Need help troubleshooting KA-T

[95Gstman]

So some friends and I installed a ka-t setup in my car this weekend, and we can not get it to run correctly. It will not idle but will run if we give it throttle. It runs very rich. So rich that if you turn it over a few times, then pull the injector harnesses it will run a few second with the injectors unplugged. We also noticed that it runs better with the Z32 maf unplugged. Also, I noticed that the fuel pump does not come on with the ignition in the on position if the enthalpy ecu is hooked up but it does if the stock ecu is hooked up. I this a problem? Is there a diagram or something that shows what vac lines need to be hooked up and blocked off? Is the one large one on the air intake tube supposed to be hooked up? I currently have that one blocked. I am just looking for some suggestions on what I should check to trouble shoot this problem.The setup is as follow.

s14 t28smic450cc injectorsenthalpy ecuwalbro 255z32 mafInstalled in a 1991 s13

Thanks for the help.

[beatd]

So some friends and I installed a ka-t setup in my car this weekend, and we can not get it to run correctly. It will not idle but will run if we give it throttle. It runs very rich. So rich that if you turn it over a few times, then pull the injector harnesses it will run a few second with the injectors unplugged. We also noticed that it runs better with the Z32 maf unplugged. Also, I noticed that the fuel pump does not come on with the ignition in the on position if the enthalpy ecu is hooked up but it does if the stock ecu is hooked up. I this a problem? Is there a diagram or something that shows what vac lines need to be hooked up and blocked off?Is the one large one on the air intake tube supposed to be hooked up?I currently have that one blocked. I am just looking for some suggestions on what I should check to trouble shoot this problem.The setup is as follow.

s14 t28smic450cc injectorsenthalpy ecuwalbro 255z32 mafInstalled in a 1991 s13

Thanks for the help.

The hose that you blocked off needs to be attached to the intake tube that controls the idle. if its blocked off it the car won't idle. If i were you i would look into downloading the fsm and printing out the vacuum chart.

[95Gstman]

Thanks, but will the stock vacuum diagram really help for a ka-t? Is there anywhere that shows you how to run all the vacuum lines/block off un-needed lines on a ka-t setup. Thanks for your help. I thought that the line I blocked off went to the bov to recirculate it? (I am about to install the bov that just came in about 5min ago)

[mixeds14]

dude, u need to use the search button, or u will get burn for askin ?s that already been asnwer, theres a tread on here that tells u what to remove and keep as far as vacumm lines go for the s13 kat................

just search, i would find it for u but im just lazzzy at the moment...

[95Gstman]

dude, u need to use the search button, or u will get burn for askin ?s that already been asnwer, theres a tread on here that tells u what to remove and keep as far as vacumm lines go for the s13 kat................

just search, i would find it for u but im just lazzzy at the moment...

I did search and could not find what I was looking for. This is really not one of those questions like sr vs. ka, what bov is the best, will this look good on my car etc... that gets asked all of the time. And also, I could care less if someone wants to get on the internet and tell me that my question has been answered before. Guess what, most questions asked about 240's (18+ year old cars) have been answered before. Finding those answers is what gets tricky. Thanks for the help. (sarcasm)

[mixeds14]

k, just use a t to get ur vacuum source for your bov,boost gauge of your fpr. and use a line coming of one of your pipes before the throttle body, or tap the comp. outlet(were ur hotpipe hooks up) for a source, thats what i did. and thats it. make sure you dont have any vac leaks,.

if ur cold pipe has 2 big lines on there the big 1.25 line is for your reciculated bov, and the 5/8 one that gets hooked up to the intake tube for your car to iddle,. also u need to get a wideband to meassure ur afrs...

[95Gstman]

Thanks I need to make sure everything is hooked up correctly to properly troubleshoot my problem. Man, I hope I figure this out. I don't want to be slow anymore.

