Gas smell, and bad gas mileage

[IAmAlive]

My na is running pretty rough with some stumble, and guzzling gas faster and faster. My idle after a complete warm up is sitting at 1k, and there is a constant beep noise, maybe from the fuel pump?

It's audible inside and out. And I'm not sure how to explain it, but when I get on the gas a bit it makes a "ffff" and rapid ticking noise. I've tried to pinpoint the sound but it sound likes it coming from under the good and possibly even under the car? Possibly lifter tick?

Any tips at things to check?

I've already replaced the fuel filter and fuel temp sensor, and the knock sensor relocation is my next fix. And I've checked and cleaned air filter, maf sensor, cas sensor connector and tps connector.

[Shoey2]

02 sensor maybe both...

[Ace2cool]

If there's a gas smell, you have a loose clamp somewhere. You should go through and tighten all your clamps.

it-s-cold-out-check-your-fuel-clamps-t565977.html

[IAmAlive]

Thanks for that, just went out and tightened them all down. There was 5-7 significantly loose ones.

And can an o2 sensor be bad, even if I'm not getting a code 33 or 53(I think those are the right codes...)?

[Ace2cool]

It can be clogged, but will usually throw a code when bad. If the fuel was leaking bad enough, that could have been the cause, though you would have probably caught on fire.

Have you tried the O2 sensor test portion of the ECU test?

[IAmAlive]

Still getting a gas smell this morning. Could be just because it was a cold start, as the smell was reduced a bit.

And I haven't attempted the specific O2 sensor test yet, but I will try it after school. Just start it up while in mode 2 and rev to 2k for 2 minutes for each sensor right?

[Ace2cool]

Yep. Just follow the guide on the tech page and you'll be golden.

[IAmAlive]

http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y52 ... d153ef.mp4

Could this sound ossibly be lifter tick or maybe even rod knocking?

[Ace2cool]

Are you talking about the sound when you first hit the throttle? Cause there's nothing there that sounds like lifters and there's definitely no rod knock. Rod knock would be very loud and pronounced. Lifter tick would be more constant than that. Possibly your VTC springs/ solenoids.

[IAmAlive]

Well apparently I was misunderstood. As for vtc springs solenoids.. That takes a plenum pull doesn't it?

And I'll try to get a drive by video of the noise if I can, because it sounds a lot different under light load and driving. It sounds like a metal fan almost. And I can't figure it out.

[t.mcginley.jr]

Rod knock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU1LIwwivQU

Lifter tick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cePGDRAy0Tk

As for VTC springs, no you don't have to pull the plenum, but you do have to pull the upper timing covers. The springs are inside the intake cam sprockets/gears (behind the gold covers).

[IAmAlive]

Alright did the o2 sensor portion of the ecu test. The light blinked constantly for both sides. So I'm assuming those are fine.

[msammut]

Hi there. i am new to this site. Just got my first Z32TT 3 weeks ago. I had the same issue with the gas smell and looked at all the hoses but then I noticed a wet spot on the fuel regulator diaphragm. It does not happen all the time but I caught it once so you could check for that.

Hope you fix it.
Mike.

[IAmAlive]

Congrats on the TT! Wish I could say mine was a TT..

Anyways, just checked that the other day, and it seems to be fine to me.. But I'll give it another look today. Thanks for the advice

[IAmAlive]

So it is most likely the vtc springs/solenoids making the "zing zing" noise when I rev it? What's an estimate on replacement time?

Thanks guys.

[Ace2cool]

However long it'll take you to undo about 10 hex screws and 8 small phillips screws for the spring plates for the springs, and the solenoids are on the back of the engine. A bit harder to get to.

[IAmAlive]

Alright man, I'll order an replace them then for sure.

Now as for gas mileage.. My light came on after about 155 miles, and It started full. I haven't seen too many z's with mileage that low, more around the 200 range. Especially when I had a light foot with that tank of gas.

