Post by turbo2300 on Sept 14, 2009 13:38:31 GMT -5
hello all,
i have searched relentlessly for two months now, and come up with no clear answers as to why my car runs like it does. i posted on turbomustangs.com, got alot of suggestions but nothing has worked so far.. and i tried to get on to turboford.net and couldnt due to email domain problems (and that they dont answer emails about the problems)
first off, its a 1989 notchback lx. former N/A 2.3 automatic car. i bought it strictly with the intentions on swapping in a 2.3t and a 5 speed. i followed stingers wiring instructions to the T, and triple checked it before i ran the car. also, for about a month or two this setup was in a hatchback lx until i found out the frame was rotted 100% off on the drivers side and the only thing holding the front end on was the passenger side frame, and oddly enough it ran the same in the other car as well.
anyway it only has a 3" full exhaust and used to have an intercooler (aka stolen) now a pipe from the turbo goes right into TB.. LA3 computer, non-ford injectors (aftermarket knockoffs im told, i have pics) and that is it.
the problem im having is it runs on 3 cylinders (esp. at idle, shakes the whole car.) sounds elementary, right? not a chance.. while its idling #2 does not fire. pull the plug wire, nothing changes. pull injector plug, nothing changes... also a little slow to rev, until it boosts. also found the computer gets hot..... heres what i have tried or replaced:
-multiple sets of wires, even swapping wires between cylinders
-multiple sets of plugs, even between cylinders
-a few caps, rotors
-new TFI
-move injectors between cylinders, nothing changed
-compression tested cylinders
#1- 140 psi
#2- 110 psi
#3- 135 psi
#4- 126/7 psi
(i know #2 is low, but i dont feel its low enough to not fire at all)
-had recent head gasket replacement
-checked, rechecked, and triple checked timing
- went over all the wiring MORE times, all is hooked up
-5 volts on the Vref wire
-12 volts on both computer inputs
-injector wiring harness ohm'ed out fine, took it all apart and inspected anyway, cleaned terminals
-pulled valve cover, followers are good.
-no flat cam lobes
-all springs seem to have same pressure (i pried on all of them)
-pushed air into all cylinders, all seem to leak about the same out
-was NOID tested at one point, going to do it again tonight just for nutss
theres probably more im forgetting, but thats pretty much where im at.. 3 cylinders at idle (probably higher rpms too, but kind of sluggish in boost) im so confused i cant even walk away from it. i stand there staring at the engine for 10, 20 minutes sometimes just wondering
any help you guys could provide would be worlds better than thinking by myself....
i have searched relentlessly for two months now, and come up with no clear answers as to why my car runs like it does. i posted on turbomustangs.com, got alot of suggestions but nothing has worked so far.. and i tried to get on to turboford.net and couldnt due to email domain problems (and that they dont answer emails about the problems)
first off, its a 1989 notchback lx. former N/A 2.3 automatic car. i bought it strictly with the intentions on swapping in a 2.3t and a 5 speed. i followed stingers wiring instructions to the T, and triple checked it before i ran the car. also, for about a month or two this setup was in a hatchback lx until i found out the frame was rotted 100% off on the drivers side and the only thing holding the front end on was the passenger side frame, and oddly enough it ran the same in the other car as well.
anyway it only has a 3" full exhaust and used to have an intercooler (aka stolen) now a pipe from the turbo goes right into TB.. LA3 computer, non-ford injectors (aftermarket knockoffs im told, i have pics) and that is it.
the problem im having is it runs on 3 cylinders (esp. at idle, shakes the whole car.) sounds elementary, right? not a chance.. while its idling #2 does not fire. pull the plug wire, nothing changes. pull injector plug, nothing changes... also a little slow to rev, until it boosts. also found the computer gets hot..... heres what i have tried or replaced:
-multiple sets of wires, even swapping wires between cylinders
-multiple sets of plugs, even between cylinders
-a few caps, rotors
-new TFI
-move injectors between cylinders, nothing changed
-compression tested cylinders
#1- 140 psi
#2- 110 psi
#3- 135 psi
#4- 126/7 psi
(i know #2 is low, but i dont feel its low enough to not fire at all)
-had recent head gasket replacement
-checked, rechecked, and triple checked timing
- went over all the wiring MORE times, all is hooked up
-5 volts on the Vref wire
-12 volts on both computer inputs
-injector wiring harness ohm'ed out fine, took it all apart and inspected anyway, cleaned terminals
-pulled valve cover, followers are good.
-no flat cam lobes
-all springs seem to have same pressure (i pried on all of them)
-pushed air into all cylinders, all seem to leak about the same out
-was NOID tested at one point, going to do it again tonight just for nutss
theres probably more im forgetting, but thats pretty much where im at.. 3 cylinders at idle (probably higher rpms too, but kind of sluggish in boost) im so confused i cant even walk away from it. i stand there staring at the engine for 10, 20 minutes sometimes just wondering
any help you guys could provide would be worlds better than thinking by myself....