Its factory but NOT :)

[PumpsGOTAWD]

I have a 98 rs w/ a factor wrx swap in it, full harness ecu motor etc... im running 3" dp to 2.5" dp back.. no cats/resonators... it was running exceptional untill today, i was driving and normally you cant press the pedal down more than an 1/8 of the way or your flying and the car is pulling hard and strong, i was in 4th and i realized that the car wasnt really going ne where so i put the pedal down slowly and well it did nothing it just felt like the car had lost all power and it revs SOOOO slowly , its still idels fine and sounds good.. so after about 20 mins of driving it that way i said to myself well i wonder if i was to shut it off and start it again whut would happen.. sure enough the car started to run wonderful again pulling great.... then abvout 3 seconds later same thing happened where it had NO and i mean NOOOO power and was blah.... i got home parked it and thats where it stands.. any ideas on whut i should be looking for ? the car was running great and has been built for a week, i dont think its something wireing related because i think it would have been there from the start if it was, and not a week later... two things i should tell you, the car smells like fuel horribly expecailly right after i fill it up.... ne ideas on that ? i was told its prolly my 3" catless exhaust system, and secondly the stock TD04 gets wicked hott i mean really hott to the point that i noticed it melted the tranny plugs so they are now deformed looking, and the tranny plugs are a good 3/4 of a foot away from that turbo it seems to be getting very hott is that normal of this turbo ???????? any and all help greatly apprecaited im sure alot of WRX guys will know whuts up since it is thier motor and ecu running this bad boy

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[marcus12]

damn Paul, that sucks. The turbo's not blown, is it?

//marcus

[Andursun0013]

I don't think a turbot shoult be getting hot enough to melt bolts. I would imagine the turbo is getting red hot to be melting bolts that are that far away. I would check out the turbo to see if its maybe the problem I would think anything else would make the car not idle smoothly. Does it seem fine to drive when not try to spool the turbo, i.e just driving easy like you trying to save gas or something

Kyle

[jdchmiel]

ignition being retarded to far wold cause escessive heat and low power.

[PumpsGOTAWD]

no bolts are being melted.. haha.. just the plugs for the tranny... i moved them tho and they are fine now.. secondly.. whut would cause ignition retardation. ?

[Andursun0013]

yea, plugs....I was aparently out of it when i posted that

[munkis]

do you have any gauges?

[Unsung Boxer]

did you upgrade your fuel pump to match your WRX engine? the stock fuel pump wont flow enough fuel. This would cause it to run lean and hot.

Also, w/ the ECU, does your CEL Function properly. If so, I would like to know if the CEL is comming on. If the ECU sees something bad, it will pull timing, retard it so much that your engine wont be able to accelerate. If the ECU is causing a "safe mode" like this, it should throw CEL at the same time (assuming its OBD2)

Now that I listen to your symptoms, I think the most obvious hypothesis is that your spark plugs are fouling from running too rich. This explains the gas smell, and the lack of power. Fould plugs acts like retarded timing, as far as power loss goes. Turning your engine off, allows the gas to dissappait, thus when you re-start it, it runs good again, until they get fouled. Pull your spark plugs and see if they have a nice gassy smell... that would be conclusive of a rich condition.


-Jake

[PumpsGOTAWD]

yes i have a boost guage, its shows 15 vacuum at idle, at speed but off gas 20 vacuum and varient boost under 50 percent throttle, and over 50 percent it most of the time pegs at 10psi some times i can ease it a little and then see 12-13psi and hold it there.. its really quick there im going to pull the plugs unsung.. ill let ya know the outcome.. also no the scan plug is not operable yet, or so i dont think ne wayz.. i still have 2 wires that i dont know whut to do w/ that arent hooked up i guess i could try to scan it and see whut happens... yes the cel is on, but i have a feeling that its thrown due to my rear o2 .. i have a hks 3" downpipe.. and if i pull neg cable of bat and reconnect the light will remain off for about 30-50 miles then come back.. or if i shut off the car and restart it again.... sounds like r o2 to me

[tooocool49723]

make sure you have enough fuel pressure, and that you dont have any fuel leaks. Running too rich/lean would be a bad thing either way, if your fuel is leaking, that explains the no-power and the gas smell, as well as the heat.

My other theory was that the turbo was broken, wasnt' making boost (no power) and was just restricting the exhaust (heat) but after your last post, if it's still making boost, then that isn't it.


My rule for troubleshooting an engine: it needs 2 things, spark and fuel. If it's not working, it's one of those 2. Figure out which one and work from there.

[imprezaGDA]

Originally Posted by tooocool49723

My rule for troubleshooting an engine: it needs 2 things, spark and fuel. If it's not working, it's one of those 2. Figure out which one and work from there.

yah, but it also needs air, the spark to be timed correctly, the fuel to be in the right amount, Those two work as a baseline if the car isnt starting at all....

[PumpsGOTAWD]

it was a sensor that was half unplugged, the drivers side front tumble generator valve, and also, the fuel smell is only when i fill the car up it goes away after about 1/4 of a tank is burned, i think i put the top cover of the tank back wrong ?? im going to take it all apart and find out..

[IowaRS]

Yeah, that tank seal can be tough to get back on right.
Make sure you don't have any wires running under the seal before you tighten it down.

[Andursun0013]

I'm proud to be an American

Sorry, I screwed up...delete if need be