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GENERAL => Problems & Solutions => Topic started by: TGPrix. on October 27, 2003, 04:10:13 PM

Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: TGPrix. on October 27, 2003, 04:10:13 PM
Okay...
I finally got tha money to replace my CAT...
so I took it down to a muffler shop to have it replaced with a new one...
but before a did that, I had them test it to see if it waz plugged...
And guess what, IT WASN'T...
so I left...
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I waz really happy to...
thinkin' that my CAT waz plugged...
I thought that waz tha reason why my car iz running like crap...
I'm postin' this topic cause I really need to find out whats wrong with my car...
being that no mechanics no whats wrong, and that you guyz know about my car...
I'm gonna' give you a list of things that go wrong with my car...
and hopefully ya'll could tell me whats wrong, and how to fix it...
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1. It putters well trying to get boost...
2. It rumbles/putters when stopped at a light with tha brakes pressed...
3. it Haz a really really SLOW take off, off tha line(let me put it this way, a NONturbo GP would smoke me)...
4. bad exhaust smell coming from tha back...
5. weird French toast smell coming out my engine...
6. NO BOOST!, at all...

so far I've only fixxed tha cross of pipe...
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before when my car ran good it use't to hall ass...
no its slow az fuck, even a Geo metro would smoke me...
this happen about a week after a took my car out to are ranch which 3 hour there and back...
on tha way back it over heated on me...
I stopped and put water and it ran fine...
then like a weak after I noticed when I waz stopped at a light my car waz puttering/shaking in a weird way...
when tha light turned green I floored it and tha car was puttering, but it had tha normal boost...
I continue driving, until one day it just lost all boost, and started running like shit!...

someone help me figure this problem out please...
thank you...

By tha way...
I do need a tune up and ABS...
and my oil iz over filled by one court...
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: Chris A on October 27, 2003, 04:46:27 PM
Well, that over heating detail is an important one! I honestly don't have any suggestions. It really sounds like you either have a really bad fuel problem, or a clogged cat.

How did they check to see if it was clogged?
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: TGPrix. on October 27, 2003, 05:22:28 PM
oh yeah...
and it also wastes alot of gas...
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QuoteHow did they check to see if it was clogged?
they check for any back pressure...
and he said that it wazn't plugged...
I doupt he waz lieing cause I waz about to spend $139.99 to have him replace it...
but yeah, I myself thinks its a plugged CAT cause tha puddering noise comes out tha exhaust tips...
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: mfewtrail on October 28, 2003, 06:00:34 AM
Quote from: Majesticoh yeah...
and it also wastes alot of gas...
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QuoteHow did they check to see if it was clogged?
they check for any back pressure...
and he said that it wazn't plugged...
I doupt he waz lieing cause I waz about to spend $139.99 to have him replace it...
but yeah, I myself thinks its a plugged CAT cause tha puddering noise comes out tha exhaust tips...

is the puttering more like you can hear the exhaust and then it sorta dies out and then does this again? sounds like a misfire which could be a lot of different things wrong, I would check out the coil packs and ICM(ignition control module), you can check the coils w/ an ohmeter but you have to remove them/disconnect them for power...I'll get you the specs on what they should read later today if you're going to test them..I don't remember off-hand although I just tested mine a few weeks back :oops: Also wouldn't hurt to check the spark plugs/wires. would suggest more but I gotta run to class 8)
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: RareGMFan on October 28, 2003, 08:51:20 AM
Mfewtrail already made some of the suggestions I was going to make.  To add to it, how about some background info first.  How many miles are on this car?  Have you ever had the fuel injectors cleaned/replaced?  You may also want to test the fuel pump & the fuel pressure regulator.  Have you ever replaced the fuel filter?  Sounds like it might not be putting out enough fuel, if not an ignition problem.  Have the plugs and wires been replaced recently?  And what do you mean by fixing the cross over pipe?  From what I hear, those are a bit tricky to do correctly/effectively (brand new ones from the dealer will crack in under a year I am told).  And if it's not on perfectly, with absolutely no gaps where it's bolted on, you could be loosing some pressure that way as well.
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: visusens on October 28, 2003, 07:16:57 PM
I had the same thing happen and as 6000 stated, My fuel pump 12V wire had a poor contact. at the plug connectrion by the tank. Luckily I didnt pull the whole thing down before discovering it. :)
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: TGPrix. on October 29, 2003, 11:17:47 AM
Okay...
I do need a tune up...
I plan on doing tha this friday and see what happends...
then I might just go and replace tha CAT just for tha hell of it...
I fixxed tha crossover pipe by replacing tha old flex joints with JCW onez...
You could still hear a leak somewhere...
I think I might have to take it off and reweld it...
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but yeah...
Its it possible that tha person tha checked my CAT for back pressure didn't know it waz a turbo and waz getting a could reading because of tha small leak on tha crossover pipe and tha turbo which gives it less back pressure...
I'm thinkin' that may had happend, so I'm just gonna' replace it with tha direct fit cat...
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My car currently haz about 130,000 miles on it...
and yeah, I've replaced tha fuel filter before...
it didn't make a difference...
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az for tha puddering, its really wierd...
when I have tha brake pressed, tha car rattles every 5 seconds or so...
and when I let go of tha brake and let tha car roll, it pushes backs at around tha same time...
like it trying to get power bu can't, az if somthing iz blocking it from doing so...