[r3v_v3ng3]

also check and make sure your maf is wired right. couldn't figure out what was wrong with my kat for like 6 months cause i had the 5v reference signal and 12v power switch. luckily i installed a safc and caught it. it has the same symptom as yours

[95Gstman]

Yeah, I have checked and re-checked the maf wiring and I am sure it is wired correctly. I just hope the ecu that I bought is okay. I really can't afford to wait to send it back. I just really want to make sure that everything is hooked up correctly. Anyone in the san marcos/austin tx area want to help me out? Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I am working on the car today and I will update this thread later.

[95Gstman]

Well here is some more info, I got the car to idle on its own but it is very rough. Also, it will not rev up whenever I give it gas. I can hold the gas pedal to the floor and you can hear is get a tiny bit louder but it does not rev up or build boost. Anyone have any ideas? Faulty Maf maybe? I really don't know what else to look for. I am still confused that the fuel pump will not prime with the enthalpy ecu hooked up?

[95Gstman]

More questions. Does anyone know if the hose if have blocked off/pictured needs to be hooked up anywhere? This line and the bov recirc fitting on the intake pipe are the only hose currently blocked. Also if someone could check to make sure my maf is wired properly that would be great too. ( I am pretty sure it is but just to make sure.) Here are the pics.

Note the electrical tape wiring job is temporary. Right now I am just trouble shooting and I will fix that when I get everything running correctly.

[j-z]

your IACV is hooked up but i bet your problem lies within that 3/8'' hole you have in your stock intake tube in your picture. that will def make the car run rich as its after the maf, and that extra air isnt getting metered by the maf. that hose you have plugged off i have no idea where that goes. charcoal canister maybe?? itd be safe to say that hose is okay plugged. try this.... take that bolt out of the hose, and put the hose up to that hole in your charge pipe/stock intake tube with the car running and see what that does.

ohhhhhhhh i just saw that you put in different injectors. problem found. pull your dipstick tube. smell like gas?? yup. you tore one of the orings on your injectors while installing them. they should just pop into place. if they didnt, you def tore an oring or two. best way to test this is to pull the rail with injectors installed. turn the key to the on position to fire up the fuel pump. let me know how many injectors are pissing out fuel....

[95Gstman]

That hole in the intercooler piping is pluged. I am pretty sure that the injectors are fine because I pulled and re-installed them today and the o-rings looked fine. I am really beginning to think that the maf is faulty. I don't know what else to check. I will check the injectors tomorrow just to make sure thought. A friend of mine has another z32 maf so I will probably try that tomorrow also. Keep the ideas comming though. I am at a lose.

[95Gstman]

Oh yeah, I just remembered that the fuel pump will not kick on with the key in the on position if the enthalpy ecu is installed. Is the ecu bad? God, I am so frustrated. I need to get this car working by next week and I hear that Enthalpy is all but impossible to get a hold of quickly.

[480sx]

If the ECU was working before, then its very doubtful that its not working now. You probably have other issues.

So your fuel pump isnt cutting on? Take off your fuel feed line and put it into a bottle. Then turn the key on, see if any gas gets into the bottle. It should spray in. If not, and try it a few times if you dont see any on the first try, then you need to figure out why your FP isnt working. Relay, fuses, bad pump, wiring ect.

[95Gstman]

The fuel pump will kick on with the key in the on position if the stock ecu is hooked up but not if the enthalpy is hooked up. The car will now idle (poorly) with the enthalpy hooked up but it will not rev at all.

[GTR PrYdE]

The car will idle poorly with the enthalpy ecu hooked up?

You just said the fuel pump wouldnt turn on.

Does your dipstick reek of gas?

[95Gstman]

The car will idle poorly with the enthalpy hooked up. What I said was that the fuel pump will not come on with the key in the on position (with the car not running) Like the stock ecu does. It will not prime the fuel pump before actually cranking. Oh, and I have not smelled my dipstick lately. (put that in your sig and smoke it.) Ha Ha.

