Ruh Roh. Another "Is my car dead?" thread for everyone to laugh at(with?).
 

So over the last month my car hasn't been running well. It would take an extra second or two to crank. It would idle low on start(no smoke of any kind on start just a rich smell, not pancakey). I'd pull it out of the parking spot, drive it from my apartment building to the street and it would be at a normal idle of about 800-900rpms and it'd be around 45mmHg. Periodically when idling at lights it would drop to low rpms(around ~500) and sit there for a few seconds before it'd bump back up to regular idle.

I never get on my car. I've never gone wide open. However I did notice hesitation in the boost at low rpm's recently. I made sure to be careful about it. I've driven a total of about 10miles in the last 2 months for this reason.

Just now I went to turn it over and it wouldn't turn over. It cranked incredibly slowly although it kept cranking slowly when I'd turn the key. After about 30s of trying I just said "welp time to get you towed" and came inside to have a beer and write this lovely story for you gentlemen.


A few basics on my car:
Less than 30k on my reman engine. I bought it when it was first done from a well respected user. Regular oil changes and maintenance work either done myself or at a jiffylube-esque place with my supplies. I like to think I take good care of it but who knows if thats true.


Edit: I've done a lot of searching that doesn't stop me from crapping up the boards with one more thread though. :]

modifications?

I'm not seeing the worst.
Could be a number of things, but it might just need a tune-up. Maybe some injector attention.

Very few. PFC, Full 3" exhaust with midpipe, smic, inj, fuel pump. It's been so long since I've done anything with it and my head is about 50 different places that I can't be more specific. I have paperwork in my car that I'll put out later for a full list with details. There aren't many mods though.



Well that sounds good. There is a good shop in my town that I'll get my car towed to at the beginning of next week. I need to study for a midterm today and they close before I'd be able to get it over there anyhow. There isn't much I can do at this point but feel sad for a car that's been incredibly good to me over the last few years. :]

uh, battery and some spark plugs would be on my list, before the shop visit. Worth a try before the tow, shop, and the bills that come with them.

Yeah battery is on my list. I can't do the plugs because I don't have my jack+stands at my apartment. I managed to leave everything at my house which is about 2 hours away. I may be able to borrow whats needed though. Thats also part of the reason why I'm not getting it towed today. AAA will cover the towing but I don't look forward to a shop bill. :]

Tow it back to your house. Do the best you can to check all the basic stuff, and if you can't figure it out tow it again with AAA. I've done that before. Normally I don't trust local "Import Shops" with any kind of hardcore rotary engine stuff.

:scratch: jack plus stands to change plugs, just reach down in there an change them. sure you get some scrapes but ive never had to jack my FD up to take plugs out.

It was always easier to do it from the bottom for me. :dunno:

It's actually a rotary shop in Gainesville. Comes pretty well recommended.

These cars are now just like the 70s and 80s 911s and old british sports cars, not really something you can have at an apartment with out space and tools...they just require tinkering and cant be dropped off at the average college town repair shop....sorry not much help. I agree with above get it home and dive in when you have time.

Hey Sean...don't know you but a bunch of us 7 guys in Gainesville. PM me about an upcoming meet. There are at least a 1/2 dozen 3rd gen owners locally and the mechanic you are talking about is reputable...if he is at 6th and 16th.

Sounds flooded to me.. Hopefully for your sake anyway ;)

since when do you need jack stands to change spark plugs? :scratch:

pull the plugs out... unplug your ingnitor and fuel pump and crank away. should clear out the flooded engine. then put NEW plugs in, NEW battery and NEW plug wires.

it should start right up.

and are you sure it's 45mmhg? thats dosen't sound right at all. then take the car for a nice long drive with some WOTs dhoul clear everything out.

when was the last time you changed your fuel filter and cleaned your injectors?

10 miles in the last two months, and its been taking longer and longer to start up. Check the battery......

where are you taking the vac reading from??? if you are reading from the pfc it maybe your mapsensor.
try to tow start it with another vehicle cause it sounds flooded from the weak battery. get to 10mph and let the clutch out in 1st. that should clear it out.

lol^^ tow start? that's sounds safe.

just do the proper de-flooding procedure. get a new battery and check you map sensor and map sensor line (the hose to the manifold... they crack)

He seemed to be stuck with out his tools or a place to work. Not the best thing to do but it does work. had my map senor line come off and flood the engine, pull started it, didn't have to turn a wrench and the car started, got me home for free
The de flood procedure is the right way to go...

is your car tuned for those mods? It is crucial to tune according to every mod the car has. Also, if/when the car is tuned you should def go WOT ounce in a while