Skipping issue

[scottski87]

Now i know this may be kinda hard to diagnose but hopefully someone has a general idea. I have a 97 VR4 with minimal work done (straight pipe 2.5" to 3.25") intake stage 2 clutch turbo timer blah blah blah. Now when i get on the throttle heavy it will work out all well and good to begin with and about 1 or 2 grand into accel it starts to buck. Now not sure what it may be but if someone else has had the same problem and fixed it or even knows where to begin would be great! THANKS!

[vr4gto]

Check your plugs and coils.

[HCProgramr]

Also watch your boost gauge, ideally an aftermarket one; it almost sounds like overboosting. Mine acted just as you described, and it was pushing enough boost that it was cutting for a lean condition. If your gauge ever reads above 12-13, check your wastegate vacuum lines. If you're overboosting, catching it early can literally mean the difference between saving your engine or having a several-hundred-pound paperweight under the hood.

Assuming stock piping, they'll run from the firewall side of the Y-pipe back to a solenoid on the firewall, out to a splitter, and then down to the wastegates. If you have a boost controller, it'll go there instead of to the solenoid. Regardless...if overboosting is the case, one of those lines will either be disconnected or have a hole in it.

At least on mine, the ring clip right at the Y-pipe had a nasty habit of slipping off under boost until I replaced it.

If you're just bare-bones upgraded but have a boost controller, don't go above 12-13. The stock fuel system can handle 14-15 under ideal circumstances, but even the newest of these cars is 11 years old now, and the oldest ones are nearly 20.

[scottski87]

I have a turbo timer (Blitz DCC) which has a boost gauge but I was told its pretty inaccurate. Ever since I put it in my check engine light is on (a different vacuum T installed since i dont know where the original went) but it was skipping before i did any mods. I was mainly hoping it wasn't gears slipping but it does it in every gear and my 2nd 5th and reverse were redone not too long ago.

[vr4gto]

I doubt it's your gears. Have you checked you spark plugs?

[boomer3000]

Sounds like the fuel is cutting out for some reason.

[vr4gto]

Is the shutting off completely or just sputtering?

[xwire]

plugs and wires

[scottski87]

It just bucks like sputters kinda. it still climbs in rpms but not happily haha. i didnt do plugs coils and wires yet thats coming up probably this weekend or with taxes since its not a cheap fix. This is the second engine in it and it has done it on both using the same coil packs different plugs and same wires so i think coils are probably the safest bet to try to fix it.

[vr4gto]

It just bucks like sputters kinda. it still climbs in rpms but not happily haha. i didnt do plugs coils and wires yet thats coming up probably this weekend or with taxes since its not a cheap fix. This is the second engine in it and it has done it on both using the same coil packs different plugs and same wires so i think coils are probably the safest bet to try to fix it.

I wouldn't replace the coils first, especially without testing them first. They aren't cheap. Change your plugs and wires first. They're probably the problem. The plugs are most likely the major issue but might as well change the wires too since everything will be apart.

[scottski87]

ok then i'll try that. next issue that just arose yesterday (when it rains it pours apparently). I can sit at idle and my oil light will kick on but once driving its fine. oil level is good and oil pump was tested to make sure its conducting properly. It only seems to happen at under 1k rpm. Any suggestions on this?

[vr4gto]

ok then i'll try that. next issue that just arose yesterday (when it rains it pours apparently). I can sit at idle and my oil light will kick on but once driving its fine. oil level is good and oil pump was tested to make sure its conducting properly. It only seems to happen at under 1k rpm. Any suggestions on this?

Mine does that when the idle is set too low. Is it doing it after the car is in operating temperature? What is it idling at?
Edit-Yours is a 97. The idle is computer controlled IIRC.

[scottski87]

yeah it will be good for about 5-10 min after op. temperature but after that it will start to kick on. is it gonna be harmful and if so how do i adjust it? its idling about 6-700 rpm

[vr4gto]

yeah it will be good for about 5-10 min after op. temperature but after that it will start to kick on. is it gonna be harmful and if so how do i adjust it? its idling about 6-700 rpm

I've never owned any other 3S besides my '93. Does your '97 have an adjustment screw for the idle on the throttle body?

[scottski87]

yeah i have the factory manual for the entire thing and i just went and checked and i see the screw its talking about for adjustment (which i probably should've done first). So assuming it has to be at normal temp before i adjust it?

[vr4gto]

yeah i have the factory manual for the entire thing and i just went and checked and i see the screw its talking about for adjustment (which i probably should've done first). So assuming it has to be at normal temp before i adjust it?

Yup, then put up a little. 800 or so. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

[HCProgramr]

I tend to keep mine a little higher [900-1k], but that's a personal preference thing, since I live in an area that's normally fairly nice but can get bitter cold...last year it hit -25 to -30...when it wants to. I think 800-900 is where it's supposed to be, though.

[vr4gto]

If I remember I keep mine about that. About the spot where it sounds good

[HCProgramr]

Mine's more practical than vanity. Too effin' cold to adjust it once winter gets here, so I put it to where it'll idle off a fresh start in the bitter cold and leave it.

[vr4gto]

Mine's more practical than vanity. Too effin' cold to adjust it once winter gets here, so I put it to where it'll idle off a fresh start in the bitter cold and leave it.

I never drive mine in the winter. My buddy I bought it from did. Minnesota uses too much salt on the roads and winters rust the hell out of cars here.