Car running crappy...could be compression?

[dvd]

before swap:*changed piston rings(neighbor changed them who is a mechanic at subaru)*changed headgasket*had head resurfaced*new valve stem seals

I just swaped the ca into my car and it runs really crappy.

* I checked the sparkplugs and 1-3 have black tips(new plugs btw).

So i assumed injector #4 isnt firing because The sparkplug should have been soaked with gas right?

*I brought the injector to a shop and it worked because it was a little bit clogged.*tried to start the car, still sounded crappy.*swaped coilpacks*tested spark with sparkplug tool*checked timing

I tried all those and the car still runs crappy, i tried to drive to but it wouldnt go anywhere, like i was be tryign to gas it but i end up going like 5mph or 10mph constantly. Then when i tried to go up my driveway, i didnt have enough power so it kept dying, only way to get it up was to rev it high and slowly let off the clutch.

I havent checked compression yet, i know there's a leak on the stock coldpipe (on the nipple where it connects to the air regulator, because i can't find a hose small enough that would be securely tight around that nipple.

I really hope its not the compression, i'm going to die or kill myself or something if it is, its been a hectic 1 week and a half now. I'll probalby check the compression but i'm wondering what else is there that i can do?



OH yeah, i hear a loud ticking noise too, no check engine light and i dont have a knock sensor hooked up.

Modified by dvd at 10:42 AM 1/24/2006
Modified by dvd at 10:44 AM 1/24/2006

[boost_boy]

It could be a host of things that are causing your car to run crappy as you put it. Sounds like you either have the injector harness on the wrong injector, bad crank angles sensor, bad ground on the engine harness, bad ecu, faulty injector plugs, bad timing, your post is just too vague to pin-point one problem. Hell, your mechanic could've even put the rings on upside down, who knows. Check the compression, the timing belt to make sure your it's timing is spot-on and let us know.

Dee

[pulsar gtr]

Well first of all, you have to make sure that all sensors are hooked up.So go hook up your detonation sensor and give it a try.

From your post, it sounds like you have a spark issue as you can rev it high while in park and when you try to drive away it just dies.

Do youself a favor and do an ecu self diagnostics and see what codes it spits out.

You might have a back ignitor, or loose ground, possible other connections.

Did you have the engine running before, or is it the first time you do this swap in this car?

RafiPULSAR GTR

[dvd]

the engine was running when i got it but changed the headgasket and piston rings.

[sideways danny]

it's not uncommon for the hydraulic lifters to over inflate and hold a valve open

[burnout 180]

my car has started that annoying ticking noise too but it only does this when i accelerate. I hate how that sounds. but besides that my car is running fine except for a blown O2 sensor which I have to wait to change since no of the local auto stores have one for the ca18det.I wonder what is the cause for this rapid tick/clicking noise.

[dvd]

well i've checked each coilpack, everytime i disconnect one, the car would start to stall. I checked the compression and it was even all across. The car has a strong gasoline smell.

So i'm guessing it could be a leak in the intercooler, igniter, resister pack(?), or injectors. any other guesses?

[dvd]

UPDATE:

Ok whats weird is even when i change coilpacks, if i disconnect #4 coilpack harness, the car wouldnt change. It would still idle like crap. If i disconnect any other ones, the car would then stutter. I tested the voltages with a multimeter and placed the black probe to the black wire and the red one to the middle wire. The voltage readings was ~.070 whereas all the other coilpack harnesses would read out ~.0013.

*could it be my igniter?*ground?

anyone? =[

[pulsar gtr]

I would vote for a bad ignitor. It is always good to have a spare ignitor and a coil pack.

RafiPULSAR GTR

[boost_boy]

UPDATE:

Ok whats weird is even when i change coilpacks, if i disconnect #4 coilpack harness, the car wouldnt change. It would still idle like crap. If i disconnect any other ones, the car would then stutter. I tested the voltages with a multimeter and placed the black probe to the black wire and the red one to the middle wire. The voltage readings was ~.070 whereas all the other coilpack harnesses would read out ~.0013.

*could it be my igniter?*ground?

anyone? =[

For some reason or another, my experience with failed igniters have always beenon the #4 cylinder. Change it and lets how she runs.

Dee

[dvd]

which ignitors can i use? i'm pretty sure the sr one has a different harness, how about the q45?

[NeedCAforS13]

pulsar CA18DE or CA16DE for sure. not so sure about q45 ones, but if it looks the same try it.

[boost_boy]

which ignitors can i use? i'm pretty sure the sr one has a different harness, how about the q45?

Q45 units are the same and will work with the CA DOHC motors.

Dee

[dvd]

thanks for the replies. so the early 90s q45 will plug up for sure right? but how about the newer ones? Because from what i searched most ppl didnt specify which year, so i assume its for all.

oh yeah,is there anyone in the westcoast here that can overnight me a ignitor?

dvdevo at yahoo.com
Modified by dvd at 9:45 PM 1/26/2006

[burnout 180]

If you solve the ticking noise please tell me what you did so i could solve my ticking noise also.

[dvd]

i got a new ignitor chip and the car still runs the same. WHen i disconnect the plug for coilpack #4 it still would run like crap. could it be the injector? i brought the injector to a shop and they tested it by putting compressed air and i saw air come out. Or could it be the wiring that goes to the injectors? I tried to hear the injector for clicking and ther was clicking which is why i dont think its the injector. any help?

[pulsar gtr]

have you tried swapping the coil packs to see if the problem transfers from one cylinder to another?

have you done an ecu diagnostics?

also, check your injector power, one wire should have constant 12V and the other should have a pulsating ground.

Have you ohmed out the injector to see if it is good, I know you blew air into it, but you should meaure the resistance between the two pins on the injector and compare it to the other 3 injectors, they should be very close in measurements.

RafiPULSAR GTR

[sdtouge]

timing belt a tooth off?

[dvd]

how would i find out if its off a tooth though. Do i have to crank the engine by hand to try to get the lines to line up?

[iliketocrash]

i know when i got my motor i had a similar problem when i tried to start it up. turns out someone had switched my third injector plug with a plug from a different sensor. when i found the "real" injector plug and connected it the car ran like a champ but oddly enough when i did that i noticed a knocking sound coming from the lower part of the motor around 2k-3k rpms. on a side note, i got my motor from Venus-imports/motors whatever they call themselves.

[dvd]

ok all 4 are firing now. I checked the harness and it had 1 black wire coming from the engine bay loose. So i spliced some other grounds and added it in. At first it didnt work but I took another wire and spliced the orignal loose wire into that. But now my engine room anything doesnt work. The tach, lights, n so on =x I'm gonna plug up my ps, and try to take the car for a test drive tomrrow. Hopefully it runs normal.