Need Help Getting My S14 Running Properly Diagnostic Problems

[chriz]

Hi all Im chris!

Im a qualified mechanic have always been playing around on jap cars.

So I cant get my 200sx running right...

Its a ADM S1 S14 200sx 1995 Manual

Previous owner blew up the engine, got an engine swap done and has not

been running right since.

PROBLEM

When you drive the vehicle it bogs down and drives like its lacking power.

Were talking like it drives like a naturally aspirated four cylinder with no power!

THINGS IVE DONE TO FIX IT

engine compression test - 150psi all round ok

checked cams and reset camshaft timing - ok

carried out major service all oils & filters spark plugs etc - ok

checked ecu wiring and repaired "had ems stinger piggy back before hand" - ok

checked for ecu codes - ok

air flow meter - replace and check wiring ok

fuel pump - replace and check wiring ok

fuel line - replace and check ok

fuel pressure regulator - replace and check ok

fuel rail and injectors - replace and check ok

ignition module - replace and check ok

turbo - replace and check ok

vaccum/boost leak - secured and checked all intercooler hosing and carried out leak test ok

camshaft position sensor - check wiring set with timing light according to repair manual

check turbo intake hosing for sucking in - repaired and checked ok

So in a nutshell i have put the vehicle back to standard from what it was.

Ive checked and done most things that i can think of and the problem is still there.

THINGS LEFT TO CHECK

Blocked cat/exhaust?

Fried ecu computer?

Ecu computer wiring earth and wiring?

Looking for computer and going to unbolt exhaust to check soon!

NOTE - checked my vin with nissan parts system i need a

WF 23710 74F01, WF 23710 74F02 or WF 23710 74F03 ECU computer.

They are hard to come by!!!

Anyway if anyone has any ideas I would really really appreciate it.

Ill take any help i can get!

Ill post up a pic of my girl so this thread isn't so boring for you guys/gals!

Also got a pic of the inside of the ecu can anyone tell if its been remapped?

Attached thumbnail(s)

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[chriz]

Hi all Im chris!

Im a qualified mechanic have always been playing around on jap cars.

So I cant get my 200sx running right...

Its a ADM S1 S14 200sx 1995 Manual

Previous owner blew up the engine, got an engine swap done and has not

been running right since.

PROBLEM

When you drive the vehicle it bogs down and drives like its lacking power.

Were talking like it drives like a naturally aspirated four cylinder with no power!

THINGS IVE DONE TO FIX IT

engine compression test - 150psi all round ok

checked cams and reset camshaft timing - ok

carried out major service all oils & filters spark plugs etc - ok

checked ecu wiring and repaired "had ems stinger piggy back before hand" - ok

checked for ecu codes - ok

air flow meter - replace and check wiring ok

fuel pump - replace and check wiring ok

fuel line - replace and check ok

fuel pressure regulator - replace and check ok

fuel rail and injectors - replace and check ok

ignition module - replace and check ok

turbo - replace and check ok

vaccum/boost leak - secured and checked all intercooler hosing and carried out leak test ok

camshaft position sensor - check wiring set with timing light according to repair manual

check turbo intake hosing for sucking in - repaired and checked ok

So in a nutshell i have put the vehicle back to standard from what it was.

Ive checked and done most things that i can think of and the problem is still there.

THINGS LEFT TO CHECK

Blocked cat/exhaust?

Fried ecu computer?

Ecu computer wiring earth and wiring?

Looking for computer and going to unbolt exhaust to check soon!

NOTE - checked my vin with nissan parts system i need a

WF 23710 74F01, WF 23710 74F02 or WF 23710 74F03 ECU computer.

They are hard to come by!!!

Anyway if anyone has any ideas I would really really appreciate it.

Ill take any help i can get!

Ill post up a pic of my girl so this thread isn't so boring for you guys/gals!

Also got a pic of the inside of the ecu can anyone tell if its been remapped?

Attached thumbnail(s)

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[Duncan]

no need to double post!

it's running smooth (no miss), but very sluggish?

my guess is you are going to find it is a timing issue.

Are you 100% sure the CAS is correct in the cam (ie keyway not broken?)

Are you 100% sure your timing light is reading correctly? Run spark plug lead from the coil pack to the plug with a timing light attached.

I know you said you checked the timing belt etc but maybe get someone to double check incase you are missing something obvious

are the zorst temps very hot?

[chriz]

Hi Duncan

Sorry about that double post.

Running smooth as!

Fine in neutral idles and revs ok.

Doesn't rev as smootly as a friends sr20 though which is strange, only really slightly.

"not noticeable to a non mechanical minded person"

Its just under load that its totally gutless!

Not a timing issue at all

Set the ignition timing three times "im very pedantic"

Used a timing light and followed the repair manual directly

"and yes i did warm it up and set it in base mode before i set the spark timing"

The timing light im using is a $1200 one i borrowed from work.

It does use a lead you bridge from the spark plug to the #1 coilpack.

I got help with the camshaft/engine timing followed the repair manual

and triple checked through the forums that all the teeth line up and the cams

were in the right position.

Man honestly i don't want to run the car to much the way it its to even think about heating up the exhaust!

The exhaust will be taken off soon and checked. Its a stupid one piece turbo back . Im going to angle grind it right before the cat!

Thanks so much for your help mate!

-Chris

[Duncan]

hmm well if it's not rough, and it's not timing...

does it actually make boost? maybe the turbo is missing a compressor wheel?

if not that....breathing problem - is there a major restriction in the inlet or exhaust? blocked cat or maybe pete helped you with the motor and left a rag in the intake?

