So I pull the spark plugs out to inspect them. They look fine. The previous owner had copper BPR8ES in. The spark plugs look new and there is nothing wrong with them.

While I'm under the hood I figured I'd empty out my PCV catch can. While I'm checking for loose connections in the catch can hoses, I realize not more than 2 inches out of reach the Fuel pressure regulator vac hose had popped off. I still haven't taken the car for a drive to check if this is the problem, but I'm thinking it might be. Not only would there be a boost leak for the FPR vac hose being disconnected, but I'm sure the car was running lean as ****. And of course, I don't have a wideband yet The car still runs fine so I'm sure no damage has been done.

 

Ok, so let's recap my day.

I go downstaris thinking I'm going to start taking the TB off when I decide not to until I get the seals, so I start messing with some other things because, well I'm bored. I decided I was going to put my spark plug cover back on and use nice dress up-bolts. Well I dropped my 10mm socket down into the engine bay and spent probably 30 minutes trying to find it. Pissed off I gave up. I accidently layed a ratchet on the battery and it touch the + terminal and ground to the tie-down. Being an automotive tech for a living, I certainly should have known better. Yeah, I almost started a fire. Actually, it did start a small fire. The ratchet basically welded itself to the tie down. Awesome stuff.

Finally I go for a drive just to double check if I still have this issue or not since it's a new day, also to make sure nothing shorted out in my moment of retardation. Well I pull out of my driveway and when I slowly shift into second gear at like 15mph, I hear this loud clunk, bang bang bang. I'm thinking "ahh god, trans problems now?".... remember that 10mm socket?

I come back, pick the 10mm socket off the road and as I just stated, checked the spark plugs, all was well....

This whole friggin' time it was just a damn vac. line that popped off the FPR. Yes, as most started "boost leak, boost leak!". And sure, I agreed, but I wanted to check other things as well. I thought I checked all the lines. I had even checked the PCV/catch can lines which are no more than 2 inches away from the damn FPR and didn't notice it.

But all in all, it makes me smile when things like this happen. So much frustration and when you find out the problem and realize how simple it was, and that it should have been a 20 second diagnosis, you can't do anything but to smile Needless to say, I put the vac. line back one, this time zip-tied it on, and now the car pulls just as hard as it ever has

I'm still going to install the TB seals though They're probably leaking and I don't even know it.

 

Good to hear that you figured out it was nothing major. I had that same problem on my gsx back in the day and it was very frustrating to find out a couple days later it was just something minor but also it made me feel better than it was nothing major. I day to day life of a tuner, haha. GL

 

That could have be a blown motor. on the fpr line put a little dab of glue on the nipples and zip tie them down.