Nissan 200 sx (euro spec 240) CA18DET problem

[lowkeyneon]

Ok, This is my first post so ill try to get it all out there. I am stationed in Germany, i just picked up a 1992 200SX with the CA18DET engine. The car is a Euro Spec 240 sx for those who don't know (i knew of the 200 as a different car) I have been having engine issues.
The ISSUE
At 4500 rpm and sometimes 5500 rpm, the car will cut out, and wont rev past that point while driving. Sitting still it will go right to 6800 rpm redline. I replaced the MAF and sure that was the answer because the old one looked horrible. It has new spark plugs, and a new 300 zx fuel filter. The car is turbo charged from the factory as well and running at .3 bars, (4.35 PSI) I am new to Nissans and was hoping someone has fixed this issue before and can point me in the right direction. Being in Germany, i only have so many days to get the car to pass inspection and with it running like crap, the jerks i have to go through will fail it.

[float_6969]

Sounds like a failing ignitor (ignition amplifier in Nissan speak), or a failing CAS (cam angle sensor), neither of which will throw a code.

[lowkeyneon]

its not the cam sensor, that has been replaced. where is the ignition amplifier located at? if it is the silver thing mounted on the left hand fender well then thats been replaced as well.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Loading issues.... Could be in the loop, MAF, o2 sensor, or just raw timing. I would try timing it, and going over everything looking for basic issues then start with those.

[lowkeyneon]

ok tried the maf and has a new o2 sensor but the plug hd to be spliced cause the other one go destroyed. think that could cause an issue still, not getting a signal?

[OutToWinPAHC]

Could be, did this issue start right around this period? Did you strip, solder, heat shrink then wrap it?

[lowkeyneon]

no i bought the car, and the previous owner had replaced the o2 sensor, but came unplugged and the plug on the sensor end got melted so i used the old plug from the old sensor as a quick fix to see if this was the issue, and got nothing. same with swapping out the MAF even though one of the wires was burned up on it, it didnt fix the issue either

[OutToWinPAHC]

Melting wires... ehh you might have other issues

[lowkeyneon]

Melting wires... ehh you might have other issues

no the plug came undone because it wasnt secure and fell on the exhaust manifold

[OutToWinPAHC]

No the random melting of wires is kinda bad , sounds like something shorted

[float_6969]

He's talking about the MAFS wire being burned up. And the CA ecu doesn't care enough about the O2 sensor not to run properly. Can you be more detailed about the burned MAFS wire?

[lowkeyneon]

nothing shorted out, it came unplugged and the plug was laying on the manifold and melted it. ANd it was the O2 sensor plug, not the maf that melted

[float_6969]

Wel'll you'll need to get the O2 sensor wire/plug sorted out to pass anyway, so I'd fix that for sure. That won't cause your issue though. Are you getting a check engine light? If not, then it's probably either an ignition problem (bad ignition amplifier) or a bad CAS, which is what I said before.

[lowkeyneon]

well im 99% sure its not the cas because that is brand new. and does the ignition amplifier the same as the 240's? and it dont really have a check engine light, its a 92. but i do notice the same light that comes on when you set the e-brake also comes on once in awhile while driving, and i assume its the same as the check engine light for that year.

[float_6969]

No, the part isn't present in the 240sx. I'm not sure where it's at on your car. I think in 1991 they moved it (on the euro spec cars). In 89 & 90 it was located on the exhaust side strut tower, facing the motor. It was attached to a bracket that also had a solenoid on it with hoses going to it. I'm pretty sure they moved it on your car though, so I don't know where it's at for sure. Can you shoot a pic (as much resolution as possible please) and I can locate it for you.

[lowkeyneon]

will do.

[lowkeyneon]

here is the pic, had to take with my iphone

[float_6969]

Yea, I'm pretty sure it's on the drivers side strut tower facing the motor. If you can take a close up pic of that area, I could confirm.

What is with the big hose coming from the cold pipe, going across the fan shroud, and down towards the turbo? It looks like it might be for recirculating the BOV?

[lowkeyneon]

that hose is indeed the recirculation for the BOV. Had it off the BOV and plugged for the time being. ALSO the part your refering to is in front of the black hose, on the driver side fender whell, the silver thing correct? if so that has been replaced already, its brand new

[lowkeyneon]

[float_6969]

No, what you have circled are the Cam Angle Sensor on the engine, and the dropping resistor on the front of the strut tower. I'm talking about the thing on the side of the strut tower, towards the inside of the engine bay, right next to the hot pipe.

[lowkeyneon]

ok, ill take a better picture tomorrow, the head is getting taken off and arp head studs, upgraded head gasket,boost controller and higher boost! ill post that pic tomorrow for you

[lowkeyneon]

hope these are the right pics.

[lowkeyneon]

one more thing, could the issue of cutting out result in the turbo piping not being connected? i started to tear it down to replace the head studs to ARP and a thicker head gasket and along the way, found out that the pipe from the throttle body to intercooler was not hooked up. Something the last owner failed to tell me.

On another side note, does anyone have a part number and brand for the O2 sensor i need for the 1.8? i am coming up with 3 different ones ranging from 60 bucks to 120. all look the same, different part numbers.

[float_6969]

those are the pics I wanted, but now that I've heard about the piping issue, I doubt there is anything more wrong with it than the piping being disconnected.

[lowkeyneon]

those are the pics I wanted, but now that I've heard about the piping issue, I doubt there is anything more wrong with it than the piping being disconnected.

so you think that is why it cuts out at 4200-5500 rpm? just reading air flow numbers wrong then? We never noticed it befor because it was hidden inside the bumber under the battery tray. didnt find it till we got the car torn apart lol. I ordered that art you said anyways.

[lowkeyneon]

this is what she looks like now.....

[sldwys]

are you serious? Im sure your first pic shows a obvious problem ? Where your BOV is attached to... That hose which comes off it would pretty much be a big airleak if its going straight into your intake.... Which would cause an "overboost" issue..... I cant remember seeing a stock ca18det ( besides your front mount) in a long time.... but im pretty damn sure that that black hose should be going onto the vent of your bov.

[S13Lovell]

Its prob those tail lights.. If i were you i'd take them off and give them back to the previous owner time meow!

[float_6969]

I thought the hose was connected on both ends? If so, it wouldn't read incorrectly, but it would be constantly re-circulating air and make the turbo work like mad.