wont go above 3k RPM

[Facime]

Ok ya know I just bought the "Lady in White" 89 NA 5spd. Had a bad 90degree hose, replaced that. 2 minutes later the water pump siezed, replaced that. Car idles smooth but anything off idle sucks. Shut car off...boils over, replaced radiator cap...no more boil over.

OK so thats where Im at at this point. I really dont think it has a BHG, but I havent ruled it out yet. No oil in coolant, no water in oil, no smoke anywhere. Levels are now maintaining (at least with the little idling Ive done).

The problem is it just wont go over 3k RPM. Like I said it idles fine, and when I punch the throttle it will rev up quite nicely, but once it hits about 3k it acts like its running out of fuel, when the idle returns it will act like it wants to die for a second but then return to normal. When I do throttle it hard it sounds like it is sucking air in huge gulps, and the intake seems louder than I remember my stock intake on my 86.5

I am getting a code 11, but I think its just because the battery was toast. Im considering a plugged cat, because the exhaust is almost non-existent quiet, but the condition is definately NOT temp related. I am going to go buy another compression tester (my good one is in storage in NM :cry: ) and test the cylinders. how much is a block test kit? I would like to know for sure if there is combustion gases in the coolant, but like I said...none of the typical BHG symtoms are there.

SO....? AFM? Fuel problem? some random sensor? Plugged cat? ???

 

[hottscennessey]

afm possibly, I'd run it without the cat, you might want to replace the fuel pump as well.

 

[89Turbo]

could be the cat, when my buddy bought his from a used car place the cat was so clogged that he got his shit kicked in by a Geo Metro, couldnt get it above a certain RPM, not sure if it was 3,000 or not.....

 

[Facime]

Well, tomorrow I'll swap the AFM from my 86.5 and gut the cat.

Any other ideas I can try? I am kinda limited on tools...bleh! Fargging divorce!

 

[Facime]

really? I did a serach for the code 11 and seemed like it was no big deal. Im wondering this though, I noticed the last schmuck to own this car put in a wrong direction battery, meaning the pos and neg posts are on the opposite sides than they should be...to make it fit they cut the small ground strap that goes to the.....fender? I think. Anyways, think that could be the code 11 issue?

either way I nend to fix it, just trying to take the more serious stuff first. I think I have a good days work planned tomorrow.

Woah, wierd....I just had this gnarly Deja Vu about this conversation, and someone is going to come in here and dispute your code 11 concern....hehe...or maybe not anyways...I'll look into that code 11 some more. I didnt find it listed in the TSRM...know where I can read more about it?

EDIT: nevermind I read some more about the code 11, I'll track that one down tomorrow as well, reset the codes and see if I get any new codes...thanks for the info this all great stuff

 

[Facime]

no, wasnt disputing you at all. I REALLY did have a Deja Vu, and the whole thing played out in my head...was really wierd.

Anyway, I looked again out there and while the other grounds mentioned are all there and tight, I will take them all off and clean em tomorrow. Im also going to go get some wire to redo the broken ground.

lol, I sold my spare AFM to Chedderknight a while ago. Anyone got a spare?

 

[Facime]

Ok, I think I got the code 11 fixed, I redid all the ground connections including adding back in the one that was cut. Car still starts, but runs crappy over idle.

Rechecked codes now I have code 43. Just so you know the car was stolen and abandoned and the ign switch was punched out. It looks like all the connections are still intact though. Also I can see that someone has spliced a blk/blue wire near the starter. I havent gone so far as to figure out just what that splice does.

As far as the code 43...well the car starts ok, so is this diagnostic code really that important in terms of the smooth running of the motor. All Im interested in right now is getting it running so it has full power again. I'll deal with minor issues later.

going to go try swapping my 86.5 air intake over to the 89

 

[Facime]

got to thinking about it...first code 11, then code 43...both imply signal wires to the ECU are bad, and the car runs like its in limp mode, maybe my ECU is bad?

