st200 under power any ideas

[slyston]

I HAVE A T REG ST200 WITH 43K AND COMPARED TO MY MATES IT SEEMS UNDERPOWERED. BEEN TOLD I HAVE A MANIFOLD GASKET GONE DOES ANY BODY HAVE ANY IDEAS IF THIS COULD BE CAUSING IT?

[Dave_ST220]

How underpowered? Flat after 4K RPM?More info but couldbe IMRC.

[slyston]

IT PICKS UP FINE AND PLENTY OF POWER AFTER 4000RPM BUT COMPARED TO MY FRIENDS ITS SLOW. HIS IS TOTALLY STANDARD SAME AS MINE. BEEN TOLD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS BLOWING SLIGHTLY COULD THIS BE POSSIBLE ROUTE CAUSE?

[Dave_ST220]

Could be as fueling would be out, or the HG may be going, how was the manifold diagnosed? Knock off caps lock though eh

[slyston]

COULD HEAR WHERE IT WAS BLOWING. ITS ON THE FRONT MANIFOLD. I'LL CHANGE THE GASKET AND CHECK FOR CRACKS AND SEE HOW I GO FROM THERE. IF THAT FAILS I'LL SEND IT FOR DIAGNOSTIC. CHEERS FOR YOUR HELP.

[Dave_ST220]

HG failure can sound like exhaust manifold as can an HT lead, have also heard of the bearing cap on the front cam(with the water pump) ticking.

[slyston]

only had the car a few months and alll checked out before i bought it. no usual hg signs. someone i know took a look last night who has a track st200 and can't see any hg issues so i'll take a look at the issues you mentioned cheers.

[dickkark]

If you look at the either head gasket for this engine next to the front cylinder(cam chain end,exh manifold side)there is a 1/2" hole in the gasket that is not used,but when fitted to the block half of this hole is protruding as the block is narrower than the gasket here,but the head is wider creating a step just underneath the first branch of the exhaust manifold.
this hole serves no purpose but it does creates a weak point in the gasket right next to the cylinder sealing ring allowing compression to leak out,this results in what sounds like a manifold blow.
It`s the same for either bank of cylinders.


you probably wont find any h/g failure signs as there won`t be any with this fault.
I must have done ten of these,including my own which I came by after breaking the news to the customer,who explained he was skint at the time, couldn`t afford it and swiftly followed it by 'how much do you want to give me for it?'.

DONT believe people who tell you the engine MUST come out, its not that hard a job to do in the car.

[slyston]

problem found! alternator shot! was reading over 15volts and fried the lead to the battery. Mechanic is changing it wednesday. hopefully thats the end of it! thanks for all your help those of you that have.

allan

[Zad]

Hmm. I thought modern cars used a higher system voltage anyway? 14.5v systems aren't uncommon.