Rb20/r32 Gtst Engine Gremlins

[ShinySilverDragon]

Hi Guys,

I'm really hoping someone can give me some info/guidance on some problems I'm having with my baby.

The car is a R32 GTST - RB20 stock engine. I bought it about 18months ago; it has approx 220,000 km on her. Major 200k service was completed by previous owner (according to him)

Problem 1 (first started occurring 2-3 weeks ago):

The car will start up normally, and will run normally at first. Then once it gets warm, after 40min to an hour of driving, it will start to sound like it has dropped a cylinder. It will develop a "put put" sound from the exhaust, start to backfire badly after acceleration, and would generally feel like it had no power. The car will not idle smoothly, and the idle will drop quite low (400-600 RPM). It will still get some boost, but it won't start to kick in until around 4k RPM. There is also a strong smell of fuel inside the car (with the windows up and no a/c or fans on), as well as outside the car.

The problem started out being fairly sporadic, but then became more regular (as in would occur within 30-40 min of starting the car on my drive to and from work)

Once the problem starts, it won't go away until the car is not running for a significant period (like overnight).

*First thought is to a leaky injector o-ring, and some fuel can be seen in the area around the injector. But have not removed it yet as am waiting on parts.

Problem 2 (started approx 1 week ago):

The car will start normally, and will idle normally. Then when trying to pull away in first, the car will seem normal until 2k RPM. Then it will bog down, and plateau at 2k, and will take 20 30 seconds to get to 3k RPM. The boost gauge on the dash (which is not in PSI) will read to -7, until RPM reaches 3K, and then it will come back to 0, and then start to boost up to +4 at 4.5K RPM (which is much later than normal). The same will happen in second gear, but not in any of the others.

It is hard to say if this issue occurs after a certain amount of time, or in certain conditions. It has happened straight away from starting the car, and it has also happened after the car has been running for a while.

I have had this problem go away while driving once.

So fingers crossed you guys can help! Thanks in advance, and if there is anything I can be more specific about just let me know

- Sheri

[zebra]

When was the last time you changed the spark plugs?

[cannabiscorpse]

Its seems they would have been done at 200k according to his post (by the previous owner) But that is purely taking the previous owners word for it.

Edit- Do Rb 20's suffer from the same shitty coil packs the Rb25s do? My 25 behaved similar in some instances when the coils were rat shit.

Edited May 16, 2011 by cannabiscorpse

[eightsixboy]

I would be checking plugs and coils first. If your smelling fuel it could be a lack of spark.

I would start ignition side first and elimimate some things, its prob coils and or plugs, pretty common on rbs for coils to die.

[GTScotT]

First diagnose everything and see where you come up.

Check compression, fuel pressure, resistance across the usual sensors and diagnostic error codes.

Start with the basics, the factory service manual (FSM) can tell you all this.

Once you have checked that everything is running as it should.. Then you can start wondering what gremlins you may have.

[ShinySilverDragon]

thanks for the responses guys

I changed the spark plugs about a year ago (3-4 months after buying the car)

but have not yet checked the coil packs, so will put that on the to do list.

Thanks for the help so far, will update with any findings as I go

[ShinySilverDragon]

Ok car just died at a set of lights in peak hour traffic! So frustrating! And what is with no one stopping to help or even asking if I'm ok! And no tow trucks are available!!!! \end rant

Will be looking at it tomorrow, will be checking coil packs, sparks, leads, battery, starter everything! (was going to be looking at it anyway which makes it even more annoying)

[Jezza-gtR]

My money is on the igniter.

[ShinySilverDragon]

So car still isn't starting today

Coil packs are fine, all 6 plugs are sparking though spark seems weak...

Fuel is definitely going into the fuel rail, so all the ingredients are there for it to start, but it still isn't.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

[Rekin]

So car still isn't starting today

Coil packs are fine, all 6 plugs are sparking though spark seems weak...

Fuel is definitely going into the fuel rail, so all the ingredients are there for it to start, but it still isn't.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

My money is on the igniter.

^^ This. Check. (its the black box ontop of the coilpack cover. Find another one and test)

[ShinySilverDragon]

Thanks jezza-gtr and rekin, will be comparing my igniter pack with another working one tomorrow, also hoping to check it out via consult cable.

[ShinySilverDragon]

ok, so have checked the igniter pack, swapped it with a working one and no change to the car.

have been using consult cable to check dtc's, Nothing found.

did notice corrosion on injector plugs (previous owner lived on the beaches - i do not) so potentially has been like that for a year or more.

start attempts still dont sound quite right. Starter motor is turning, but i cannot feel the solanoid clicking...

so will continue investigations down that tangent...

all suggetions welcome

[ShinySilverDragon]

ok so in addition to that... the starter doesnt sound/feel like its clicking... but the engine is turning over...

so not having much luck....

thoughs and suggestions appreciated

[Jezza-gtR]

ok so in addition to that... the starter doesnt sound/feel like its clicking... but the engine is turning over...

so not having much luck....

thoughs and suggestions appreciated

Engine can't turn over if the starter inst working.

If you can try swapping the CAS/AFM with a known working one too. Also make sure your battery has good charge as low battery voltage can mess with the electrical systems.

Check all the intake piping after the AFM for leaks or anything popped off or something silly like that. Very hard to diagnose a car without seeing it lol.

Has any work been done recently on the car?

[ShinySilverDragon]

Thanks jezza, haven't checked the CAS with a working one. But the car is definitely turning over, with the cam cover off you can see the gears turning.

Tried changing coil packs with working ones, but still no joy.

Even with a leak in the air intake, it should still start though right?

Hoping my boyfriend can borrow a Nissan diagnostic tool from his work tomorrow. Hoping that might pick up something that ecu talk missed.

Otherwise I think it will be time to send it to a good auto sparky . . .

[ShinySilverDragon]

ok so testing injectors after work today... here's hoping a result is found

[ShinySilverDragon]

Ok not the result I wanted. Tested injectiors using noid light/ injector test light, with a positive result. Unable to test all the injectors without removing all the surrounding mess.

Next suggestion has been fuel pressure, or something electrical.

Does anyone have any ideas or thoughts? Currently running very low on both.

[Jezza-gtR]

Can you hear the fuel pump priming when the ignition is turned on?

I'm starting to think the ECU has shit itself because your problem has gone from bad to worse and now the car won't even start. If you can try a working one or get a place to test your one.

[ShinySilverDragon]

Yes fuel pump is definitely priming and pumping fuel into the fuel rail. It's unknown if it's pushing through enough pressure though.

Though that is leading to the question of where is the fuel going? As the car is pushing air out the exhaust, though doesn't appear fuely. And if it is igniting, well then what is stopping the car from starting (again leading back to electrical/ecu/unknown sensor)

Tonight I will be having a look at the ecu, unsure if testing will be possible, but will definitely try for that.

Will also be trying to swap the CAS for a known working one as well.

Hoping to have it fixed Texi in June so here's hoping something tonight works!

[Rolls]

sounds like a flat battery if your starter wont even click over

jump start it with another car and if it turns over it is your battery, injectors etc wont stop it cranking lol, once you have it at least turning over but not starting get a consult cable and make sure all sensors are working.