[NateDogg]

Sounds like the ECU goes into safe mode. Are there any codes flashing on the ECU? If so, learn about diagnostics

Does the a/c fan come on when you put the key to the 'ON' position?

If the ECU goes into safe mode, the enthalpy daughterboard may be 'bad' or not connected properly. Open it up and see what you see. Maybe just a loose Eprom chip.

If the ECU is bad, put the stock injectors/maf/ecu until you get a nistune or equivalent engine management. You can run it for a bit on the stock setup if you add a 8:1 RRFPR and keep it under 8psi boost with 92-93 octane.

[95Gstman]

The a/c fan does not come on if the key is in the on position. How do I check if the ECU is throwing codes? The red light I assume? I opened up the ECU and everything looked ok. I am going to try another z32 maf today and I really hope that fixes it. If it doesn't I guess it is back to the stock maf/injectors/ecu.

[j-z]

did you try the test i told you about? pull the rail with injectors still attached, and see if fuel pisses out. have you smelt your dipstick? what about your plugs?? check those? that wouldve been the first thing i checked. only use a fmu if you have a inline pump in addition to the stock one. for how cheap that setup is it actually works very well.

its something really simple. i doubt its the ecu. do the simple things first... like pull your dip stick and smell it, and check your plugs. how about posting a pic of your whole engine bay....

[95Gstman]

I just tried another z32 maf and the car still sucks. The plugs should be fine since I put brand new ones in when I installed the turbo. NGK bkr7e. I will check them anyway. I will smell the dipstick, and try the test you are talking about. The only problem I have with doing that test is I have to actually crank the car to get the fuel pump to come on. I really need to know if the enthalpy ecu is supposed to kick on the fuel pump with the key in the on position like the stock ecu does. If it is supposed to and it doesn't, would that not mean the ecu is some how messed up? I will also post a pic of my bay. Thanks for the help guys. Oh yeah, if the ecu is bad could I get away with tuning this with the stock ecu and an safc?

[95Gstman]

I really think that it is the ecu. I talked to the original kit owner and he said that the ecu should prime the fuel pump with the key in the "ON" position just like the stock ecu does. So, is that proof that the enthalpy is messed up?

[480sx]

Everyone always thinks its the ECU. Its so rarely the ECU. Enthalpy has had 1 board come back in over 1000 boards sent out that were bad on his end.

However, do you know if the ECU was good before you had it chipped? Did you use it on a running car?

[95Gstman]

I bought all of this stuff as a kit and the previous owner said that the car was running. Why would the fuel pump prime with the stock ecu and not the enthalpy ecu if the enthalpy was not bad? I don't understand that.

[j-z]

im with 480sx on this one... i dont believe its the ecu at all. go outside to your car, smell your dipstick, pull the plugs, and report back. should take no more than 5 mins. if your dipstick smells like fuel its the orings on the injectors.

[mixeds14]

dude, u really need to do a diagnostics test on your ecu so u can rule that out, if everything come up fine, then u got something else wrong with your ride..... have u checked your timing??? make sure is right

dude be honest with u i would even crank that car until u get a wideband that alone can tell u if ur ecu could be tune wrong, like way to rich.

n ur engine idling rough, do a simple test,,,,, crank the car, while running take the spark plugs off one by one to see if it makes a difference, it the car bogs down more, put back on and move to the next,,,,,if one of them doesnt do any difference than u have a bad injector oring, just cause u pull them out doesnt mean that next time u install it back on there u wont mess it up, i hope u put a s*** load of vaseline on there b/f u install them....do that n then post back the reesults

[95Gstman]

Dipstick does not smell like like gas. Spark plugs were BLACK. I cleaned them and put them back in and the car still ran like crap. I know you guys say you don't think it is the ecu, but like I said how do you explain that the stock ecu primes the fuel pump and the enthalpy will not?

[mixeds14]

your ecu dont happen to have an emace sticker does it????

[95Gstman]

no it doesn't.