Which makes me think something isn't working right. Possibilities? My ecu is still throwing the fuel temp code, even after I reconnected the split wire, and replaced the sensor.. And I still haven't relocated my knock sensor yet. So maybe it's my changed fuel mapping and timing from the ecu codes?

[Ace2cool]

If you want to clear the self-learn, then all you do is disconnect the battery terminals for 10 seconds. I don't think that would cause that big of an issue though. What plugs are you running? Does it still have a gas smell? When you did the O2 sensor test, did you count how many times it flashed, or were you just looking for a constant blinking?

TPS set correctly, clean MAF, clean air filter? When was the last time the fuel filter was replaced? I don't know what else to guess. Still may be the O2 sensors or you didn't count the flashes.

[IAmAlive]

Ngk's but god knows how long they've been in there. Just replaced fuel filter and cleaned air filter and maf a few weeks ago. Still gas smell, but noticeably more subtle.

And I wasn't sure the number of blinks was significant, so I only looked for constant blinking. But I'll give it another go and count, because I do remember one blinking a bit faster then the other.

Also a buddy suggested the sound we talked about earlier could be a busted exhaust gasket? Said this could also be what I've been smelling(exhaust fumes).. And there's a constant beep noise, only happening random times (fuel pump?). Not sure if that's relevant...

My guess on the mileage issue is that I need new plugs, and the car still has the original motor, 196,000 miles. And on warm starts I have to give it some gas to even start it.. Maybe prvr?

[IAmAlive]

Found the noise, under the car, near the center.

http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y52 ... 9e9800.mp4

[IAmAlive]

Was told this sound could possibly be a bad exhaust gasket, or clogged cats. Fumes are definitely escaping from that area, under the car, near the center. Maybe I'll just straight pipe it and call it a day...

Wish I could see under the car better... Damn lowering kit.
Should I just jack it up and check all the bolts etc?

[Ace2cool]

You can jack it up, start it, and listen/feel around the flanges. I made some ramps to make getting it in the air way easier. Check this for details: I used 5 boards, cutting a foot out each time.

http://s95014253.onlinehome.us/63104/155907.html

[IAmAlive]

I'm gonna check out the flanges today, as my buddy has some jack stands I can borrow.

But new issue just started, I did a spark plug change, went completely fine. But when I removed the balance tube I notice a good amount of gray sealant come out when I pulled the bolts. And my dumbass thought nothing of it. Put everything back together after, started it up, started stumbling like crazy, like an injector wasn't firing, and a huge vaccuum leak sound. It's coming from the middle (gold?) bolt on the driver side if the balance tube, pretty sure it's stripped. Should I just go get some more sealant and plug it and screw the bolt in? Or is there a smarter option..

[Ace2cool]

Tap the hole. It's aluminum, so it'll tap easily. The only problem with that is that's a plenum pull, since you don't want metal shavings falling into the plenum.

[IAmAlive]

I was afraid of that. This will be my first experience with a plenum pull...

[IAmAlive]

Bumping this old thread, sorry guys... Alright, so vtc spring have been replaced, balance tube has been tapped and fixed, and I've checked all the bolts and flanges under the car. Still getting the noise. Possibly the bottom of the engine area.

I'll post up a video tomorrow, but it's pretty Inaudible on camera for some reason. It's like a "zing, zing" sound, or A sort of like a cheap metal fan tapping something when I'm accelerating and speeds up if I give it more gas, especially when I'm letting the clutch out and acclerating. Most audible between 1800-3000rpms

I can only hear it between first and fourth gear. It doesn't sound like an exhaust rattle really, so I can't figure it out. It's really hard to Hear in neutral for whatever reason, so it's making it really hard to locate.

Sorry about the confusing description! Just never dealt with a sound like this. I'll get that video up tomorrow.

[Ace2cool]

Take a mechanic's stethoscope (if you can get one, otherwise use a long screwdriver and listen to the handle) and touch it to various locations under the car. Places I would check:

1. Transmission
2. Exhaust flanges
3. Cats
4. Oil pan