at wits end with this car..

[turbo2300]

im so baffled with this car, and im getting tired of it. theres something all sorts of messed up, and i am losing hair trying to figure it out

it runs way too rich at the slightest hint of boost. im about 2 minutes away from saying hell with this and buying a megasquirt 1 to put together for it, and hopefully say goodbye to all my running problems! its just retarded anymore.. messing with the fuel pressure doesnt do anything for it, and i dont know why.

secondly, i cant get it to hold heat!! i put 3 or 4 new stant brand thermostats in it, and it doesnt hold temperature. i can let it idle outside till the dam thing boils over and as soon as i drive it a mile the temp guage bombs and it stops blowing heat. i put cardboard in front of the radiator and unplugged the fan, and it still runs very cold. i have no idea what else could possibly cause it to run cold!!

sorry for the rant.... im in trouble with this mess

[Stinger]

Rich regardless of fuel pressure is typically either a boost leak, ect sensor, or cam timing.

Heat problem could be an air pocket in the system.

[turbo2300]

well it has a new ect sensor, and i used your method of lining up the cam timing without a cover (since mine broke) and i guess i can look for a boost leak...

im pretty sure its full of coolant, ill try a friends vaccuum setup to be sure, but i just cant see that big of an air bubble..

[Stinger]

Typically when you fill them with coolant, as soon as the thermostat opens it drains the radiator and takes another gallon or so to fill it back up to get rid of the air pocket.

[turbo2300]

i just drove it around for a half hour at lunch, temp at the therm. housing was 130*, so i let it sit outside with the fan unplugged for almost 20 minutes, and now its finally at 200*. as soon as you drive it, the temp drops drastically.

i also think my egr gasket leaks, when i spray brake cleaner on the egr valve the idle goes all crazy

[merc460]

Is it physically getting cold or is this what the gauge is telling you?

[turbo2300]

no its physically getting cold.

i drove home from work with the radiator totally blocked off, and the whole ride home it got slightly over what the guage usually goes to, i stop and pull the cardboard out, and within a half mile it cooled off so fast its like i shut the key off.

[merc460]

Stock Rad?

[turbo2300]

yea stock rad, STANT 180* thermostats. were talking drops from normal to cold in a half mile. i am baffled as to how fast it drops

[Stinger]

Are you sure you have the correct thermostat? There are at least two different 2.3 thermostat designs and they aren't interchangeable. Also, the 180 degree version is 1) working against you and 2) not allowing the engine to reach the 190 degree operating temperature the engine expects and is therefore costing you fuel mileage.

[turbo2300]

what years are the two different ones? i asked for one for a '88 tc as thats what the motor is from. should i get a higher one?

[sleepinsol]

doesnt the system generally run rich on the stock computer until it gets to full operating temp any way? i thought i read a blurb somewhere about that. may explain why your so rich in boost.

[turbo2300]

its probably part of the reason its so rich under boost, so im trying to get that squared away before i do something extreme like buy a megasquirt yet..

195* thermostat is going in right.....


now.. ill be back to post results

[Stinger]

The thermostat housing dictates which thermostat to use. One seals with the rubber gasket, another has 2 small tabs which hold the thermostat in place. If they are a matching set, they go right together. If they aren't, you have to screw with them to get them to fit.

[turbo2300]

the thermostat has a rubber seal AND these little tabs. fits like a glove, idk. seems to be a little warmer..

i figured out my idle issues, turns out my egr gasket is missing.....