Bringing it back to life

underthunder · 09-04-2007, 07:17 PM

Atm my 3.9L is being very sluggish. I've noticed it has gradually started to lose power, not just in 1 hit. Coming out of corners are a bit slower, even after a double shift into 2nd it still takes a bit to get up to about 3000rpm where it starts to kick harder, but still not hard enough. I have no idea what it could be... Is the motor dying? I thought they could take a lot more than this, it's done 230,000kms. If there is nothing I can do besides a rebuild or a reco head, the motor going back into it will be a 4.0L... Is there anything I can do? She's been serviced by myself not long ago, the only thing I haven't done is replace the plug leads but I doubt that would make it slowly lose power. Also on the highway, when overtaking, I drop it into 3rd and floor it, it picks up speed sorta ok, but these things have another 2 gears to go yet, whats going on?

PS: The accelerator cable is not stretching, it's brand new.

Grechie · 09-04-2007, 07:35 PM

check that you catalytic converter isnt blocked, i noticed my car went quieter and slowed down dramtically, only to find i had a blocked cat...

i bought a high flow...

also try and advance the timing up a bit ?

underthunder · 09-04-2007, 07:43 PM

I've played with the timing a bit, by ear, it's running a lot smoother, so it's not that... It could be the cat, I don't have the money to buy a new one though, and I can't get the damn bolts out from the exhaust manifold to gut it. Any tips on getting it off?

Nostalgia · 09-04-2007, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EAIIFalconS

I've played with the timing a bit, by ear, it's running a lot smoother, so it's not that... It could be the cat, I don't have the money to buy a new one though, and I can't get the damn bolts out from the exhaust manifold to gut it. Any tips on getting it off?

Ok then.

Bens_ELXR6 · 09-04-2007, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grechie

check that you catalytic converter isnt blocked, i noticed my car went quieter and slowed down dramtically, only to find i had a blocked cat...

i bought a high flow...

also try and advance the timing up a bit ?

I agree with Grechie on this one. Generaly the Catalyc converter will block, and cause loss of power. Fairly common in e series from what i've seen lol

There are heaps of other reasons why this would be. Might be a bung sensor, poor fuel quality, blocked fuel filter, blocked injectors, blocked air filter.

But the Cat converter would be the 1st thing i'd look at. Most exhaust places will tell you by hearing the exhaust if the cat is blocked.
Or if you like to DIY, take the cat off, and check it out.

Cheers,

Ben

09-04-2007, 08:04 PM

In 2 e series i've dealt with the slugish performance was the fuel pump...it seems that the pressure can drop over time. Measure the flow as per workshop manual

Bens_ELXR6 · 09-04-2007, 08:09 PM

The bolts are usualy 15mm I think. I usualy use a shifter on the bolt end, and 15mm spanner on the nut end. And it comes off...

The cat should have a flange connecting it (1 each side). You shouldnt have to touch the exhaust manifold itself (Going by my setup with aftermarket CATBACK and extractors). Good tip if the bolts are tough to turn, throw a large ring spanner on the end of the spanner your using, and leaver the larger ring spanner to turn the smaller one. *Dunno if I explained that one good or not* hehe

Cheers,

Ben

underthunder · 09-04-2007, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bens_ELXR6

Good tip if the bolts are tough to turn, throw a large ring spanner on the end of the spanner your using, and leaver the larger ring spanner to turn the smaller one. *Dunno if I explained that one good or not* hehe

lol well, it wasn't explained too good actually, but it sounds interesting, and it's worth a try seeing as I can't get the bastards off using a spanner and some WD40. Could you explain it any better? Or does anybody else understand?

frd_crzer · 10-04-2007, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bens_ELXR6

The bolts are usualy 15mm I think. I usualy use a shifter on the bolt end, and 15mm spanner on the nut end. And it comes off...

The cat should have a flange connecting it (1 each side). You shouldnt have to touch the exhaust manifold itself (Going by my setup with aftermarket CATBACK and extractors). Good tip if the bolts are tough to turn, throw a large ring spanner on the end of the spanner your using, and leaver the larger ring spanner to turn the smaller one. *Dunno if I explained that one good or not* hehe

Cheers,

Ben

ben i understand what u mean there. All you do is put the ringspanner on the balt on the flange and then the open end is free and then u get another ring spanner and then u put it on the open end spanner so it gives u more of a leaverage to loosen the balts off

Blue Ice · 09-04-2007, 09:03 PM

A little bit of heat on the nut with an oxy set does a good job of freeing up stiff threads.

underthunder · 09-04-2007, 09:06 PM

Hmm actually, should this be in technical?

