Problem With My 4 - Need Help Diagnosing
Aug 20, 2012 | 09:22 AM
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Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Halifax, NS, Canada
Problem With My 4 - Need Help Diagnosing
The description:
While flooring the car in 3rd or 4th gear everything goes well until about 5-6000 rpm, which then the rpms will go no higher. It's not like hitting fuel cut or anything like that, it just won't go any higher. After about 2-3 seconds of keeping the pedal down the engine light will come on, and I'll lose basically all power to the wheels. I proceed to then pull over and turn the ignition off. After a few seconds when I start it back up, everything is running fine again.
A couple ideas:
1) Ignition coils
2) MAF - I brought it to a mechanic today and he hit the MAF with his hand and we noticed a change in the idle. He seemed to know what he was talking about but I don't know and have never heard of this being a definitive test to see if the MAF is problematic or not, anyone know? Also, if you think the MAF is the problem here, does anyone know what other MAFs would be compatible with this car? Evo 5-8?
3) Boost leak - We did a smoke test to see if there were any leaks in the vacuum lines, and the only spot smoke was coming out of was the BOV (not sure if that's normal or not). The BOV came with the car when I bought it and it's venting to the atmosphere. I'm waiting for the Evo IX BOV to come in the mail now so I can get it recirculating.
On a side note, the car is running rich (partially because of the BOV), but could also be an indication that the MAF is the problem?
I plan on tuning this car pretty soon and obviously if I can't do any WOT 3rd or 4th gear pulls that's not going to go over too well. If anyone has any experience with this or any ideas let me know.
While flooring the car in 3rd or 4th gear everything goes well until about 5-6000 rpm, which then the rpms will go no higher. It's not like hitting fuel cut or anything like that, it just won't go any higher. After about 2-3 seconds of keeping the pedal down the engine light will come on, and I'll lose basically all power to the wheels. I proceed to then pull over and turn the ignition off. After a few seconds when I start it back up, everything is running fine again.
A couple ideas:
1) Ignition coils
2) MAF - I brought it to a mechanic today and he hit the MAF with his hand and we noticed a change in the idle. He seemed to know what he was talking about but I don't know and have never heard of this being a definitive test to see if the MAF is problematic or not, anyone know? Also, if you think the MAF is the problem here, does anyone know what other MAFs would be compatible with this car? Evo 5-8?
3) Boost leak - We did a smoke test to see if there were any leaks in the vacuum lines, and the only spot smoke was coming out of was the BOV (not sure if that's normal or not). The BOV came with the car when I bought it and it's venting to the atmosphere. I'm waiting for the Evo IX BOV to come in the mail now so I can get it recirculating.
On a side note, the car is running rich (partially because of the BOV), but could also be an indication that the MAF is the problem?
I plan on tuning this car pretty soon and obviously if I can't do any WOT 3rd or 4th gear pulls that's not going to go over too well. If anyone has any experience with this or any ideas let me know.