybe cat core plugged, cracked, and working it's way out the tail pipe?

darkwaveboi

i have the precat but not main cat

btw:
Everyone THANK YOU SO MUCH for the info, im checking out everything you guys are suggesting.

vaughnc

The precat only lasts 75-100K miles before getting clogged. You should put a downpipe on soon, otherwise you'll rob engine life.

darkwaveboi

alrite, i'll gut my precat this weekend...im doing the TII swap in a month, so i'd be wasting 100 bux on a dp and probably only make 75 back.

darkwaveboi

*****
UPDATE 2
***

I was driving tonite, everything was cool until probably about 45 min into my drive. I floored it in 2nd and topped it out. Backfire...then the rough engine again.

The thing is, I hit 51.1% on the airflow. the MAX ive ever gotten before is 49.0%. As i finished driving it (maybe 5-10minutes) the check engine light was coming on.
Popped hood. Rubbery smell near exhaust manifold. Exhaust manifold was glowing slightly red and therusted flange was red too. So im thinking it IS the precat ******* up.

darkwaveboi

^ gotta drive home...any further suggestions?

darkwaveboi

precat was empty when i took off the midpipe and looked in with light.

darkwaveboi

new plugs...still doing it

it might be my airflow wires to my SAFC. I checked them on friday..but maybe they're messing up again..

DC350

perhaps your TPS needs to be adjusted. Do your idiot lights come on when you turn on the ignition?

Suds7

I get 60% airflow peak according to my ecu
I was able to tune like 8% more with the s-afc

Mark S

iTrader: (1)

Didn't you say earlier that you Had a precat? If you had one before and it's not there now, it may have broken apart and is now wedged somewhere in your exhaust. Glowing exhaust components would furhter support this...

I'd pull the exhaust manifold off and try starting it. It'll be loud, but you'll know right away if your exhaust is the problem...

darkwaveboi

will it run right with the exhaust manifold off?

i have stock exhaust from manifold to the midpipe. I looked inside the precat housing to find nothign there.

darkwaveboi

yes

if i try to drive it after about 10 min. the 'check engine' light comes on

my tps might even be shot. im reading .809volts on the SAFC for the TPS