Nostalgia · 09-04-2007, 09:08 PM

Quick tip which could save you thousands at the E.P.A. Testing Station. DONT GUT THE CAT.

underthunder · 09-04-2007, 09:12 PM

Just making the point that I do understand this is illegal, please no more replies about the damn E.P.A fines.

Nostalgia · 09-04-2007, 09:14 PM

Well no more replies about gutting the *** thing. Its really pretty simple.

underthunder · 09-04-2007, 10:16 PM

I wasn't actually asking how to gut the cat... I asked for a few suggestions on how to get the bolts undone as they are quite hard... This thread is about my motor being sluggish, the cat was something to check... I need to know how to get the bolts off to check the cat... Don't take this thread down the shithole please, lets stay on topic.

-jjM- · 09-04-2007, 10:26 PM

dont mind EAadam hes post qwality tonight is somewhat....****!

dose it take a while to start up when its cold? mine was actually very badly once, i just replaced the common things, coil, leads, sprak plugs, filter, cat, thats off the top of my head and she was back to what she was again...

underthunder · 09-04-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -jjM-

dont mind EAadam hes post qwality tonight is somewhat....****!

dose it take a while to start up when its cold? mine was actually very badly once, i just replaced the common things, coil, leads, sprak plugs, filter, cat, thats off the top of my head and she was back to what she was again...

It seems to start up ok, as usual when you start it the idle revs are a little bit low, then they pick up after a few secs and it idles normally. I've replaced the general things bar the plug leads, will do them next pay. Start up is fine, it's just when I need to pick up speed for one reason or another, my foot is almost on the floor. It's still quick enough, it's just not what it used to be a month or so ago.

OED666 · 09-04-2007, 10:26 PM

something that might help get the bolts undone. spray some wd40 on the bolts, and dont just undo them. undo it 1 turn, then do it up 1 turn, then undo it 2 turns, and up 1 turn. just to loosen the thread a little. i am guessing the bolts are quite rusty

fairmont1998 · 09-04-2007, 10:51 PM

Also, don't just lean on the spanner, you'll snap the bolt before it comes out. Put the ring spanner on and hit it sharply with a hammer a few times to 'crack' the bolt. Using a blow to crack a bolt is better than leaning on it. Works for rattle guns ;)

Nostalgia · 09-04-2007, 10:54 PM

PM sent.

underthunder · 09-04-2007, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairmont1998

Also, don't just lean on the spanner, you'll snap the bolt before it comes out. Put the ring spanner on and hit it sharply with a hammer a few times to 'crack' the bolt. Using a blow to crack a bolt is better than leaning on it. Works for rattle guns ;)

Thanks for that mate, if I can get a hammer in there I'll give it a go... It's the stock manifold and cat so it's in that tight spot next to the engine, not down below. The bolts at the exhaust end are fine as I just had an exhaust put on 2 weeks ago, it's just the bolts under the manifold that don't wanna come out.

barthez · 09-04-2007, 10:59 PM

take it to an exhaust shop and just ask them to check your system...could be blocked somewhere....i had the same problem, turned out my cat and muffler was ******...all is good now...

underthunder · 09-04-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barthez

take it to an exhaust shop and just ask them to check your system...could be blocked somewhere....i had the same problem, turned out my cat and muffler was ******...all is good now...

Yeah when I got the exhaust put on I asked him about the cat. I suggested gutting it, he said that's what he'd do... I suppose that is most probably what's holding it back, I just need to get those damn bolts out

ing_sm

underthunder · 09-04-2007, 11:10 PM

Sorry about the triple post

: Would there be anything else that could be the culprit besides the cat? I've replaced all filters, spark plugs, done an oil change, ran some injector cleaner through it...

-jjM- · 09-04-2007, 11:12 PM

i recon find out with the cat, cause when mine went, it dragged it into the ground, and when i replaced it with something new, it made a hole lot of difference, so try the cat first i recon

underthunder · 09-04-2007, 11:25 PM

Thanks a lot guys, I'll see if I can get this cat off tomorrow and have a look. I'll let ya's know