Lots of problems - maybe related...

SilverFire · 12-21-2007, 03:23 PM

I just replaced the silvertop in my MR2 and I'm having a few problems. Unfortunately, I don't know what I'm doing and the shop that got it running for me took 3 days and 2 techs to figure out the vacuum lines so I'm not particularily confident that they're much better...

Anyway, the problems:

It takes 2-3 minutes of cranking (10 seconds cranking, 10 seconds cooling the starter) to start when it's cold, but once it's started it fires up again right away.

When the engine first starts up, it has no power whatsoever to speak of. after the temp gauge gets up to the cold mark, it starts to improve until it gets to normal operating temperature.

Once at normal temperature, I can drive around town without too much trouble provided I'm easy on the throttle. Somewhere around 1/3 to 1/2 throttle (depending on the gear) it either bogs down horribly, or just plain has no power. That all depends on how fast I get there. If I go fast, like to pass someone or pull out into traffic, it bogs. If I floor it slowly, like to accelerate for a speed limit change, it will rev just fine all the way up to 7k and likely beyond (I ran out out of clear road there), but it accelerates in 2nd like it used to in 5th on the highway. Maybe a little slower. Also if I go in between, like to climb a steep hill, it has no power and knocks audibly.

I'd be tempted to say the timing's out, but the shop checked it and it's dead on 10 degrees BTDC with the diagnostic plug jumpered.

I suspect that running way lower octane(91) was a contributing factor to the old engine's demise, so I'm running on 100 octane race gas for now. The old ST pulled hard with just a little knock under heavy load until its demise, so everything AROUND the engine is good.

What else could it be? The new engine's timing belt cover was broken in shipping, could it be a sensor that got messed up around there?

Thanks!

Mista 2 · 12-28-2007, 03:06 AM

dont quote me on this but it sounds like it coulkd be a TPS

SilverFire · 01-09-2008, 03:54 AM

Well, looks like I got it. Turns out the spark plugs were the wrong ones. I asked the shop I got the engine at whether the 16v plugs worked or not. They said they did, do I put some in. I was poking around and happened to open up mr220v's list of 20v parts. I noticed that the plug numbers had no resemblance to what I put in. Did a little cross-checking, and it turns out the ones I put in were 3 heat ranges too hot. (Turns out they were wrong for the 16v too.) Put the right ones in and all my problems went away. Except for the hard starting.

It's better, but I still have to crank for 10 seconds or so before it starts as opposed to it firing right up like it did before. I'm thinking it's just the sub-zero temps of winter, but I'd like to hear from others in Canada with silvertops to be sure...

F0Bman · 04-11-2008, 02:44 AM

Good work man!

SilverFire · 04-12-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverFire

It's better, but I still have to crank for 10 seconds or so before it starts as opposed to it firing right up like it did before. I'm thinking it's just the sub-zero temps of winter, but I'd like to hear from others in Canada with silvertops to be sure...

Yup. That's what it was... Now that its warmer out, it starts up a lot better. When it ~0*C I still have to try to start it twice, but pretty much the rest of the time it starts right away.

E T Haggis · 04-13-2008, 12:41 AM

now you just have to work on your bumper from the snow =P

SilverFire · 04-15-2008, 03:07 AM

LOL yeah! Like get a new shell. I stopped in at a couple body shops and nobody wants to touch it as soon as they see the fender well rust.

F0Bman · 04-18-2008, 02:37 AM

Check grounding and wiring, maybe even plug wires.

12-21-2007, 03:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
SilverFire Some Skills Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 88 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Lots of problems - maybe related... I just replaced the silvertop in my MR2 and I'm having a few problems. Unfortunately, I don't know what I'm doing and the shop that got it running for me took 3 days and 2 techs to figure out the vacuum lines so I'm not particularily confident that they're much better... Anyway, the problems: It takes 2-3 minutes of cranking (10 seconds cranking, 10 seconds cooling the starter) to start when it's cold, but once it's started it fires up again right away. When the engine first starts up, it has no power whatsoever to speak of. after the temp gauge gets up to the cold mark, it starts to improve until it gets to normal operating temperature. Once at normal temperature, I can drive around town without too much trouble provided I'm easy on the throttle. Somewhere around 1/3 to 1/2 throttle (depending on the gear) it either bogs down horribly, or just plain has no power. That all depends on how fast I get there. If I go fast, like to pass someone or pull out into traffic, it bogs. If I floor it slowly, like to accelerate for a speed limit change, it will rev just fine all the way up to 7k and likely beyond (I ran out out of clear road there), but it accelerates in 2nd like it used to in 5th on the highway. Maybe a little slower. Also if I go in between, like to climb a steep hill, it has no power and knocks audibly. I'd be tempted to say the timing's out, but the shop checked it and it's dead on 10 degrees BTDC with the diagnostic plug jumpered. I suspect that running way lower octane(91) was a contributing factor to the old engine's demise, so I'm running on 100 octane race gas for now. The old ST pulled hard with just a little knock under heavy load until its demise, so everything AROUND the engine is good. What else could it be? The new engine's timing belt cover was broken in shipping, could it be a sensor that got messed up around there? Thanks!

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12-28-2007, 03:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mista 2 Cage Fighter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 461 Thanks: 16 Thanked 21 Times in 21 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	dont quote me on this but it sounds like it coulkd be a TPS

01-09-2008, 03:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
SilverFire Some Skills Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 88 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Well, looks like I got it. Turns out the spark plugs were the wrong ones. I asked the shop I got the engine at whether the 16v plugs worked or not. They said they did, do I put some in. I was poking around and happened to open up mr220v's list of 20v parts. I noticed that the plug numbers had no resemblance to what I put in. Did a little cross-checking, and it turns out the ones I put in were 3 heat ranges too hot. (Turns out they were wrong for the 16v too.) Put the right ones in and all my problems went away. Except for the hard starting. It's better, but I still have to crank for 10 seconds or so before it starts as opposed to it firing right up like it did before. I'm thinking it's just the sub-zero temps of winter, but I'd like to hear from others in Canada with silvertops to be sure...

04-11-2008, 02:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
F0Bman Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 257 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Good work man!

04-13-2008, 12:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
E T Haggis I Like Rusty Spoons Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Deland Posts: 585 Thanks: 61 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	now you just have to work on your bumper from the snow =P

04-15-2008, 03:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
SilverFire Some Skills Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 88 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	LOL yeah! Like get a new shell. I stopped in at a couple body shops and nobody wants to touch it as soon as they see the fender well rust.

04-18-2008, 02:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
F0Bman Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 257 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Check grounding and wiring, maybe even plug wires.