3.9 dying above 4000rpm

T_Terror · 16-03-2005, 08:19 PM

Hey all. I noticed today that for the life of me i cant rev past 4500rpm (ive been nice to the EA lately).

As soon as i hit 4000rpm it just feels like power drops off a cliff and it strains like anything to get up to 4500rpm after which it just cant go any further.

What you's think it oculd be? Ignition related? Or injectors/fuel pump?

Brent-EA Ghia · 16-03-2005, 08:25 PM

Did it rev past 4500rpm before, or have you ever had i above that? and has anything been done since this, like headgasket etc?

Brent

T_Terror · 16-03-2005, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent-EA Ghia

Did it rev past 4500rpm before, or have you ever had i above that? and has anything been done since this, like headgasket etc?

Brent

To be honest i cant remember. Everytime i did burnouts or dragged i just went by seat-of-the-pants feeling and shifted when it felt "right".

EB6 · 16-03-2005, 08:53 PM

when was the last time ya changed ya fuel filter, spark plugs and air filter they could be knackered stoppin it from bein able to rev.

Sundeep · 16-03-2005, 08:39 PM

My old car was like that, if you find out what it is let SPRINTEA know straight away ;)

Sundeep

Brent-EA Ghia · 16-03-2005, 08:49 PM

Its just we had an Ef come into work, it wouldnt rev past 3,500rpm, so we checked exhaust, ignition etc. But found it was two teeth out on the cam timing, and it had had the top end done previous to the owner puchasing it. Once it was corrected it wanted to rev, and would go past redline. just a thought!

Brent.

AUII_Forte · 16-03-2005, 08:50 PM

Oxygen sensor!! My EA used to do the same thing, changed every other sensor first coz I couldn't see it causing the problem, but then as a last resort I changed it and if bloody well fixed it!

T_Terror · 16-03-2005, 08:58 PM

sparkies and air filter are less than 6months old. fuel filter is a possibilty, ill replace on weekend.

Im thinking its the cam timing.

On a complete tangent, if youre doing turbo, do you have to drill a hole in the exhaust manifold and put the oxygen sensor in there?

AUII_Forte · 16-03-2005, 09:19 PM

Cam timing isn't just going to change by itself. The only way for it to change is by skipping teeth on the timing gears and for the chain to be loose enough to do that it's be rattling like a bitch.

Yes oxy sensor should be placed in the dump pipe.

EFFalcon · 17-03-2005, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUII_Forte

Cam timing isn't just going to change by itself. The only way for it to change is by skipping teeth on the timing gears and for the chain to be loose enough to do that it's be rattling like a bitch.

Yes oxy sensor should be placed in the dump pipe.

mine jumped teeth by itself :P
mine jumped maybe 2 teeth, still managed to rev out (though not happily) and then jumped another 2 teeth and destroyed everything :P

i know its common for LPG fueled cars to have this issue, but only on LPG when its too lean up top, i'd expect the ULP side to be fine.

INJECTED_250 · 16-03-2005, 10:56 PM

blocked exhasut system...... cat converter? is the intake noise very loud?

EASPRINT · 16-03-2005, 11:15 PM

i'm trying to fix the same problem on sunny's old car!....I'm thinking either dizzy, cam timing or coil.....i've tried ECU...plugs...leads.....fuel pumps ...new exhuast and cat etc etc....it's really anoying...i've never found a 4.0 to be like this?

T_Terror · 16-03-2005, 11:20 PM

Yea he mentioned that he had the same prob.

looks like weve found another common EA gremlin. Now if only we could fix it...

oneredED · 17-03-2005, 01:19 PM

My ED dies after 4500. It really just struggles to get any higher. I can hear a hissing sort of noise coming from the intake side of the engine though when it does get to about 4600 though, so i'm thinking it may be the restriction of the gas mixer? I dunno but i wish mine would rev out too :(

T_Terror · 17-03-2005, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneredED

My ED dies after 4500. It really just struggles to get any higher. I can hear a hissing sort of noise coming from the intake side of the engine though when it does get to about 4600 though, so i'm thinking it may be the restriction of the gas mixer? I dunno but i wish mine would rev out too :(

Add another one to the list.

I dont think its the gas mixer, i read deankdx removed teh gas mixer and opened up the intake in his 1UZ XF and found no differnece whatsoever.
Differnent engine i know but i really dont think me or you are making anough power and airflow for it to be that much of an impact.

