[stinkyonion]

OK. Finished VF2 install, pump upgrade, moroso oil pan, new plugs, HID lamps all in the last 1-2 weeks. Brought car to FVMC and got race check with no problems. Been driving car around with no problems at all for 2 days. Today drove to work, no problem. Just now went to go home, car took 5 attempts to start. Idled just barely. Died first 4 times I touched the gas pedal. It has like 1% power and would cough and sputter when put in gear. I let it warm up, sounded better, was able to drive 2 miles home at 20mph. If I tried to accelerate I could here the air intake woosh but car would cough and sputter. The gas pump wouldnt turn off, could hear it constantly whine which I hadnt noticed before (maybe because engine rpms so low the whole time).

Wierdest part, no check engine light. No fluids under car. No smell of gas.

Im thinking gas plug somewhere but really have no idea, just a mechanical newb.

Supposed to go to Black Hawk Farms tomorrow am. My first ever track event, and the last instructionl event of the year. I think I am screwed.

Any ideas?

 

[SweetDaddyD]

Did you recently fill up? Maybe you got bad gas. I got watered gas once in my motorcycle and it would barely run, kept stalling, backfiring, etc until I drained it and put in fresh.

 

[SweetDaddyD]

Also check your vacuum lines and air filter to make sure it hasn't come off or something like that if you have an aftermarket pipe/cone set up.

 

[stinkyonion]

Yes, I just filled up. But it ran fine until I let it sit for a few hours. Maybe thats it, dunno. Will try draining it in early morning.

 

[MattG]

Even without a CEL, there might be codes stored, I'd check that first.

Maybe a loose electrical connection somewhere...MAF perhaps?

 

[Demonized]

Check all vacuum hoses, and electrical connections, pull & check sparkplugs, check for codes.

 

[Noizemaker]

I'm with MattG, check your MAF connector.

 

[stinkyonion]

Looked everywhere, no apparent disconnects or other problems. No intake leak apparent at idle. Drove it again to go to FVMC, had much improved power and only took 3 times to start it. FVMC was closed, power was still improving, so decided to risk it and drive to Blackhawk Farms. Got up to 50mph with no problem, but would still hiccup and stutter if I accelerated hard. Went 7 miles, check engine light came on, drove back to FVMC (now open) and dropped off car.

I think its bad gas, not sure what else improves with time. They are going to call me and tell me what the CEL code is. I did buy that gas right after a big rainstorm and also talked to someone else that got bad gas at the same station (Mobil at 83 and Ogden in Oak Brook). It is a older station.

Now im driving my SUV out to hang out at the club track day.

 

[usurbrain]

sorry dude... better to be safe than sorry.... there will always be more trackdays..

 

[Mr. Know]

Be sure to update us on what Fox Valley finds out, I'm curious to know the outcome.

 

[Dragon]

Let us know what the problem is when you find out...

Have fun at the track...

 

[Yeti]

Any news on the car yet?

 

[stinkyonion]

Its been at FVMC for a week, but they had other cars to work on. TJ put a day into it and hasnt turned up anything significant yet, still bogs down on acceleration and difficulty starting. No smoke machine available until next week. He thinks it might be sensor problem. Visual inspections turned up potential leaks that when corrected resulted in no significant change. Gas sample from tank looked normal. Still waiting.

 

[Simba]

I did buy that gas right after a big rainstorm...

Could be your plug gallys got filled with water if the car was sitting outside during said storm, thus resulting in little or no spark, missfire codes, etc. If it's improving with driving, it's possible the heat is slowly evaporating the water.

 

[insane]

Make sure they check the fuel filter -- something sounds clogged.

 

[Matt in Houston]

What injectors are you running?

 

[stinkyonion]

TJ found a broken O-ring in the gas pump assembly. Now waiting for part to arrive, probably like $5. (the labor wont be)
No idea why it suddenly failed. Perhaps it got pinched or something in the gas pump upgrade 2 months ago, but had a lot of miles on it before sudden catastrophic failure.

In hindsight, I did notice that usually when you put key in ignition the gas pump cycles for like a second and then turns off. After the car issues developed, the gas pump would sometimes turn off after a second or two and other times would run continuously. Apparently it was having problems maintaining pressure.

Now I recommend replacing the 2 o-rings when you do a pump upgrade. I noticed one o-ring was damaged when I opened it up for the upgrade, and then the other one failed 2 months later. Both o-rings a dirt cheap but getting to them is a bitch after the fact.

 

[stinkyonion]

Crap. Still waiting on the O-ring and now am missing autocross this weekend. Events this year: 0/3 due to repairs. WTF.

 

[RoadDad]

How many of these repairs came about after or due to some modification to your car? If 3, then stop the mods and drive.

 

[stinkyonion]

Problem solved! Turned out to be a clogged fuel line, perhaps 0-ring pieces from the 2 that broke in fuel pump assembly, dunno. Back in action! Thanx TJ at FVMC.