90SE Backfires, Any Ideas?
Discussion
I have a '90SE that tends to backfire while driving. I can hear a loud Pop on occaision, mostly during rapid acceleration. The CAT in my car is all but gone, might as well be a straight pipe. The car is running great, pulls well with no stalls, but I don't get as good of gas mileage as I think I should, was thinking too much fuel was making it into the engine. Any ideas on how I can fix this or is this even a real problem? Also, a friend that was folling me told me the car was not smelling, but he thought it was burning his eyes? The check engine light is off, the plugs are 1K old, '91 gas as usual. Also, when first started, the exhaust tends to create a light splatter of something on my garage floor. Anyway, feedback on this subject would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ryan
Thanks,
Ryan
Chris,
I have done some experiments last Saturday with both the AndyWhittaker connector and the WOTElectronics connector:
An old Compaq Armada 4110 using RS232: perfect data transfer on both connectors, even with 1ms delay
A newer Sony Vaio C1XD with RS232 via USB: no results and similar results as you indicated. I have suspected the lack of exotic speed at 8192 Baud in the past.
Also on my Vaio, the GPS worked perfectly.
Is there anybody out there successfully using an USB solution?
Response highly appreciated...
I have done some experiments last Saturday with both the AndyWhittaker connector and the WOTElectronics connector:
An old Compaq Armada 4110 using RS232: perfect data transfer on both connectors, even with 1ms delay
A newer Sony Vaio C1XD with RS232 via USB: no results and similar results as you indicated. I have suspected the lack of exotic speed at 8192 Baud in the past.
Also on my Vaio, the GPS worked perfectly.
Is there anybody out there successfully using an USB solution?
Response highly appreciated...
Ryan,
The splatter on the floor could be condensation from the exhaust upon cold start up. Is your O2 sensor in the turbo or in the cat? If it's in the cat and the monolith is blown out, it's not working correctly. Backfire, any intake or exhaust leaks? Poor milage, air filter clogged, bad Coolant temp sensor, or O2 sensor? You also need exhaust back pressure for the system to work correctly.
Robert
'87 Turbo Esprit hci
The splatter on the floor could be condensation from the exhaust upon cold start up. Is your O2 sensor in the turbo or in the cat? If it's in the cat and the monolith is blown out, it's not working correctly. Backfire, any intake or exhaust leaks? Poor milage, air filter clogged, bad Coolant temp sensor, or O2 sensor? You also need exhaust back pressure for the system to work correctly.
Robert
'87 Turbo Esprit hci
Like Robert said " The splatter on the floor could be condensation from the exhaust upon cold start up."
For me, during the warm/hotter months I get no black exhaust speckles on the garage floor. But, during cooler winter months it does it. Since I bought it during the summer, it was new to me as winter approached. I investigated further and the previous owner (PO) had set the EBPV valve at the output of the CAT 'full open'. This is often done by people. There is a Throttle Jack valve and the EBPV valve that are tied together on the same vacuum solenoid. On a very cold start, the EBPV remains open and the Throttle jack off, so the revs stay lower while oil is getting pumped up to the engine and it's warming up. Then, in a small temperature window above cold, the solenoid opens to provide vacuum for those two items, so the Throttle Jack raises the RPM and the EBPV closes to warm up the CAT sooner (for emissions issues). During this time, the black speckles should be reduced or stop. Then after that small temperature window, the solenoid closes and both those items go back to their off state. By that time the CAT should be warmed up and the moisture in the exhaust pretty well evaporated and "no speckles".
Sometimes, I start her up and walk around back with a rag to wipe out the rather large amount of water collecting at the end of my exhaust tips (I have dual tip Magnaflow). This minimizes the speckles... and keeps my tips clean (just being obsessive).
Other than a black speckled floor, you don't need to worry about it.
- Mark91SE
For me, during the warm/hotter months I get no black exhaust speckles on the garage floor. But, during cooler winter months it does it. Since I bought it during the summer, it was new to me as winter approached. I investigated further and the previous owner (PO) had set the EBPV valve at the output of the CAT 'full open'. This is often done by people. There is a Throttle Jack valve and the EBPV valve that are tied together on the same vacuum solenoid. On a very cold start, the EBPV remains open and the Throttle jack off, so the revs stay lower while oil is getting pumped up to the engine and it's warming up. Then, in a small temperature window above cold, the solenoid opens to provide vacuum for those two items, so the Throttle Jack raises the RPM and the EBPV closes to warm up the CAT sooner (for emissions issues). During this time, the black speckles should be reduced or stop. Then after that small temperature window, the solenoid closes and both those items go back to their off state. By that time the CAT should be warmed up and the moisture in the exhaust pretty well evaporated and "no speckles".
Sometimes, I start her up and walk around back with a rag to wipe out the rather large amount of water collecting at the end of my exhaust tips (I have dual tip Magnaflow). This minimizes the speckles... and keeps my tips clean (just being obsessive).
Other than a black speckled floor, you don't need to worry about it.
- Mark91SE
Marc,
Myself, I also live in the Netherlands, and had no problem in insuring the car in Britain for one or two days to bring it to the ferry. There is an insurance company in Nijmegen, but I do not have any information on it anymore. Driving the car yourself is probably a lot more fun, and a lot cheaper.
You might also ask www.lotusspecialist.nl whether they can provide you with assistance. They might combine the transport of your car with fetching parts and other things from Britain. You can mail me offline aswell for more advice.
Please try to find out about a daily insurer. Note that you are not allowed to drive a foreign licence plate in the Netherlands (you being a Dutch citizen, I mean.)
Good luck and lots of fun!
Myself, I also live in the Netherlands, and had no problem in insuring the car in Britain for one or two days to bring it to the ferry. There is an insurance company in Nijmegen, but I do not have any information on it anymore. Driving the car yourself is probably a lot more fun, and a lot cheaper.
You might also ask www.lotusspecialist.nl whether they can provide you with assistance. They might combine the transport of your car with fetching parts and other things from Britain. You can mail me offline aswell for more advice.
Please try to find out about a daily insurer. Note that you are not allowed to drive a foreign licence plate in the Netherlands (you being a Dutch citizen, I mean.)
Good luck and lots of fun!
Hand brake: put the car on a small ramp. Release the hand brake. The car should automatically start to roll. If it doesn't: brake is still on...
Best is then to check the brake, clean everything, check the cables, etc. Just work, not money.
Woosh sound: could be that there is a leak from the turbo to the inlet plenum. Check for leaking hoses, loose connections etc. If you really doubt, put some dish washing soap around possible suspect areas. It should produce bubbles if there is a leak.
Determine whether the sound is really from leaking air or whether it has a more mechanical nature. In the latter case, the turbo is to be distrusted (bearings, etc.).
Best is then to check the brake, clean everything, check the cables, etc. Just work, not money.
Woosh sound: could be that there is a leak from the turbo to the inlet plenum. Check for leaking hoses, loose connections etc. If you really doubt, put some dish washing soap around possible suspect areas. It should produce bubbles if there is a leak.
Determine whether the sound is really from leaking air or whether it has a more mechanical nature. In the latter case, the turbo is to be distrusted (bearings, etc.).
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