HUUUUGE flat spot - EA82T

Willie · Post by **Willie** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:40 pm

I took the wagon for a longer drive than just up and down my street today, and as soon as you put the foot down a bit, a huge flat spot occurs.

I played with the mixture screw to try and get the idle speed down (see other thread by me) and not sure if this has caused the flat spot.

The timing is correct (i think - it was set when idle speed was too high at around 2000 rpm). It also runs a bit rough.

The induction noise through the foam Finer filter is also huge - and you can hear the whine of the turbo winding up and slowing down also. If that's not enough audio delights for you, then the BOV hisses at each gear change.

Another hicup today was when some smoke came out of the alternator and produced an unusual smell. Then the charge light started to dimmly come on and volt meter was reading under 10 volts. I decided to change it over with the spare one I had (that came with the import motor), but had to wait until the original cooled down enough so as I could even touch it! It's also a bit black on the bottom - definately burnt something out inside there. 8O

Anyway, back to the flat spot - anyone got any ideas on this one?

Anyone want free board and food in Darwin in return for getting this car running correctly?

Cheers,

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:49 pm

It really sounds like you have a Vac leak, is the hose on that sits under the inlet plenum?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:58 pm

I have seen symptoms like what you describe caused by
1. air flow meter dodgy
2. throttle pos sensor wif corrosion and/or water inside plug pins
3. lousy fuel pressure
4. buggered choked up cat converter

flat spot also there just rev it in neutral ??
(handbrake on etc, for safety reasons)

have you decided whether it is fuel or spark problem yet ?

the yellow choke may help determine in neutral revving by spraying up its holes.... start ya bastard or aerostart

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:00 pm

yeah, swk reminds me of cracks in convoluted intake hoses also cause crap symptoms

Fatz · Post by **Fatz** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:51 am

Suby Wan Kenobi wrote:It really sounds like you have a Vac leak, is the hose on that sits under the inlet plenum?

Sorry for my ignorance and stupidity... but my EA82T seems to have this "flat spot" too.
i would like to check the VAC leak in the hose. but i dont know what or where a inlet plenum

can some one please describe one to me so i can check it?
Thanks.
Adam

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:21 pm

The inlet plenum is the alloy thing on the middle of the motor coming out of the turbo with Subaru turbo cast into it. the hose in question comes from underneath it in the centre.

Fatz · Post by **Fatz** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:41 pm

ok thanx m8.. i know where u are now

steve_rising_sun · Post by **steve_rising_sun** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 11:26 am

Willie I have been away, how is it going?
Steve

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:58 pm

I found the problem with my Dads RX, It had a vac leak caused by the Crank vent hose off the drivers side head had a crack in it. It was not evident untill i took the AFM and turbo inlet pipe offand that hose came with it. on the bench prior to reinstalling i noticed a spot of oil on the rag that was in an odd place. bent it the other way and it snapped off. Its purring like a kitten again and my old man is absolutely stoked, he even went for a 1hr test drive.

Willie · Post by **Willie** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:00 pm

Just a little update:

I have bloked off the largeish vacuum hose from the top of the thermostat housing to the intercooler (normally goes to inlet plenium chamber). This has decreased the idle rpm a fair bit (It's never constant though - sometimes 750 rpm, sometimes 1200 rpm - temp doesn't seem to be a factor).

It has also improved slightly the flat spot, however still there. Now, if you only use 2/3rds throttle i's not too bad, however when you open it further, flat spot returns until you back off.

Will check AFM (as I also need to find out which type I have for a new airbox) and I will check throttle position sensor, as this was moved around when engine swap was done.

Apart from that, I am going to check all vacuum hoses again (Geez this thing has a lot of them - did I mention it has a cruise control fitted?)

Still need a diff hanger mount, too!

Offer still open for free accomodation and beer to anyone who wants to come and play around with this thing ......

Cheers,

BlackMale · Post by **BlackMale** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:29 pm

LOL I think its more the petrol money to get there, Sounds like you are progressing in the right direction though…

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:21 pm

Willie, you have swapped engine for engine ?

I think by this stage I would be considering swapping (sounds easy saying it) the entire inlet manifold and the associated plumbing from old to new if only to eliminate the components and sensors involved.

The higher idle speed sort of says more air is getting in somewhere, throttle plate or auxillary air switch on thermostat.

An old trick of spraying WD40 or the like in various spots at a time to find a difference in idle might help.

Is the fast idle a red herring to your flatspot or are they related ? you got an improvement on flat spot when attending to idle didn't you ?

I wonder if you switched engine off immediately after flat spot and inspected colour of spark plugs - black (rich) , white (lean) or brindle (sort of what you wanna see) or wet or dry ?

Willie · Post by **Willie** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:09 am

The manifolds weren't swapped, however most of the sensors and piping, including injectors were. The throttle position sensor was swapped, as the had different connections, as was a few other electrical sensors / switches.

You've got me thinking, now. I'll be checking over everything again, I think.

Ah, the joys of conversions and playing around with cars. (And I used to be a mechanic - no wonder I gave it away)

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:52 am

have just sent an email. no wonder you gave it away, same reasons I think i never became a mechanic - the constant filth (despite trying to keep things clean) , skinned knuckles and diagnosis challenges. It is satisfying when things are finally up and running though - as far as I can recollect !!

And in the end...would you really let someone else work on your car ??

only for someone to take the blame if things go wrong , perhaps !

Willie · Post by **Willie** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:25 am

jono wrote:have just sent an email. no wonder you gave it away, same reasons I think i never became a mechanic - the constant filth (despite trying to keep things clean) , skinned knuckles and diagnosis challenges. It is satisfying when things are finally up and running though - as far as I can recollect !!

And in the end...would you really let someone else work on your car ??

only for someone to take the blame if things go wrong , perhaps !

Ah, that answers a qustion for me .........

our computer network was upgraded to XP last night, and Lotus Notes has just come back on line in the last half hour. I was wondering if it's working , as there are no new e-mails for me today. (normally would have had a dozen or so by now!)

Needless to say, your e-mail has not been received yet. You can pm me here if you need info / answer sooner rather than later. (BTW, Monday is a public holiday up here, so you won't get much out of me on monday, either.)

Cheers,

Subafury · Post by **Subafury** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:01 pm

have u tried some injector cleaner additive?
i just used some today on a kingswood which had a bad flatspot and now its accelerating perfectly.

subanator · Post by **subanator** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 12:18 am

Willie, have you cleaned the AFM, assuming you may have the hotwire one?
This tends to give incorrect values to the ECU.

If its any help, read through my post in this Troubleshooting section for a similar prob. and may give you some help on what to check.
" MPFI deadspot in throttle - blog **99% SOLVED** "