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ajaxism: (2013-01-15 07:18:50)

My car is constantly running rich and will intermittently hesitate when coming onto boost, at which point I can smell petrol.

I made this thread mainly for the intermittent hesitation problem but I thought I would include the running rich problem as it could be related. I know there are many threads on running rich issues already.

It's an 85 NA2T, upgraded turbo to a T3/T4. No intercooler, no BOV. Stock fuel system. Problem seems to occur when warmed, but havent really noticed a solid pattern.

I've done the following so far;

Fixed all boost leaks

Unplugged CHTS when warm, no difference. (it's only 5 months old anyway)

Unplugged o2 sensor

No idle air controls

No cat

Injectors cleaned and tested. All new rubber hoses on the rails

Swapped ECU

Swapped TPS

Swapped FPR

New plugs BCP6RE-11 @ 0.040 gap

New fuel filter 4 months ago

Leads are 3 months old but I have extras I'm mixing and matching just in case the new leads are fucked.

Timing belt triple checked (that the teeth are correct)

Timing was at around 20degrees

Was going to swap dizzy and MAF next


Twisted`Z: (2013-01-16 17:44:30)

Sometimes, if the MAF isn't reading correctly, the MAF can cause the car to run rich. Though, I am not sure if it can just make the car run rich or if it is also accompanied by not being able to rev over 2-3K RPMs.

Maybe you have a leaky injector?


ajaxism: (2013-01-17 07:26:35)

I had the injectors tested like 4 months ago, but I was considering that to be a problem and was going to take them to another place to get them re-tested.

I don't have a spare MAF so I'm going to have to buy one

Car is now missing throughout the whole rev range, both when hot and cold.

Today:

Swapped back the FPR

Swapped ignition coil

Swapped dizzy w/ CAS

Compression tested - 160 - 170 across all cylinders

Swapped plugs back to old ones (old ones being 6 months old)

Swapped ignition leads back to old ones (old ones are only 4 months old)


Careless: (2013-01-17 07:29:22)

re-gap your new plugs to 0.035

unplug your O2 sensor

re-time your ignition

replace fuel pump with a highflow (even though the smell of fuel indicates that fuel is there, you upgraded your components so it should be done).


ajaxism: (2013-01-27 07:36:02)

Plugs regapped to .030. Will regap when I get new leads

Ignition retarded back to 15degrees from 20

Walbro GS431 fuel pump installed

Swapped back rotor cap to original

Car was running good for about 2 - 3 days. The spark plugs cleaned themselves up and the missfires had gone

Today car started acting up again. Would get hesitations at random boost levels in random gears. It would run fine again for a few pulls then go back to being shit. This cycle happened a few times in the space of 10 minutes of me driving it.

New NGK leads on the way.

Reconditioned MAF on the way


Careless: (2013-01-27 09:07:51)

your cas might be falling in and out of signal. i would test against another distributor from a 300zx (not a pathfinder or maxima).


ajaxism: (2013-01-27 09:46:15)

{{#if:| wrote:|Quote:}}

Dizzy/cas assembly already swapped as the entire unit. Made no difference.

Perhaps I should check the dizzy/cas wiring. Will need to pull up a wiring diagram, trace the wires and make sure the grounds are fine.

It kind of seems like this problem is happening when the engine is at operating temperature; intermittently at operating temp. I'll keep testing to confirm.


ajaxism: (2013-02-06 13:54:49)

The hunting issues and the 'feeling of hitting the rev limiter' are gone since the upgrades.

The hesitation still continues intermittently.

I think I've narrowed it down to ECU wiring.

I had the problem occur whilst driving, I pull over and swap ECU and the problem goes away instantly.

I've checked all the wiring near the ECU, I've rewrapped some grounds, fixed some damp spots on the floor, coated the tips of the ECU pins with some lanolin spray as preventative measures.

2 days later problem comes back, I swap ECU back to original and nothing, still hesitates. I pull the wires away from the car body (checking for poor grounds) and press the ECU plugs in hard (they sit in snugly anyway), no changes still.

Sit the ECU back on the floor of the car, wait for a bit and the problem clears up.

I have a spare wiring harness which I will inspect and possibly run around the side of the car into the ECU as a test…


NissanEgg: (2013-02-06 17:49:34)

Have you checked for boost leaks?

Do you have an aftermarket temp gauge? Overheating slightly can make the engine do wierd things.

What's your fuel pressure at?


ajaxism: (2013-02-07 00:29:56)

{{#if:| wrote:|Quote:}}

Yeah checked many times for boost leaks.

Aftermarket temp gauge that sits in sump. Never shows more than 170 - 180fahrenheit.

