Engine Troubles

[justdom]

Hey,

Pretty new to this forum. Spent a while looking through previous threads, but was unable to find anything. Here is the coles notes version of what went wrong...

While driving the car on the highway, the car starts to bog out under acceleration (I am able to accelerate, but very very slowly while feathering the gas). I pull over to the side of the road to see what is up, but I could not find any problems, so I decide to continue on 20KM or so until the next city. Pull into the gas station and turn the car off (before turning off, the car was idling normally). Check under the hood for any noticeable problems, than go to start the car again, and it won't start. So, the car gets towed and now it is back in front of the house.

So, now the car will not start. It tries, but nothing turns over. We have checked plugs(new), coil packs(firing), injectors(working), fuel pump, cam angle sensor, maf sensor, ignition sensor, ecu, another sensor that I forgot the name off. I am really out of options here. I personally think that it has something to do with the air or timing since there is fuel and spark. And a dumbass move on my part was changing the battery before checking for the ecu code, so it's spitting out 5-5...all systems go, but obviously they aren't.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. The car is a 1989 Nissan Silvia K (CA18DET). And a side question, is there a diagnostic plug that a Nissan dealership could plug into to determine what is wrong?

Thanks.

Dom

[Bwana]

While the car was still running (when it started bogging, etc.), did you notice any other symptoms? Smoke, viberation, ??? Does it try to start, or fire at all when you crank it? What's your fuel pressure like? Vaccuum leaks? Just some thoughts off the top of my head...

BTW, if you don't have one, you can download a FSM here http://www.h-dev.co.uk/

[justdom]

Thanks for the response.

When the car started to bog out, there was no smoke or weird vibrations. At first, it felt like there was a major boost leak since there was no boost at all.

When I try and start the car, you can hear it trying to turn over, but it just can't turn over. You can hear it start clicking, but it just does not seem to come together, if that makes sense.

The fuel pressure was good. We took took the out hose off the fuel filter, and there was definitely some pressure there. There was also no noticeable vacuum leaks either.

It is completely racking my brains. Just find it weird how I could run for 10minutes, than all of sudden when I stop, it won't start again.

Forgot to mention the timing belt was good as well.

Dom

[Bwana]

So first no boost at all and now it wont even crank? Why won't it crank? Battery? Or is it mechanicaly bound up somewhere? Can you turn it over by hand, with a socket on the crank bolt?

My AIM is badbawana and my hotmail is [email protected] if you want to im me.

[float_6969]

When you say it won't turn over, do you mean the motor isn't turning? Or it is turning, but it won't catch and run?

[justdom]

Sorry, should of been a bit more specific. When I am turning the key, you can hear the ignition working. It is cranking, it just isn't catching and firing up. Does that make more sense? I guess it would be turning, and not catching like you had posted float_6969.

Bwanan, I put in a new battery, so I think the battery is fine. I have not tried turning it over by hand. I will add you to MSN, the email will be [email protected].

It seems like there is some kind of sensor or some mechanical part not working. We checked the coil packs to make sure they were working. I changed the plugs twice, thinking I may have fouled the ones by trying to start it up so many times. When we took out the plugs the first time, you could smell the gas on the plugs, so which lead us to believe the injectors were working fine. From what we have seen, the intercooler and air piping seems to be good - we figured if there was a small hole somewhere, it would still run, but not very well. I'm still kicking myself for changing the battery cause it erased the code on the ECU, so I can't figure it out the problem from there.

Dom

[dattodude]

Is it possible the turbo has seized?

That'll give you those symptoms.

Pull the intake pipe off the turbo and give the turbo a spin. (when it's cold)

Hope it helps.

[float_6969]

have you checked to make sure that the key in the exhaust cam isn't broken and therfore isn't allowing the CAS to turn?

Do this, remove the CAS, put the car in the "run" position, and then turn the CAS by hand. Listen to the injectors, you should hear different ones clicking as your turn the CAS.

If that works, I would inspect the hole that the CAS fits into and see if there is a key in the exhaust cam. If it's there it's possible that it's slipped and you're off time. You can try reinstalling the CAS and have a friend crank the car while you shoot a timing light at the crank and see how much timing you've got.

[justdom]

Float_6969, we were concerned of whether the cams were actually turning, so we took off the oil cap and turned it over, and they were turning inside there. Not sure if that info helps.

Datto_dude, I am going to check the turbo tomorrow. It is a bit too dark and cold right now to check on it, but I will definitely let you know the condition tomorrow.

Thank you everyone for the help you have all provided. I just want to get my baby back on the road.

Dom

[justdom]

Update...checked to see if the turbo is seized, but it doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary.There was a little play from right to left, but other than that, the spindle seemed fine.

Dom

[kahlistrophic]

Float_6969, we were concerned of whether the cams were actually turning, so we took off the oil cap and turned it over, and they were turning inside there. Not sure if that info helps.

Datto_dude, I am going to check the turbo tomorrow. It is a bit too dark and cold right now to check on it, but I will definitely let you know the condition tomorrow.

Thank you everyone for the help you have all provided. I just want to get my baby back on the road.

Dom

Your Cam will still move, as its connected via the camgear, Float means that theres a hollow portion on the inside of the exhaust cam which has a sort of notched key, You have to pull the CAS out to see it, half is in the cam, and half is in the CAS, if the key on the cam broke, it wont turn the CAS, and your timing will be gone. Pull the CAS and take a look, you'll see it as soon as you pull it off.

[r34 gtr]

check the ignitor. sounds like you might not be getting a powerful enough spark. it can look all nice and fat when its outside of the car, but when its inside the combustion chamber under pressure it might not have the goods. happened to me.

also, add some ground wires. one time my car just wouldnt start, so we just got some 2ga ground straps from auto zone. ran one from the fender to the head (exh side), one from the battery tray to the head (in side), and one from the back of the head to the fender. started first crank.

- Tim