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Re: Sound description Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Thu, 2 Oct 2008 08:29:32
In Reply to: Sound description, Mountainmomma, Thu, 2 Oct 2008 06:05:16 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Missing under boost is classic for too wide a spark plug gap. Now, that could be the spark plugs, old wires, worn distributor cap/rotor, or all three. It would cause the engine to shudder and possibly get some backfire through the intake manifold.
As to bad gas - maybe. If all the octane has dropped low enough, the engine will be detonating under boost. The APC can only drop to base boost - if you're detonating at any boost, the APC can't help. But that would likely sound like, well, detonation - pinging from the engine. What you describe sounds more like backfiring through the intake, exhaust leaks in a number of possible places, etc.
Since you saw yellow on the gauge, the turbo is spinning. Since you didn't hear a screech or see smoke, the turbo is probably OK. That's the good news. Bad news - this is one sick puppy of an engine. Yes, it might just need a reeeaaalllly good tune up - plugs, filters, cap, wires, good timing. Or you've got a sticky valve and/or a carbon problem, and the engine will ping like mad, and/or the exhaust manifold is cracked or one of the cams slipped a tooth.
So - are you feeling lucky? Seeing as the car runs poorly, you can either take a chance, and hedge your bet by getting the car well under what it would cost if it were running well. I would build in the cost of some major work - at least a grand. If it is just plugs and gas, you're ahead. And that assumes you'll do most of the easy stuff, at least.
However, I wouldn't pay 'full price' assuming it just requires spark plugs and a fresh tank of gas. There are too many things that can go wrong. And the 'mechanic' has already shown himself to be of no use.
Because the engine is a paint-shaker, there's a bunch of other things you don't know. How's the tranny in higher gears? Does it shift well? Brakes? Highway handling? Heat? A/C?
My take - if I were looking for a possible project car, it was in otherwise good shape, and could get it really cheap, I'd consider it. But to assume it's a cheap fix is taking a really big risk. I'd walk away and look for a car that I can check all the bits on. Buying some else's problems is usually a bad investment.
posted by 192.249....
, Wed, 1 Oct 2008 22:58:52, Wed, 1 Oct 2008 20:45:15, Thu, 2 Oct 2008 08:29:32 <-- Viewing This Message
, Thu, 2 Oct 2008 15:01:01
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