This hesitation can even occur when the engine isnt fully warm

36psi at idle. accelerator depressed was around 40 - 44psi. IIRC . I'd have to recheck.


Flacster: (2013-02-07 01:04:29)

I had a similar problem with hesitation under boost and it turned out to be the ecu. If you have a spare ecu swap it out and see if that does it.


ajaxism: (2013-02-07 02:57:23)

{{#if:| wrote:|Quote:}}

I alternate between an 86T manual and 86T auto ECU. Problems occur with both ECU.

Maybe both are faulty =_=


Careless: (2013-02-07 03:09:22)

then your wiring has a fault somewhere.


ajaxism: (2013-02-11 06:43:04)

PTU upgraded to PRW-2.

It's been about 5 days now, the longest the car has run without the hesitation problem.


ajaxism: (2013-04-11 07:09:52)

Problem is back. It gradually returned.

Hesitation is really bad in 1st, second not as bad, 3rd is better and so on. As SOON as vacuum is @ 0 (going into boost) is when the problem occurs.

Working on a new wiring harness; some new connectors coming in the mail.

In the mean time trying a new ECU and replacing all the injectors.


G-E: (2013-04-11 08:19:57)

I suspect it's the afm or the connector to it is corroded reading a little low across the whole range


Careless: (2013-04-11 08:41:04)

what car is your distributor from?


Timbo_021: (2013-04-11 09:09:18)

Hows your PCV valve look?


ajaxism: (2013-04-11 11:12:59)

{{#if:| wrote:|Quote:}}

Breathered to atmo

Plenum has a bolt through the opening


Shuman47: (2013-04-11 17:34:05)

How are your vacuum readings? Could be a vacuum leak, or maybe the coil putting out a weak spark. I don't know how the Z31 coils are but I see alot of coils that cut out under load and cause hesitation issues with vehicles at work. Have you changed your cap and rotor?


ajaxism: (2013-04-12 01:41:00)

So I tried the MAF test again as per FSM.

I got to the troubleshooting method below (as shown in picture) and measuring volts from B to D only shows me 8.36 volts. (battery is putting out 12-13v as I checked it also).

Looking at the flow chart diagram it mentions to check E.F.I relay and the harness. What would you guys do from here? Is the E.F.I relay in the drivers kick panel? If that tests good I'm thinking I should pull out my harness and go over it thoroughly.

EDIT: I was reading 8.4 MILLIvolts. It's actually not even giving me a reading.

{{#if:| wrote:|Quote:}}

I've tried 2 different distributors and interchanged Nissan and a Bosch dizzy cap.

I have a brand new rotor and brand new Nissan dizzy cap to try.

Vacuum is over 20. Coil has been tried in the past but will try again if looking into the MAF wiring above does not yield any results.


ajaxism: (2013-04-12 01:41:31)

double post


ajaxism: (2013-04-19 15:48:09)

Swapped a new ECU in a week ago. Haven't had the hesitation issue since.

The previous ECUs had burn marks caused by a faulty fuse in the fuel pump circuit.


TurboZcaR: (2013-04-19 16:07:44)

are you getting the code 22 fuel pump circuit when you checked ecu codes? I am trying to figure out if this is my problem too. I replaced my fue pump so im assuming thats why the code is triggered.


Careless: (2013-04-19 16:17:19)

{{#if:| wrote:|Quote:}}

did you do the fuel pump wiring harness modification?


TurboZcaR: (2013-04-19 16:32:55)

{{#if:| wrote:|Quote:}}

I followed redz31's website on how to install from his FAQ like a year ago. I dont remeber a wire harness modification. My pump primes for 5 seconds and turn off just like its supposed too.


vegasZ31T: (2013-04-20 03:10:11)

Could it be boost spike? I had similar problem with full throttle about 3/4 way thru 2nd and 3rd (autocrosses). We changed the boost controller to a custom 1 atmosphere unit and the problem went away. Should also work for a stock 7 lb unit if yours is bad.


ajaxism: (2013-04-20 03:53:45)

{{#if:| wrote:|Quote:}}

I did not have the fuel pump 22 code appearing.


ajaxism: (2014-01-12 10:56:22)

This problem still occurring. The ECU I used just hid the problem a bit. @ 0 boost AFR will drop down to like 9.7:1

As boost builds though AFR goes to like 11-12:1

Thinking about what my next plan of attack is.


ajaxism: (2017-05-11 13:00:28)

I eventually figured out the problem. The chinese turbo I was running blew it's seals within the first 1000-2000km of use. All oil was going through the intake/engine.

Replaced that piece of shit with another spare Chinese piece of shit and the problem went away.

China turbos are best turbos