Car pulling timing, ideas?

Discussion in 'Modifications & DIY how-to' started by 2thAche, Jul 26, 2009.

  1. 2thAche

    2thAche Member

    Went on a mountain run last weekend, full tank from BP. Very cool weather. Around 1/4 tank left, car felt like it was losing power. Started monitoring Dynamic Advance, and ECU was pulling timing, -4.5 to 3.5 degrees on WOT, timing all over the place in-between. No CEL.

    Cleared the ECU, and the car pulled solid 10 degrees WOT all through the gears. Then after a few minutes, it degrades again until it's back to going all over neg/pos again.

    Details:
    Car: VF43 on 2004 STi, inlet tube/DP, APV2, plugs, TopSpeed tuned all 1+ years ago.
    Engine sounds fine, and runs great right after resetting the ECU. Then the timing degrades and it feels sluggish. Fluid levels are good.
    It's making full boost despite the timing. I took some logs if any other numbers needed.
    Still no CEL thrown.

    Could the knock sensor get wonky? Any ideas?
     
  2. Jake

    Jake Active Member

    Have a short ram intake on there? Could be super high intake temps after the engine bay gets heat soaked. Otherwise, maybe a bad maf sensor or something. Or something internal, not sure.
     
  3. 2thAche

    2thAche Member

    inlet tube w/ stock airbox (K&N). It's been the same since, cold, hot no difference.
     
  4. slowwrx

    slowwrx Supporting Member

    sounds like bad gas, i would call your tuner
     
  5. Jake

    Jake Active Member

    Then yeah I agree bad gas perhaps.
     
  6. 2thAche

    2thAche Member

    New tank from another station after leaving the mts, same problem :(
     
  7. Mike@TTR

    Mike@TTR Active Member

    Possible you are getting some oil in the combustion chamber...check the intercooler hoses for oil. Also check the turbo inlet tube. If it is coming pre turbo, it could be blow by from the engine. If it is post turbo only, could be the turbo finally starting to go. I noticed something similar and pulled the y pipe and saw it was actually a little wet with oil. If you don't see any in either location you are back to square one.
     
  8. 2thAche

    2thAche Member

    Post-turbo was bone dry. IC was off also, no oil there. I'm going to double check the connections on the IC piping and tuner asked me to watch the long-term fuel trim, so I'll do that tonight.
     
  9. WRXCoupe

    WRXCoupe Active Member

    My car was doing this, it was a dirty MAF, MAF cleaner didn't really work so I used QD electronic cleaner, all was well..good luck
     
  10. 2thAche

    2thAche Member

    IC hoses area all tight. Going to try cleaning the MAF sensor, once I figure out where it is...
     
  11. nsvwrx

    nsvwrx Active Member

    its that thing.. .its screwed in to the intake pipe.
    [​IMG]

    That thing at the end of the blue pipe ( on the left)
     
  12. Doug@DBW Motorsports

    Doug@DBW Motorsports Active Member

    what do your long term fuel trims look like?
     
  13. 2thAche

    2thAche Member

    I'll watch the fuel trims tonight while driving.

    MAF sensor was covered in black on the inlet side. K&N filter was full of junk also. Now I feel like a bad daddy to my baby :p

    Hopefully that does it, I'll find out on the long drive to Asheville NC
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2009
  14. 2thAche

    2thAche Member

    Better, but still not cured, and here's the long term fuel trim numbers:

    After resetting the ECU, car runs great hitting solid +10 (dyn adv) on WOT. Sits at 0 on long term fuel trim at WOT, plus 3-4 on idle, and 0 during normal driving. Feels great, runs strong and responsive.

    After a while, dyn adv drops to 6.5 max on WOT. Improved from what it was doing (0-5 or negatives), but still not right. LT fuel trim at that point is plus 3-4 on WOT, 1 at idle, and from 0 to negative 6 on lift-throttle. Car doesn't feel as strong at WOT and feels sluggish on transition from neutral throttle to WOT.

    Car still hits full boost at WOT either way.

    Dunno what else to do, may have to drop it off at TopSpeed.
     
  15. goixiz

    goixiz Active Member

    use Learning view from romraider and youll see it clearly
    Takes me 2 minutes to check it it you are near my place
     
  16. Doug@DBW Motorsports

    Doug@DBW Motorsports Active Member

    Swing by.. if your ecu is adding a positive number in the ltft then you probably have a small leak between the maf and engine. It would be an easy check for us.
     
  17. 2thAche

    2thAche Member

    K i'll call on Monday to get a time. Going to re-check the connections today also. Was only hitting 4 Dyn Adv this morning. Screwy.
     
  18. 2thAche

    2thAche Member

    I think it's solved!!

    Took the clamp off the hose @ turbo cold side, it was a bit crooked. The hose was pinched underneath, making a small opening. Reseated and got the clamp right, and everything seems to be strong and stable now!

    Tnx all for the help. We'll see if she stays solid during the week.

    I think 1st problem was the MAF and my dirty filter, then the shop put that clamp on crooked when they pulled the IC to do the clutch and made more problems.

    TopSpeed: Thanks for the help, and see you when I finish saving for the 20G.
     
  19. Mike@TTR

    Mike@TTR Active Member

    20G?!? If you are going that big, just go rotated :) I know the Tial 30R and the Bullseye S256 will both spool as quick as a 20G and make better power!
     
  20. siegelracing

    siegelracing Registered Vendor<br><b><font color="#666666">bion

    What Doug said was probably exactly it. Now that you fixed that leak it should be perfect.

    Siegel
     

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