Is she worth her Salt?

Topic: Is she worth her Salt? (Read 1037 times) previous topic - next topic

Is she worth her Salt?

January 15, 2008, 04:56:31 PM

Hello all,

This might get a little long :hick: ...

Salt is the car (see signature). After a head gasket job, some BS with the distributer/rotor, I managed to get this car running.

I shut her off after running for just under an hour, and now, she won't run at all. Oh sure, she'll start... I can usually keep her running with my foot on the gas; but as soon as I let go, she stalls.

After more BS, I replace the alternator and serpentine belt. It seems the tensioner isn't tensioning properly, and the belt 'jumps' right of the tensioner pulley. Frusterated, I wanted to see if this 'drag' was preventing the engine from idling. I removed the serpentine belt (both in fact, the main belt and the a/c belt), and tried to run the engine. Same result, she won't run, hard to start, but I can keep her going with my foot on the pedal.

The EEC-IV reports no probelms, no codes, break-out box buttstuffysis on individual components (i.e. TFI, TPS) show no problems.
Fuel pressure is right where it should be, there is air getting to the system. I have tried manipulating the base timing, but with no change to this condition.

Any ideas?

Is she worth her Salt?

Reply #1 – January 15, 2008, 06:11:39 PM

exhaust clogged? at the cat maybe? Other then that im not sure, that pops up in my mind.

Is she worth her Salt?

Reply #2 – January 15, 2008, 06:41:17 PM

That's a very interesting question actually...

My mind has wandered there too. I had to completely rebuild the exhaust system (short of Exhaust Manifolds, Y-Pipe with dual Cats); which included the Catalytic Converter, Connection Pipe, ler and Tail Tipe (Single-Exhaust System).

The ler is damaged by a slight indent in the oval shape (due to an twit I let touch Salt), and the EGR pipe leaks; however, I don't believe that they are responsible for the current condition.

But you do raise an interesting point about a clogged exhaust. I did NOT replace the Y-Pipe coming off the exhaust manifolds with the dual cats.

If the head gaskets blew and coolant was seeping into the oil system (which happened on Salt), could that 'blue-smoke' have caused damage to the dual cats? Damage that when applied to a 20-yr old part could restrict the exhaust system to the point that the car won't idle? I suppose it's possible...

I hope not, because those Y-Pipes new are something like $900 Cdn.

However, could you please daboss351, perhaps, elaborate why that a clogged exhaust system would 'pop-up into your mind'?

Is she worth her Salt?

Reply #3 – January 15, 2008, 07:44:27 PM

You did say head gasket,you did ajust the valves didn't you.
I mean right.

Is she worth her Salt?

Reply #4 – January 15, 2008, 08:02:17 PM

perhaps if I knew your definition of 'adjusting the valves', I could answer you.

I was never one for terminology...

Is she worth her Salt?

Reply #5 – January 15, 2008, 09:15:06 PM

Well i thought of it because you said it starts hard, and only runs with you foot in it, so its either something with air going in, fuel going in, air going out, and igntion. No codes and everything working right pretty much leaves bad exhaust flow in my mind, but im not a experienced mechanic, im still just a kid. I would think with blown headgasket maybe went into the cats, pluged them up. But like I said i dont know everything

Is she worth her Salt?

Reply #6 – January 16, 2008, 06:39:15 AM

That could be the case... I wonder if there is a way to check/clean it without replacing it.

Is she worth her Salt?

Reply #7 – January 16, 2008, 07:32:31 AM

If the cat or ler is clogged, It'll drive like its got no power.
It happened to mine once. It would only stall after it heated up, and right before that i would have to floor it to keep it to run.
I suppose you could check the exhaust to see if anything is coming out. or do what I did and disconnect the exhaust before the cat.

Is she worth her Salt?

Reply #8 – January 16, 2008, 09:20:27 AM

I had a cat clog up. The car would idle but not rev over 2500rpm.

Have you gone over the basics? Checked for vacuum leaks? Checked fuel pressure? Set TPS?

Is she worth her Salt?

Reply #9 – January 16, 2008, 12:35:02 PM

Yeah, I've gone through the basics, there is exhaust coming out the tailpipe.

I will run through 'the basics' again, simply because I am out of ideas. Unfortunatly, Salt will have to take a back seat until I can fix Cougar X's fuel tank. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep you posted.