I drive a 1990 Aus-delivered FC turbo. Just put some petrol in it and was leaving petrol station where it kinda jerks and hesitated abit(i was giving it abit of gas) and then let out a huge backfire.... Then engine cut out, managed to get it into a car park. When i turn the ignition it starts and then dies off, can't give it any accel, doesn't work. I thought positivly maybe it just somehow flooded, so cut the fuel pump and cranked it, a heap of oil like smoke comes out (grey in colour not blue). If i try and give it gas when starting(fuel pump connected), it just makes a loud backfire before it dies out. Also no buzzers are going off and no leaks visable under the engine bay.

Been running fine lately till now, recently serviced it with a friend, changed all filters, oil and coolant, sparks and wires. Removed cruise control and half of a/c(didnt do the parts behind the radiator yet). Sorry i'd try and tell more but that's all i can really think of. i towed the car home and its sitting in the driveway, so i can check anything you guys want.

Any help greatly appreciated, this is my daily car and first car(19 years old) so i really need it up and running.

 

put the right kind of fuel in?

gasoline, not diesel.

 

Yeah i always use 98 octane petrol. That did go through my head, but highly doubt it.

 

how many miles are on the engine? what mods if any? is it stock or any changes?

 

Oh sorry forgot to put that, it's just went over 200k kms (which is why i wont be surprised if blown). Only mods are a full 3" turbo back exhaust and a K&N in the airbox.

 

push it and pop the clutch. if your plugs aren't totally fouled that will usually start a flooded engine.

 

pretty sure it ain't flooded, gunna pull the sparks later tonight and hope for the best, but expecting the worst.

 

the only way to tell if you blew the motor is to check the compression. you can do that by just pulling the plugs out and cranking it over. if you put your finger down there you will feel 3 even pulses on the front and then do the same for the rear. if you don't feel 3 even pulses then you could pretty much assume that the motor is blown.

 

Yeah compression check will be last on my list before rebuilding. Tommorow gunna check the plugs and also all my electrical, a friend said maybe something came loose, sensor ect. then im gunna try deflooding procedures. Then it will be compression time
Anything else i need to think of?

 

Buddy, compression test *first*. It's quick, and will avoid you wasting a lot of time on everything else. Not being pessimistic, but realistically going for the most likely scenario. Hopefully, if it's good news, you'll be happy spending more time on diagnosis. Use a regular compression tester, holding the release valve and doing the rest as found in the FAQ/archives. GL.

 

http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/blown.htm

 

Thanks very much for all your help guys. Gunna compression test it later with a mate. Looks like ill be rocking my aunty's impreza or my old man's ZL until it's back on the road.

One final question, i was going to get a bridgeport when i had to rebuild. That's not possible at the moment because of finace ect. Would i be able to run a street port on my primaries and a bridgey on my secondaries without getting a new ECU, and just restricting myself below 3000 RPM? Or would that be a good way to blow a new engine?

 

On a turbo, any power upgrade without tuning is a nice way to risk your engine. May not blow right away, but could go anytime. Like if the octane in your gas is a little lower than usual, temps are a little higher than usual, etc. Even a street port is a major power upgrade. Get an ECU, or atleast an SAFC, RTek, etc. It's much cheaper than a new engine. Tune rich. Most common way to blow a turbo engine seems to be detonation from too much boost (whether intentional or from a bad wastgate, etc.) and/or not being tuned rich enough. If the compression test fails, that's probably what happened to you.

 

So where can i get an RTeK or some other similar piggyback here in Australia? And do i need it proffesionally tuned or can i do it myself?

 

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone! Fixed it and luckily wasn't a blown engine. Started looking through electrical connections and then spotted my cooler hose just sitting out(stock top mount) so there it was, somehow the hose had popped out. Rebuild is going to be high up on my list of things to do now though so i dont have to worry about this again. Previous owner was a numb nut.