Car runs like crap! Cant idle, nitrous sucks.....arg! - Honda Prelude Forum

dvp95 · 08-07-2003, 01:07 AM

Hey all, my setup is a 96 accord, 98 jdm h22a, 80 hp direct port NX, an-r header, action clutch, fidanza flywheel, walbro 255lph pump, mas ignition, 2 steps colder plugs, and all your other basic stuff.

Today I went to the clutch. Im in colorado, elevation 6000ft. Last summer I ran a 16.8 all motor and 14.9 on a 50 single fogger shot. This summer, the difference was the action 2md clutch, fidanza lightweight flywheel, an-r header, and the upgrade to a 80hp direct port setup. Times, consistent 17.7's. WTF?

There seems to be a problem with my car idling. The past few days, my car would stall a few times when I let go of the gas; it would just drop all the way down and stall. Today at the track, the thing kept stalling after I start the car and slightly rev the engine. But then on the way home it was somewhat fine. Seems like it wants to stall but doesnt. Whats going on? Is it something to do with the lightweight flywheel? I probably had to start my car about a total of 20 times when I was at the track for 5 hrs. Also, my VTEC seems VERY WEAK! Normally I can feel quite a significant pull all the way past redline, but it seems to struggle to get to redline. Im sure this has to do with my times, but I dont know why its weaker. I have my VAFC set to 4800rpm.

Then, when I did my one and only nitrous run.........I have the progressive controller set low so that I can use it in first gear, but when I use it, it turns on then seems to stop. When I shift, it goes on then "seems like its going off," but its still on. Is it too much fuel or something? Im using 22 nitrous and 18 fuel jets. Fuel pressure on the b&m guage is 55psi at WOT.

I will check my compression tomorrow, plugs seemed clean as far as I can tell. Im thinking its running rich for the nitrous, but weird thing is that the plugs arent any darker. Also, yesterday I put in 3 gallons of toluene with 14 gallons of 91 octane to increase my octane to 95.

Thanks, sorry so long

j_t_heilbrun · 08-07-2003, 01:11 AM

triple post is

IBTL

marcucci · 08-07-2003, 05:45 AM

Do a compression test first. Any misshifts? Your problem sounds like a classic case of bent valves or running ultra-rich.

CTPRELUDE · 08-07-2003, 02:16 PM

Yeah definately do a compression check. You shouldnt have raced your car if it had these symptoms. Like marcucci said it sounds like bent valves to me. Have you missed any shifts or over revved?

dvp95 · 08-07-2003, 04:24 PM

I have never misshifted before and shift each time at ~7400rpm, so no over reving.

dvp95 · 08-07-2003, 04:35 PM

I will have the compression numbers later tonight.

NXLude · 08-07-2003, 06:45 PM

Ifyour car ran good a few days ago, you added toulene and then it runs like crap it doesnt take a genius to say "toulene"....drain that stuff out and try it without it.......other than that it could be the valve thing

dvp95 · 08-07-2003, 07:58 PM

It started the idling problem before the toluene was added.

dvp95 · 08-07-2003, 07:59 PM

I dont know why VTEC is so weak and why my nitrous seems to turn of, as if it was too much fuel.

dvp95 · 08-07-2003, 09:18 PM

Just did a compression test:

1: 195
2: 200
3: 205
4: 207

I then decided to put a capful of oil for whatever reason:

1: 220
2: 233
3: 235
4: 237

The pre-cap numbers were the same as the numbers last time, before I raced yesterday. Any thoughts? Oh, and the car drove just like normal today, no problems with stalling.

marcucci · 08-08-2003, 05:49 AM

What's your a/f ratio look like? My guess is too much fuel for whatever reason.

dvp95 · 08-08-2003, 09:53 AM

I would like to know that too. The dyno is over 1.5 hrs away from here. I was guessing its too much fuel since NX told me to use 22/18 @10psi for the jets. I left it at 55psi assuming that it would run rich (I want it a bit rich). Roby on honda-tech said to use 22/16 at stock psi. Funny thing is my plugs are never dark/black on the electrode. Im not sure how to read plugs though. The ring where the threads are, are black, the electrode sometimes looks a hair gray and that white ring in the middle surrounding that small tip is always the stock black/gray color. Sorry I dont know the terms. But its never dark!

This whole thing about my VTEC makes me mad. I dont know why its so weak. It used to hit hard(dont know when it stopped since i do take it that hard until I get to the track,) but now its docile and seems to run out of juice by the time I get to redline. Somethings obviously wrong though, I lost a full second when I added a clutch, lightened flywheel, an-r header, and new tires.....................

98TypeSH · 08-08-2003, 11:48 AM

You might whant to check your timing, since you say that i lost a second after adding the flywheel maybe the shop didnt get it at TDC. When my timing was off the idel would jump aroung like crazy and the car would stall if i reved it or put it in gear, but then again it was way off. Just a thought.

badmuthrfkr · 08-08-2003, 02:14 PM

You sure your fuel solenoid isn't stuck open?