What do you think is wrong?
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 183
What do you think is wrong?
Since I really don't know much about engines, I thought I'd ask you guys what you think is wrong with my friend's Lt1.
It's a 95 Z/28 A4 with 76,xxx miles. So far it only has borla exhaust, k/n cai, and possible shift kit . Since none of us really know what a basic A4 shifts liek we can't tell but in first it goes upto 6k before shifting out of first WITHOUT hitting a limiter. This car more than likely hasn't been taken care of very well either. It shows some signs of neglect (broken dash cover, Aftermarket Hu was ghetto-rigged and stopped working after only a week, only has a 4 speaker Bose set-up, didn't bother to put back on that plate that goes from side to side under the car at the tranny mount near the cat, and more than likely a few other things I have yet to notice.) . It also leaked oil when he bought it. He definatly could of found a better car but he picked up the first car he found with the options he wanted, sort of low mileage, and the right pricetag. Anways onto the problems...
The first thing he did was take it to shop. I don't really know if they know thier $h1t or not but other people I know have went there and the only complaint I've heard is the time it usually takes and lame excuses for it. They told him it was a intake and valve covers leak. He told them fine, w/e it takes to get it fixed. Well he got it back and a day later it was smokin from under the hood and leakign oil again. So he took the car back they said they would have to clean the enginebay then let him drive it a few more days so they can tell exactly where it's coming from. Well, last night I finally got to take a look upclose at the car and noticed a few things.
1 - Oil residue is on both valve covers and the emissions crap in the front of the engine. I couldn't really tell if the intake was still leaking or not because it was still hot but when I felt around I didn't really notice any.
2 - At WOT, the exhaust turns a light blueish color making me think the problems are a bit more severe than gaskets leaking could possibly need rebuilt.
3 - Getting the car to turn over cold take a bit of work. You have to pump the gas while cranking but it eventually turns over. but when its warm, it will almost start right up.
4 - When it does start, it goes right to idle and stays there. No jumping around or anything. Never seen a SES light but the coolant light did come on a few times. I'm going to check the coolant level in a while and see what's up with that. Also, no stumbles at any rpm/throttle. Runs really good and puts down some power. He let me do a couple of burnouts and such with it (in an open empty parking lot to everyone that's like "take it to the track") and the car definatly has some power. I just brake torqued it till about 3k (when the tires finally broke) and it never caught traction till I decided to let off it (mind you I was throwing it around and such to keep it going).
5 - He has blown the AIR fuse a few times.
So what do you think it could be? Just needing the valvecover gaskets replaced AGAIN. or something internal like new piston rings?
Later on, I'm going to check the oil for coolant and viceversa and see what I turn up. Also a more throughout check around the block, heads, vlave covers, and intake. The car was hot when I did the first check and sicne it was also dark out I really couldn;t tell much. Possibly do a pressure check on the cooling system to see if it holds pressure or lets it escape threw a blown headgasket (even though I'm pretty sure that isn't it since I think it would run like crap and obviously smoke all the time instead of just at WOT).
Just basically looking for any input as to what to check for or what it might be. Thanks.
It's a 95 Z/28 A4 with 76,xxx miles. So far it only has borla exhaust, k/n cai, and possible shift kit . Since none of us really know what a basic A4 shifts liek we can't tell but in first it goes upto 6k before shifting out of first WITHOUT hitting a limiter. This car more than likely hasn't been taken care of very well either. It shows some signs of neglect (broken dash cover, Aftermarket Hu was ghetto-rigged and stopped working after only a week, only has a 4 speaker Bose set-up, didn't bother to put back on that plate that goes from side to side under the car at the tranny mount near the cat, and more than likely a few other things I have yet to notice.) . It also leaked oil when he bought it. He definatly could of found a better car but he picked up the first car he found with the options he wanted, sort of low mileage, and the right pricetag. Anways onto the problems...
The first thing he did was take it to shop. I don't really know if they know thier $h1t or not but other people I know have went there and the only complaint I've heard is the time it usually takes and lame excuses for it. They told him it was a intake and valve covers leak. He told them fine, w/e it takes to get it fixed. Well he got it back and a day later it was smokin from under the hood and leakign oil again. So he took the car back they said they would have to clean the enginebay then let him drive it a few more days so they can tell exactly where it's coming from. Well, last night I finally got to take a look upclose at the car and noticed a few things.
1 - Oil residue is on both valve covers and the emissions crap in the front of the engine. I couldn't really tell if the intake was still leaking or not because it was still hot but when I felt around I didn't really notice any.
2 - At WOT, the exhaust turns a light blueish color making me think the problems are a bit more severe than gaskets leaking could possibly need rebuilt.
3 - Getting the car to turn over cold take a bit of work. You have to pump the gas while cranking but it eventually turns over. but when its warm, it will almost start right up.
4 - When it does start, it goes right to idle and stays there. No jumping around or anything. Never seen a SES light but the coolant light did come on a few times. I'm going to check the coolant level in a while and see what's up with that. Also, no stumbles at any rpm/throttle. Runs really good and puts down some power. He let me do a couple of burnouts and such with it (in an open empty parking lot to everyone that's like "take it to the track") and the car definatly has some power. I just brake torqued it till about 3k (when the tires finally broke) and it never caught traction till I decided to let off it (mind you I was throwing it around and such to keep it going).
5 - He has blown the AIR fuse a few times.
So what do you think it could be? Just needing the valvecover gaskets replaced AGAIN. or something internal like new piston rings?
Later on, I'm going to check the oil for coolant and viceversa and see what I turn up. Also a more throughout check around the block, heads, vlave covers, and intake. The car was hot when I did the first check and sicne it was also dark out I really couldn;t tell much. Possibly do a pressure check on the cooling system to see if it holds pressure or lets it escape threw a blown headgasket (even though I'm pretty sure that isn't it since I think it would run like crap and obviously smoke all the time instead of just at WOT).
Just basically looking for any input as to what to check for or what it might be. Thanks.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 186
Sounds like this car needs some attention. I would change the PCV, up the fuse size for the AIR, and probably some other RR.
Pulling the valve covers and checking the valvetrain and such wouldn't hurt. If the intake leaks, it needs to be fixed PROPERLY. Pull the manifold, clean everything up, put down RTV, put intake back on, then LEAVE it for 24 hours to cure (don't start the car).
If you have bluish smoke, you are burning oil - find out how it's getting into the combustion chamber. Check the back of the TB and see if there is oil in there. Could be issue with the crank ventilation system (PCV, etc). I would also check the PCM, make sure it hasn't been messed with (shift tables, limiter, etc).
-Alex
Pulling the valve covers and checking the valvetrain and such wouldn't hurt. If the intake leaks, it needs to be fixed PROPERLY. Pull the manifold, clean everything up, put down RTV, put intake back on, then LEAVE it for 24 hours to cure (don't start the car).
If you have bluish smoke, you are burning oil - find out how it's getting into the combustion chamber. Check the back of the TB and see if there is oil in there. Could be issue with the crank ventilation system (PCV, etc). I would also check the PCM, make sure it hasn't been messed with (shift tables, limiter, etc).
-Alex
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