Babs

iTrader: (26)

So I'm trying to diagnose this issue before I start tearing things down

The car sat for about 1.5 months, before that it ran amazing. Started the car up and it sounded fine. About 2 mins of driving later, it was down on power and sounding like a Subaru. So here's what I've done so far:

1) Swapped stock coils back in to the car, no change
2) Pulled plugs, they all look clean
3) Timing is dead on up top and down low. The only thing that could've changed is the adjustable exhaust cam gear slipping but that is highly unlikely and has been on the car a long time.
4) Dad did a compression test while I was out of town and it came back 90 across the board with the engine warm. This was about two weeks ago.
5) I just did a compression test today, engine cold, and it came back 60 across the board

Haven't done a leakdown test yet because I don't have my hands on a compressor. With the car sitting so long, I thought maybe the battery was low (and it was so low that I couldn't even pull the ROM off the ECU) so the battery is being charged as I type this. The car smells very rich when it is running.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance...

LetsGetThisDone

iTrader: (1)

Need to have the injectors cleaned. Sounds like one of them has some gunk in it.

Babs

iTrader: (26)

Yea but that wouldn't cause the compression to come low. I was probably going to pull the injectors and clean them regardless though.

Thanks for the input

LetsGetThisDone

iTrader: (1)

I would try another compression tester, it wouldn't run too great with 60psi of compression. Also, for compression to be that low, yet even. As in the cylinder all wore down that evenly, is pretty unlikely. And compression doesn't just go away because the car sat.

Babs

iTrader: (26)

Well the car really doesn't run too great lol. I can't give it more than an inch of throttle before it starts breaking up.

The only thing I could think of from it sitting so long was the ethanol in fuel gunking up. I forgot to use Sta-Bil this past time it sat but, even then, it was only 1.5 months.

I guess I'll clean the injectors and go from there.

Thanks again

LetsGetThisDone

iTrader: (1)

Low compression would be insanely hard to start, and you would have to give it throttle to keep it running.

Babs

iTrader: (26)

Ehhhh it's not insanely hard to start but it struggles a little and I occasionally have to blip the throttle to keep it from dying.

I'm not liking these descriptions lol

barneyb

Yeah, use another compression gauge and check compression again. If still low, there's your problem.

LetsGetThisDone

iTrader: (1)

That could also be a stuck injector symptom...

Babs

iTrader: (26)

The stuck injector doesn't explain the low compression though. I just double checked the timing and it is on point.

I'd go straight to the injector if I didn't have low compression.

LetsGetThisDone

iTrader: (1)

Getting the injectors cleaned is super easy and cheap.

I still say to get another compression tester. For compression to be THAT low, but even, is pretty odd.

Babs

iTrader: (26)

Ok update...the garage has been stinking up like raw gas lately so I decided to trace all the lines to see if there's a leak. Traced it back all the way to the sending unit and there's a big fuel leak, leaking raw gas even when the car is sitting, at the high pressure ports coming from the two fuel pumps. Gonna make an AutoZone run tomorrow and see if this fixes it.

Fingers crossed!

Babs

iTrader: (26)

No luck but it was something that needed attention today.

After fixing the sending unit, I started pulling harnesses off the injectors. One of them didn't affect the idle like the others did when I pulled them so I pulled the injectors and noticed the one in question had a torn seal. Shouldn't be causing the issues I'm having but I'll prob get them cleaned and check back in.

Babs

iTrader: (26)

Sent the injectors back to FIC for flow test and cleaning, got them back and car is still running awful.

Any other ideas?

ReidFletcher

iTrader: (1)

Leak down test. Compression test is very vague to diagnosis; with a compression test your really just looking for a variation between cylinders as the actual number is sorta regardless.

Boost leaks? Any codes?