 

[Facime]

well, its not the AFM, changed it out with known working one and no change.
Pulled all the plugs and they look acceptable, some oil in the number 6 plug galley, tightened up the loose vavle cover screws, should be fixed. Still only a 43 code, but Im convinced thats because someone bypassed clutch interlock and because of the punched ignition. Either way just dont think its causing the engine problem. Havent had a chance to do a compression test yet.

Im beginning to think its a fuel delivery issue. Im going to try my spare fuel pump and change the filter. When I took the TB off it was really nasty on the back side of the butterfly, and down in the Y pipe. not sure what to do about that yet.


Come on guys, I could use a little advice here...any ideas?

 

[supra90turbo]

http://www.supramania.com/forums/search.php?searchid=286360

there's a good start

 

[Facime]

Thanks but only one of those threads has any relevance to my problem and I already suspected fuel pressure problems. Im replacing the pump tomorrow and blowing out all the hard lines.

Ive been suspecting a fuel delivery problem from the beginning, I just have no good way to test that...so I was not only trying to rule out other things, I was hoping someone would give me some more ideas, but....oh well, I'll keep stabbing at it till I hit something

 

[supra90turbo]

I figured that shaeff's thread covered just about everything....

 

[Facime]

I figured that shaeff's thread covered just about everything....

yeah it did, it gave me ideas to try...I guess I just wanted to make sure I wastn overlooking anything...sounds like my guess is as good as the next guys.

Got the fuel tanks out of both my 89 and my 88 parts car. The lady seemed to have a bunch of crap in the fuel...Im gonna open up the lines up front and using a compressor blow whatever is in the lines back out the rear. Im gonna use the whole tank from the 88, it just seems to be in better shape overall anyways.

hopefully this will help the issue

 

[Facime]

well it wasnt the fuel pump, and nothing appears to be in the lines. I could blow through them just fine. An FPR is just a tad bit expensive to just throw it at it, but a pressure gauge is almost as expensive and could tell me I need the regulator or not anyway. BLEH!

Im going to take the FPR and the TB off my 86.5 and try those tomorrow...Im to disgusted today to do any more.

the thing that bugs me is I can stomp the pedal and it picks up just fine, until it hits about 3k and then it just wants to die...and then it will idle just fine as well.

I dont want to give up on her, but those 89 mirrors, tails and steering wheel are calling to my 86.5!

 

[Facime]

wasnt the FPR....

Im getting pissed off now...basically Ive busted my knuckles for nothing and Im still at the same point I was....probably just gonna part this bitch out and be done with her

 

[Facime]

Wasnt the TPS or TB, swapped em out from the 86.5 and no change.

Im back to thinking it might be a plugged cat. That wil be getting punched out tomorrow.

 

[supra90turbo]

Cat can and will do that at times.
try cap/rotor/wires?

 

[Facime]

no I havent actually replaced em but I did a good visual inspection. The cap and rotor is no worse thant the one on my running car, and the wires "appear" ok. I do have a spare set of wires that I know are good, might swap em out. but I just don think thats it. I figured if it was a problem in that area, it would miss and sputter, and maybe even backfire. But it doesnt do that at idle and its smooth when I blip the throttle, its just like its being held back, or bogging down terribly.

anyways, the cats getting gutted one way or another...

 

[Facime]

Im pretty sure Im just talking to myself here but I'll post it anyways.

PROBLEM SOLVED!

the cat was toasted. not only was it melted but a big chunk of melted broken "honeycomb" was lodged in the pipe leading out of the cat. busted it all out and dumped out the pieces and the car runs great. No overheating, no stumble or hesitation at all...I think it might even run better than my 86.5! Or at least it would if had a decent clutch. :nono: . after getting her running and all buttoned up I took it for a spin around the block and the clutch is toast. Also the brakes grab pretty bad but they did have a good layer of rust build up on 'em. gonna get those two major things done and I can start on all the little things.

For now Im extremely sore and tired from crawling around in the gravel (only place I have to work on it is in the side yard) but Im happy. Im amazed that the thing didnt blow a head gasket with all that back pressure! And Im also quite relieved...this one is gonna turn out to be a good buy after all!


here is the pic of what came out of the cat...followed by my twins!