well sure, but a lifter is basically a mechanical part. so if it was a bad lifter the problem would be present all the time. thats what is really pushing me towards something electrical.

im gonna look over these service manuals now, but they only show pics and stuff. unless i didnt get to the tech part of it yet. ill post again later with more info.

 

this is confusing... electrically it could be the intake cam angle sensor, crank angle sensor, throttle position sensor, or air flow sensor.

i already replaced the air flow sensor and the oil control valve.

the ecu takes info from these four sensors, processes it and tells the oil control valve what to do.

it does not say specifically, but i believe with this sensor unplugged it is in the off or open position. meaning the engine runs at normal cam position. no advancing or retarding. so basically no fine tuning from the ecu to give me optimal emissions or fuel consumption...

so hoe the hell do i figure out where to start or what to replace or test?????? please someone with complete knowledge of this system help me...

i suck with electronics...

 

bump

 

Maybe ask Tephra or Mrfred they prob both know most about our ecus and if its possible this sensor is triggering something in the ecu. Sounds electrical to me since you can unplug it and it runs fine or its something in the mivec system since that sensor controls it.

 

The 64 million dollar question is always "what did you replace on car to make this noise happen?"

is the mivec cam gear good? it may not be responding to oil pressure. it could be slapping back and forth.

several years ago a friend mine installed some 280cams. called and said the engine made a horrible noise by advancing intake cam just 2 degrees. he brought the car by and I was amazed at how loud engine got by advancing cam just 2 degrees. it sounded like valves contacting the pistons. I checked with boroscope and there was plenty of clearance. reverting intake cam to TDC and engine was dead quiet again. never did figure it out but I theorized there was some harmonic sound discharge with his particular setup.

 

well thats the thing, the bazillion dollar question answer is nothing. i put on a ets licp, p&p exhaust mani, and an 02 housing. had it like that for two months. then when i got to the tuner shop it took a crap in the parking lot...

 

then my money is on mivec gear going bad

 

I had a similar problem on my 8, I was getting weird idle, false knock pulling timing. Was throwing cam position senser engine light and a few more to boot. I replaced all kinds of things till it finally took a complete dump. Turned out to be a bad coil pack. Pull your coils pack and plug wires out a bit and see if they are giving constant even spark. Not sure if this is your problem but it just reminds me of that.

 

hmmm weird one.

run without MIVEC?

i agree with the others on your intake cam gear.

 

so your not implying that the actual gear is bad, just the internals of the gear? well is there any way to check?

i know its not fixed, but at least im finally getting a direction to go in.
can anyone tell me why there is not a troubleshooting guide in the service manual i have downloaded?

 

i dont know for sure where it is in the manual. search in the pdf for MIVEC or inake or cam

that should find it.

other than that its time to get dirty - start disassembling.

 

This is my guess.
Maybe you can test it with compressed air

 

any update?

 

no, sorry. i have been educating myself for a while on these issues, and im broke. gotta make those dollas, but when i get to it i will update

 

Could be you have a some wiped balance shaft bearings.