So I'm just gonna' pull out tha crossover pipe for tha 100th time and touch it up with tha welder, then tighten every bolt az tight az i can get it...
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give it a real good tune up, encluding a transmission tune up...
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then replace tha CAT with a direct fit...

then after that I'll see how it runz...
if its still tha same I'll get back to ya'll...
thanx for all tha help...
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: TGPrix. on October 31, 2003, 07:10:07 AM
I don't know if these might help...
but I'm gonna' give it a shot...
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1. before when my car waz runnin' good, it would die out when I came to a stop...
my dad thinks its tha ABS that I need...
but it seemed to only die out after I just had tha gas floored...
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2. I noticed the other day when I waz driving...
that when I have tha gaz padel barely pressed tha car starts shaking and when I let go of tha gas it stops or when I flor it it stops...
its only on that sertin' point when pressin' tha gas when that happendz...
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3. I had my car turned on on park...
and I open tha hood cause I waz trying to find out where tha air iz coming from my crossover pipe...
well I waz doing that, I could hear a soft ticking noise coming out from under tha I think you call it tha manifold(tha think in tha middle tha sayz "3.1 Intercooled Turbo"...
What could that sound be, It never made that sound before...

Someone please help me...
thanx...
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I'm gonna' tune up my car now, and replace tha CAT, so I'll get back to ya'll later...
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: RareGMFan on October 31, 2003, 10:22:00 AM
Another thing you may want to check is your O2 sensor on the turbo itself.  It's pretty damn cheap to replace, and if it hasn't already been done before, you'll need it.
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: TGPrix. on November 01, 2003, 11:40:21 AM
Yeah...
I might do that...
I found one for 20 bucks at a part store...
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: turby on November 01, 2003, 11:45:47 AM
That ticking noise is probably your fuel injectors opening and closing.
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: TGPrix. on November 03, 2003, 08:15:19 AM
oh just wonderin'...
cause wit tha exhaust leak and all...
my car iz alot louder then before...
and I never heard that noise before...

I don't know if a hose would make a ticking noise...
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: turby on November 03, 2003, 09:03:41 AM
Make sure the noise is coming from under the plenum and not behind the motor. It could be a plug wire arcing.
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: TGPrix. on November 08, 2003, 03:55:02 PM
No its not that...
I think its just tha small leak I got on my crossover pipe(I think?)...



Say I needed a coil pack...
could bad coils cauz a loss of power...
and by a loss of power, I mean "A LOSS OF POWER!", and gas by tha way...
cause I tuned it up, and replaced tha CAT...
and yeah, its still acting up...
Title: power loss
Post by: TGPRobNY on November 08, 2003, 07:04:18 PM
If your car has 100k or more miles I would definately do coils and the coil platform they plug into. The 2 top bolts are easy, the 3rd one is a PIA. Have you replaced wires? I would also replace the o2 sensor, they cannot be cleaned.
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: idbeast on November 08, 2003, 09:09:09 PM
Don't sidestep the idea of plug wires... TGP's are plug wire eaters, the easy way to check is to go outside and open your hood then, in total darkness look to see any light flashes, those are bad plug wires... :shock:  :drinking:  :drinking:  :bag:
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: TGPrix. on November 09, 2003, 12:13:06 PM
Yeah...
I replaced tha plugz, plug wirez, CAT, and tha o2 sensor...

if its steal running like shit...
then I'm just gonna' replace tha coils az well...

I'm still trying to find out whats going on with my car...
it use't to run brand new...
now it acting really wierd...
it only tryz to get power when it feelz like it...
and tha take off iz really really slow...
nobody seemz to know whats going on...
Title: I got a big problem...
Post by: mfewtrail on November 09, 2003, 06:02:49 PM
Quote from: MajesticNo its not that...
I think its just tha small leak I got on my crossover pipe(I think?)...



Say I needed a coil pack...
could bad coils cauz a loss of power...
and by a loss of power, I mean "A LOSS OF POWER!", and gas by tha way...
cause I tuned it up, and replaced tha CAT...
and yeah, its still acting up...

yes coils can cause a ton of powerloss..if one starts to go bad, you will have misfires on one or both cylinders that the coil is responsible for sending voltage to..the car will run rough when it is missing and have a great deal of power loss.  You can unplug the ignition module and test the coils for proper resistance on the secondary and primary leads....I don't remember the specs off-hand, but I do believe there should be around 8,000-20,000 ohms of resistance on the secondary side and about .5-2 ohms on the primary side. I'll look up the actual specifications and then post here if nobody beats me to it.  But don't rule out other problems, check over the plug wires REALLY well and inspect for cracks/splits/burns/etc.......good luck finding the problem.