Who needs rev-limiters hey....

Sundeep · 17-03-2005, 04:08 PM

Well on my old car I did-

-Timing twice or three times by computer
-Fuel filter
-Fuel pump
-Rotor button
-Dizzy cap
-Leads
-Plugs
-Injectors
-Computer
-Cam
-Head
-Cleaned TB

And numerous other things but it didn't change. I just thought that's how they were stock and lived with it.

Sundeep

EFFalcon · 17-03-2005, 04:13 PM

the gas mixer will effect power, but not to the extent that the engine wont rev out.

EA2BA · 17-03-2005, 04:15 PM

Well my EA revs pefectly fine all the way to 5,300 or so in power mode then changes gears, apart from the pod filter, ef air box, and XH snorkle, I am using the EA inlet (smaller then ED), and stock exhaust manifold, still go the EA head and cam, as well just a 2.25 inch exhaust and best I can tell the original cat from the factory.

Sundeep · 17-03-2005, 04:19 PM

The EA I have now will rev to 5000 if pushed, and it's straight gas, but it has to pushed. It pulls to 5000 though, doesn't struggle or anything.

I know the EBs and EDs are a lot smoother to redline though.

EAs are shit :o)

Sundeep

InitialD · 17-03-2005, 05:49 PM

I know John_Xr6 had this recently with the Tickford XR computer fitted, wouldnt go past 4500rpm, fitted the old ECU, barely idles now but hits 5000rpm and past that easy

Racecraft · 17-03-2005, 05:53 PM

I'm with injected_250 i'd bet on a partially blocked cat convertor

BuuBox · 18-03-2005, 07:52 PM

Mine's the same, won't rev past 4500rpm for anyone. The intake noise is rather loud, especially with a pod filter... does this suggest a blocked exhaust? Spose I'll have to get something done about it!

needturbo6 · 20-03-2005, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuuBox

Mine's the same, won't rev past 4500rpm for anyone. The intake noise is rather loud, especially with a pod filter... does this suggest a blocked exhaust? Spose I'll have to get something done about it!

if the intake noise is loud with a stock snorkel then that is a sign of a blocked exhaust, most probably the cat.

T_Terror · 18-03-2005, 11:11 PM

Can all of us really have blocked exhausts?

Who wants to have a go running around sans exhaust from the extractors back this weekend!

old_mate · 18-03-2005, 11:32 PM

My old EA did this same damn thing, but it was caused by the harmonic balancer slipping meaning my timing marks were up the creek. Ford even used the computer to supposedly set the timing. I just used no1 cylinder with a bit of wire (to find true TDC) then remarked the timing marks and went from there.

EF302 · 19-03-2005, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rollin

i fixed my car by accident....

who said, if it aint broken dont fix it?

:

needturbo6 · 20-03-2005, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_Terror

Hey all. I noticed today that for the life of me i cant rev past 4500rpm (ive been nice to the EA lately).

As soon as i hit 4000rpm it just feels like power drops off a cliff and it strains like anything to get up to 4500rpm after which it just cant go any further.

What you's think it oculd be? Ignition related? Or injectors/fuel pump?

It is common on these motors for the harmonic balancer to slip and slide. i would
try advancing the timing about 6 more degrees, and use a good fuel like premium or ultimate just for a bit of a backup to prevent pinging if 6 degrees is too much....

BuuBox · 20-03-2005, 05:22 PM

Could anyone recommend a place to get a new exhaust and cat then? Maybe some indication of price?

Thanks, apreciated! Maybe I'll be able to rev all the way to 5000rpm soon.

LUXO_8 · 20-03-2005, 06:05 PM

IMO, just get a seccond hand AU cat, considering the cost of a new cat , it would save you heaps.

T_Terror · 21-03-2005, 10:47 PM

*UPDATE*

Refilled with Mobil Synergy 8000 and straight away it reved more freely and most importantly, kept pulling up to the rev limiter (5500 or thereabouts)!!!!

Cant believe that my busted up old EA would need premium with its 8.8 compression but hey it works. I usually stick to premium except last week where i was low on cash, i ended up getting 7-11 fuel. Shithosue fuel economy so at the end of the day im sticking to premium.

Try it.