[chriz]

yeah boosts fine

i guess its not so much rough its more or less powerless or boggy

im about to check the cat

redid all of the intercooler hoses so thats sweet

redid the turbo intake pipe so it wouldnt suck it

im checking the ecu earths now

going to check the knock sensor and wiring to

it really feels like a afm problem but its not! hmm

keep you posted

thanks for your help

[chriz]

thanks for the ideas

good news heres the update

Rather then testing the sensors

i tested the wiring input into the ecu!

TEST

ecu earhts ok

ecu powers ok

Pin 30 boost, tps and water temp sensor ground. No earth? NOT OK?!

knock sensor pin 23

was 2v

spec 2-3v OK

camshaft sensor

180deg signal pin 51,41

was 0.5-0.6v

spec 0.3-0.6v OK

1deg signal pin 52,42

was 2.3v

spec 2-3v OK

water temp sensor pin 28

was 3.5v cold and 1.23v hot

spec 2.5v cold and 0.5v hot NOT OK?!

boost sensor pin 35

was idle 1.89v 4000rpm 2.4v

spec idle 2v and 4000rpm 2.2v

air flow meter pin 27

was idle 1.47, 3000rpm 1.95v

specs “engine warm” idle 0.8-1.5v, 3000rpm 1.4-2v OK

throttle position sensor pin 38

was closed 0.6v, open 3.9

specs closed 0.2 to 0.65v, open 4v

oxygen sensor

oxygen sensor signal pin 115

was idle-4000rpm battery volts, still over 4000rpm

specs idle-4000 rpm low volts, over 4000rpm battery volts NOT OK!?

oxygen sensor output pin 29

was -0.02v

specs 0.2 to 0.9v fluctuating NOT OK!?

So its either "oxygen sensor/wiring", "water temp sensor/wiring" or "boost, tps and water temp sensor ground"

Yet to check the wiring and sensors as i just started raining

no garage

Any tips from anyone would be great

[chriz]

ok checked with repair manual

water temp sensor ok

the repco auto encyclopedia had a typo error

oxygen sensor not ok PIN 115

reading battery voltage at idle to 4000rpm

needs to read 0v at idle to 4000rpm and battery voltage at 4000rpm+

unlugged oxy wiring

threw no codes!?

did not make any difference

re did and checked oxy wiring anyway

tested oxy sensor ok

im beginning to think its really the ecu fried going into limp mode without saying it is

its getting to the point that where im just gonna give up n take it to just jap!

[DVS JEZ]

Try another ecu 1st. Sounds like u know what ur doing as a mechanic. So dont give up yet.

02 sensors are only used as an input into the ecu when off boost. So i doubt that is ur answer.

Check the cat now. As that will cause all the symptoms u have described.

[chriz]

UPDATE!

All sensors are ok and in spec

Just got the new ecu computer from "midnightmods" cheers for that

computer works fine but i still have the same problem

ok so i unplugged the throttle position sensor to set it in base mode and took it for another drive

drove slightly better but still gutless

rechecked spark timing with a light ok

took rocker cover off and checked engine timing again timing fine and cams line up fine to repair manual ok

see attached picks

so on piston one top dead center

exhaust valves dead shut are about to open

intake valves dead shut

following the repair manual

piston 1 is dead at the top

left hand "exhaust" cam mark 12 oclock

right hand "intake" cam mark 10 oclock

COULD I HAVE A STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN?

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[chriz]

left to check timing chain for being stretched or cat for being blocked

i don't think its the cat/exhaust blocked Ive had my hand close to the exhaust when my mate revs it it seems to flow out fine

[JLTS13]

hey mate, Ive had the same issue before with one of these, runs fine but no power.

The one I did ended up being a knock sensor, which will test fine but the sensor keeps retarding the engine causing this boggy feeling you get.

If you can l would highly recommend trying another knock sensor and confirming there a no faults in the wiring for the sensor.

It sounds like youve covered every thing but that is what l have experienced with at least one of these cars before.

Hope that helps and good luck

Cheers

[chriz]

Hmm now thats a thought!

Although the sensor may be reading correctly on idle it may be faulty when the car is going

ill hot wire a resistor to be certain of this!

But how come no codes get thrown!? Hmmmm

[JLTS13]

old nissan computers and some of the sensors wont actually throw a code unless it has a dead short or open circuit, I still have the same problem today with Y61 patrols the air flow meters sh#$ themselves and stop reading but you get no code due to it dosent go out of range, the voltage just dosent change.

Its a strange system but it works, so if you can l would recommend at least trying a knock sensor and see how it goes.

good luck

[chriz]

Ok guys update!

In the process of borrowing my mates cam sensor and timing that the turbo blew up!

It went pop and now whines its head off as well as blowing smoke...

Maybe that was my problem all along, it was boosting but not enough and the turbo may have been working its arse off to get to the right pressure.

It was a second hand turbo from the internet so you cant trust anyone can you...

Ill whack a s15 turbo on now an let you guys know.

Thanks for all your help!

[chriz]

Replaced turbo today

No different!

After hours of tears and ripping out my hair... I thought "spark timing"

Rather then following the repair manual as it says to set the engine in base mode before setting the spark timing, i set it without putting it in base mode.

IT WORKED

FML!

Well at least the car is all sweet and i know it back to front.

Thanks for all your help guys!

PROBLEM SOLVED!