Q is deceased.

[konatown]

As of this evening my Q45 is gone the wayside. Came out of circuit city, started the car and put my new CD in. As soon as I put it in gear, I hear a very loud and disturbing pop-thunk sound, engine died after that.

Haven't had my mechanic look at it, but that indicates a detonation or broken piston/rod?

[konatown]

Also, Wes do you know of any Q45's for sale in Indiana or near me?

[elwesso]

You can buy my Q ..

I havent seen any Q's recently for sale...

Will the motor crank over? Or is it seized totally? I dont see how you could have detonated it that bad at idle, somewhat randomly.

[konatown]

Will not crank at all, makes a horrible noise if I try.

I recently had a misfire in a single cylinder, just replaced plugs and that coilpack.

That misfire overtime would've weakened that cylinder?

[maxnix]

So sorry to hear.

This is something strange and never heard before as far as I can recall. I hope the starter solenoid didn't release or something easty to repair.

[elwesso]

I wonder if you were dumping fuel and you hydrolocked that cylinder?

[xerexabante]

Great point.

[konatown]

I wonder if you were dumping fuel and you hydrolocked that cylinder?

That is also possible.

[konatown]

Good news, got it ripped apart and the injector was the fault. Dumped fuel in constantly. Purchased a used one from the only other Q owner I know of in town.

Everything else looks fine, but has not gone through a professional inspection yet.

[goody90q45]

Good news, got it ripped apart and the injector was the fault. Dumped fuel in constantly.

I've had hydrolock twice, both of them pretty soon after buying my Q. I shared your pain when I read your post. I remember the clunk noise I heard the first time- I thought I'd thrown a rod.

I've got a feeling the previous owner had the fuel rail out of my Q just before I bought it. My experience both times is the lower o-ring gives out and floods not only its cylinder but all 4 in the bank. The fuel injector (FI) was still good, just needed a new o-ring. To be on the safe side you should remove all 4 plugs on the bank with the bad FI, let all 4 cylinders air out for a while (overnight) and then with the fuel pump fuse removed crank the engine for a few seconds without plugs to flush all the excess fuel out.

If you're a risk taker, the engine will probably turn over on its own after a couple of days of airing out without doing anything. After fixing the suspect injector, take out the fuel pump fuse, and turn the engine over for 10-15 seconds. If it's still hydrolocked then remove the plugs to air it out more but if it cranks put the fuse in and try it again. It should start.

Whichever way you decide to go expect a lot of white smoke for a few minutes when you do get her started. Good luck.

[maxnix]

Good news, got it ripped apart and the injector was the fault. Dumped fuel in constantly. Purchased a used one from the only other Q owner I know of in town.

Used injectors are worn injectors. While your installation may have been at fault, used injectors are a wear item and should be avoided like used underwear.

[konatown]

Its just temporary, my only car. Its needed!

[elwesso]

I dont condsider injectors to wear out. Tech's Q has 320k and his injectors are original, if they havent worn out by now by his standards they arent wear items....

If the used one has good ohm and flows good, then theres no reason not to use it.

[heywier427]

whats the secret??? i use good gas and 44k every oil change. ive changed all 8 when the first 2 went bad 120,xxx. although i was not the org owner and the car came from cali. that gas makes that much of a difference?

[Rex]

... that gas makes that much of a difference?

Cheap or ethanol "additive" gas does make that much of a difference. On top of that cheap gas kills expensive parts (+ the labor to replace them).

[konatown]

Cheap or ethanol "additive" gas does make that much of a difference. On top of that cheap gas kills expensive parts (+ the labor to replace them).

Its exactly true, I use only 93 and from BP mostly.So car ran fine today, just like Goody said I had a lot of white smoke for the first moment.

[goody90q45]

So car ran fine today, just like Goody said I had a lot of white smoke for the first moment.

Great news. Give us the details. Did you replace the injector/o-ring, pull the plugs?

[qsiguy]

So what causes the "terrible noise" when you were attempting to crank the engine? I think I'm missing something.

[konatown]

Thats what I'm unsure of also. I'll have my car in the shop tomorrow looking for any further damage/problems.

I changed the injector out. Have a new one on order.

[maxnix]

Might want to consider changing your oil and filter also if all that gas got into crankcase.

[Mint Q45A]

Goody94 stated the following: I've got a feeling the previous owner had the fuel rail out of my Q just before I bought it. My experience both times is the lower o-ring gives out and floods not only its cylinder but all 4 in the bank.

I am not sure I understand how one injector can flood the four cylinders. Is this really possible? How does the fuel get to the other three cylinders? Aren't the lower air runners completely independant?

Tks.

[maxnix]

I dont condsider injectors to wear out.

If the used one has good ohm and flows good, then theres no reason not to use it.

Depends if you know their gasoline diet, fuel filter replacement schedule, or can verify their performance on a bench.

Many owners is crapgas states do have to replace them periodically.

[maxnix]

1.) I am not sure I understand how one injector can flood the four cylinders.

2.) Is this really possible?

3.) How does the fuel get to the other three cylinders?

4.) Aren't the lower air runners completely independant?

1.) Only needs to flood one cylinder to hyrolock it, and bend a rod on crank. Engine dead.

2.) See 1.) above.

3.) Doesn't have to. See 2.) above.

4.) Yes, but that is not relevant to any particular cyliinder being flooded due to a leaky injector.

[Mint Q45A]

Maxnix,Tks for the feedback. I am aware of the risks of hydrolocking - even one cylinder is enough.... but I wasn't sure how just one injector could affect the other cylinders. I guess it doesn't.

Something I tried in order to remove the injector withouth fighting it: once you remove the screws and cap that holds it to the rail, simply add a couple of drops of light oil to the top of the injector (so that if sips to where the O ring); let is sit for a little. Then you can twist the injector a couple of times and it pops out, easily....

[goody90q45]

Maxnix,Tks for the feedback. I am aware of the risks of hydrolocking - even one cylinder is enough.... but I wasn't sure how just one injector could affect the other cylinders. I guess it doesn't.

I'm not sure how it happens either but I do know that all 4 cylinders in the bank were filled with fuel, verified by removing the plugs, and fuel was pouring out the cat. Replacing the o-ring on one FI fixed the leak.

[maxnix]

I'm not sure how it happens either but I do know that all 4 cylinders in the bank were filled with fuel, verified by removing the plugs, and fuel was pouring out the cat. Replacing the o-ring on one FI fixed the leak.

Oh, in that case, I would assume it was pumping out of the flooded cylinder into the empty ones through the valves? Manifold sits up high enough the fuel couldn't cross over to the other bank?

[yodawill2000]

seems that would take a lot of fuel.A leaky injector quits leaking once the pressure is at zero right ?Weird.

[Mint Q45A]

Or more than one of the injectors was leaking....

[maxnix]

Or more than one of the injectors was leaking....

Not in Mike's case.

Replacing the o-ring on one FI fixed the leak.

[Haitian_King]

I replaced my #8 injector with one that I bought from cccpman. No rough idle. After having it put in, I had to turn my radio off to make sure my car was still on while I was stopped at a light. I didn't feel a thing. I paid $6.25 for that injector and I wouldn't mind the repeat labor for that one or the #1 and 2 injectors. The others might be a pain.