Need Help! Engine troubles/borrowed AutoTap
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,907
Likes: 1
From: Between a rock and a hard place, S.E. PA
Need Help! Engine troubles/borrowed AutoTap
My 98 (42k miles) started idling rough and seems to be sluggish. I swear I can even hear a difference in the exhaust. First thing I did was install new TR55 plugs and new Taylor wires but the problem is still present. The dealer can't take my car for 2 weeks and I have a race this Saturday. A friend is loaning me his AutoTap to see if I can locate where the problem lies. What are some areas I should check? Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,386
Likes: 80
From: NC
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Need Help! Engine troubles/borrowed AutoTap (C5pilot)
Take a look at the spreadsheet you can download from the link below. You may find it useful. Also, if you haven't tried disconnecting your battery and doing an idle relearn yet it may help.
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/nbm_ws6/
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/nbm_ws6/
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 7,820
Likes: 0
From: Burlington ON
Cruise-In I, II, III, IV & V Veteran
CI-I & II Auto-X Champ
Re: Need Help! Engine troubles/borrowed AutoTap (C5pilot)
Is there any valvetrain noise? Is your car an A4 or M6? If it is an M6, have you missed any shifts and over-revved it? Perhaps bent a pushrod?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,907
Likes: 1
From: Between a rock and a hard place, S.E. PA
Re: Need Help! Engine troubles/borrowed AutoTap (MattG)
I have an A4 and recently discovered a very slight valve tap. Funny you should mention over revving because it was the rev limiter that proved the tranny was slipping. But the drop in performance is now noticable weeks later. I had the tranny rebuilt at the dealer this month and installed a Y3000 at the same time so it's difficult to say what it "should" feel like after all the work. The new torque converter is definitely pulling harder but the engine seems like it's holding back. Again, it's all SOTP and sound at this point. The real test will be at the track this weekend but that's if I don't break something else. Here's a list of what I am experiencing.
Exhaust sounds different, pulses not the same as before while driving.
At idle, exhaust feels even yet engine is not 100% smooth.
New plugs and wires did not help smooth idle.
New plugs indicate burning lean on driver side, normal on passenger side.
"Blip the gas" while in PARK and get jingling sound coming from under car.
Exhaust soot on rear fascia accumulating MUCH faster than usual.
"Ripping" high pitch sound at 1-2 shift at WOT.
Dealer suspected & replaced exhaust gaskets but no change in noises.
I'm wondering if it's possible that the cats or my Corsa exhaust could have been dropped or otherwise damaged. If a cat went bad, could it cause all of the above? Where else can jingling come from on a C5 after dropping the tranny? Obviously, now I'm wondering about that valve tap too. I'm glad you pointed it out but I hope you're wrong. :(
[Modified by C5pilot, 5:16 PM 8/27/2003]
Exhaust sounds different, pulses not the same as before while driving.
At idle, exhaust feels even yet engine is not 100% smooth.
New plugs and wires did not help smooth idle.
New plugs indicate burning lean on driver side, normal on passenger side.
"Blip the gas" while in PARK and get jingling sound coming from under car.
Exhaust soot on rear fascia accumulating MUCH faster than usual.
"Ripping" high pitch sound at 1-2 shift at WOT.
Dealer suspected & replaced exhaust gaskets but no change in noises.
I'm wondering if it's possible that the cats or my Corsa exhaust could have been dropped or otherwise damaged. If a cat went bad, could it cause all of the above? Where else can jingling come from on a C5 after dropping the tranny? Obviously, now I'm wondering about that valve tap too. I'm glad you pointed it out but I hope you're wrong. :(
[Modified by C5pilot, 5:16 PM 8/27/2003]
