krenzy Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 Ok so I'm not a new TGP owner, just new to this forum. I'm over at TGPForums.com also, so this is a similar post I posted over there to get more input...Sorry then if some people read it more than once lol. Now about a month ago, my car had a strange problem. I was driving normally at about 35 mph, and out of nowhere, the car started dogging. I'm talking SERIOUS problem. It felt like I was pulling a semi behind me. If I floor it, it takes me close to 15 seconds to get to 60...prior to this problem it was doing 0-60 in 6.6...It makes a loud groaning sound when the throttle opens wider. I can't bare to let her sit anymore...I need help. Now some people have suggested the crossover...think so? I have just replaced the plugs, fuel filter, and O2 sensor. I took it to the shop and they said the engine itself was running fine, so they thought it was turbo related...One guy chimed in saying that she's making a loud "screetch" and not the normal "whine"...He thought maybe a bearing was going out in the turbo, but then we checked it and she was spinning fine. A little about me: I'm mechanically retarded. If it's simple I can do it, i.e. the plugs and the o2 sensor...anything else I take to the only shop I trust...and I watch them work on it, so I know what's going on. Is it possible it's the fuel injectors, timing, or --**gulp**--the crossover? I'm hoping thats the last case, but I'm desperate. PLEASE HELP! Krenzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krenzy Posted May 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Ok so I'm troubleshooting...anyone think it could be a tranny filter? FPR going bad? Torque converter? Or maybe the fact that this car is possessed and just doesn't like me. Class? Anyone? Anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGPilot Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 We have talked about this already. Check for turbo shaft play. Search on TGPforums for shaft play by Chris A. We also discussed your cross-over. Needs to be done. Take it to a muffler shop and have them do a pressure test to see if your cat is plugged. Pay attention in class! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krenzy Posted May 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Well, I took her in last saturday-ish...checked the turbo for play and he said it wasn't wobbling...his thought was a bearing was out lol. When I had them look at the exhaust, they didn't check the cat, but they suggested getting larger exhaust pipes... I guess I'll get to work on that crossover lol...just hoping it wasn't that. Sorry Kenny, I just pray for the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Dubya Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 you dont need them to check the cat, just drive it until it starts acting up, then lie down on the ground and look at the cat. chances are it will be glowing red and totally plugged. My car exibited the same symptoms as yours and it was the converter. good luck. you dont need larger pipes just yet, dont let them con you into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrett Powered Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Is it like boost hissing away or overboosting or something? I had so many problems with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krenzy Posted May 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Is it like boost hissing away or overboosting or something? I had so many problems with that. As far as I can tell it boosts up normally and releases fine...just don't understand the lack of power...I'll remove the cat (unless there are some dire, non-legal consequenses to doing this?), and get hacking on that crossover this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrett Powered Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 getting bigger ground cables with oxygen free copper WILL give you more power. that has been proven on the dyno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krenzy Posted May 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 getting bigger ground cables with oxygen free copper WILL give you more power. that has been proven on the dyno Ok, so here comes my mechanical disability: ground cables? lol...seriously though where are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herb427sc Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 getting bigger ground cables with oxygen free copper WILL give you more power. that has been proven on the dyno Ok, so here comes my mechanical disability: ground cables? lol...seriously though where are they? In the world according to Garrett Powered, ground cables fix everything... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrett Powered Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 keep flicking shit to me I deserve it. no but... I never seen a cat clog up like people say, but I did and recommend you increase the flow even if all you do is add a cutout for testing purposes. especially if worried about legalities. I read some articles where they test cars before and after bolting in some hyperground cables and they were getting 3-5 HP on like 6 cars in a row, sometimes up to 10 HP ON THE DYNO. so that was something I tried recently and it helped with a lot of stuff. did you pull one of the front plugs and check the gap? what kind of crappy plug wires do you got? I think you posted a pic of the motor and I was like WTF kind of wires are those? I got taylor stainless core silicone wires because they are cheap, made in USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff M Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 We have talked about this already. Check for turbo shaft play. Search on TGPforums for shaft play by Chris A. We also discussed your cross-over. Needs to be done. Take it to a muffler shop and have them do a pressure test to see if your cat is plugged. Pay attention in class! Hey that's really good the prof Koaba has spoken get a failing grade and we will repo your car, or at least ignore any further requests for help . Jeff M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krenzy Posted May 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 Quick question: Do we NEED our cats? Not for legalities, but for back pressure? A buddy was telling me that it needs the back pressure from the catalytic converter. True? I'm paying attention in class, I just suffer from selective learning...I'm improving though! This weekend however I'm prolly taking the cat off, changing my tranny filter, and getting that crossover out. Depends on how much free time my friend has...using his garage. I'm getting the small stuff done at or just before the time I do the big stuff, i.e., the plugs, filters, cat before the crossover and more than likely-soon-to-follow transmission lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGPilot Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 Your buddy doesn't know anything about turbo cars or basic exhaust tuning then does he? Backpressure is required before the turbine wheel to make it spin and make boost. After the turbine wheel you want the gases to flow out as freely as possible. Now you do not want a massive pipe size leaving the car because the gases need to carry velocity to get out and not become stagnant. Having a freeflow cat will not add backpressure at all and burn the unburnt gases on the way out. My car runs a gutted cat (thanks Luke! ) and ACES the Emissions test on my tuned chip. A properly tuned car should not fail an emissions just because a cat is missing. The cat is in place for those cars who age and lose their ability to run properly. Colorado has a very high standard for emissions and to prove the aging vehicle statement, all new vehicles are excempt from emissions for the first 3 years of their life and then they must begin emissions standards on their 4th birthday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krenzy Posted May 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 Thank you! Finally someone agrees with me lol...he DOESN'T know anything about turbo cars, but he thinks he does...lol. I need to show him your post. Thanks for the answer. I'm not sure about anything with Minnesota emissions laws...all I know is we don't have to go to take an emissions test like other states do...oh and if you don't have a cat (or gutted cat look-a-like lol) it's against MN state law. :thumb:But that's why we have laws: To be analyzed and broken by people like me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGPilot Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 Well...when Luke did the cat on my car they did such a good job that you can not see any difference in the shell compared to when it was new. Technically it is illegal to not run with a cat ANYWHERE in the US according to the EPA for cars that orginally came from the factory with a cat installed. If I remember right it is manditory on a manufacture date of 1976 and later. Don't remember now maybe it was 1974 when the law started and anything made on or after 1976 when it was manditory. Doesn't matter really. Your car has to have a cat on it to be legal to drive on the street according to federal regulations. When I took my car in for it's emissions tests (6 total) they would look at the cat housing and say...yup it's there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Dubya Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 I never seen a cat clog up like people say, but I did and recommend you increase the flow even if all you do is add a cutout for testing purposes. Mine was totally plugged, didn't run at all, would not go faster than 10 mph down hill, cut it open and there was no room for exhaust flow. The problem with these cars is the cross over cracks, and then runs richer than hell, most of these cars for 10 years or more. Which will eventually foul a cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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