BoddahChris

Right so I've started a few threads asking how to replace a couple of things so I might as well start one to talk about the reason I'm doing the work, here goes...

When I bought my car a few weeks ago I was so shocked at how fast it was and loved it, the first car I've owned that's pinned me to my seat.

However over the past week it's just felt under powered and on full boost its slightly spluttery, like its trying to give me the power but it can't do it.

So far I've put a brand new maf sensor on, cleaned the boost control solenoid which was clean as a whistle anyway. I read the ecu, but that's not flagging anything up. I've also replaced one of the broken silicone hoses that come out of the top of the manifold.

It's always run on tesco momentum, except once when I had to put a tenner of 97ron in so I can't see it being fuel related.

Any ideas why it would be losing power on boost?

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

Inspect the plugs and coilpacks (early coilpacks can crack quite easily at the end connected to the plugs)

BoddahChris

Wouldn't that show on the ecu reading?

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

Unfortunately not.

BoddahChris

Cool, well I've ordered new spark plugs so I'll inspect and change the coils when I do the them

BoddahChris

ive never changed coil packs before...

If i'm gonna change one i may as well do them all and do the leads too.

I need four coil packs, they connect onto the spark plugs, and ht leads connect onto the coil packs? right?

eggy

hi mate, what year is your car, the early classic,s have a coil on each plug , you need to check each one for cracks under the small rubber at the end of each coil. they,re held in with a 10ml bolt(i think).
the later model cars have a single coil pack on top of the engine.

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

And when installing the plugs check the gap on them and set them to .65 / .70 if any different

BoddahChris

Yeah cheers infected, I've bought PFR6B's and gonna gap them to .7 as that seems to be what others go for.

eggy, it's deffo the earlier 96 model without the single coil pack, I haven't had a close inspection yet but it has four separate coil packs, two either side of the engine... It's the ht leads I'm interested in now as I may as well do those too, anyone know how they work, with fitting and which ones to get etc...

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

If you have a coil per cylinder then you won't have leads, the coil will have a long rubber neck on it that sits over the spark plug and you will feel it click in to place when its sat tidy, check they are not split as mentioned as they can ark against the heads if perished

BoddahChris

Oh great thanks mate, the cars new to me so still working out the setup. Cheers for your help.

I'm looking at coil packs on eBay, found some brand new ones for £40 each so will just order four of those.

r6nick

Expensive If you're gonna have to buy leads too.....hope u get it sorted mate

BoddahChris

No from what infected said, it's "coil on plug ignition", which I've just been reading up on, so no ht leads to buy.

BoddahChris

Right so I've got new spark plugs, and I've bought two new coil packs just in case I find one or two of mine are on their way out, also throwing in a few other serviceable things while I'm there but...

The power is slowly dropping still and it sounds a bit like I have an induction kit, by that I mean I can hear spool the more I boost, I'm thinking it may be a boost leak I can hear.

Does that sound consistent with a leak? If so, is there anywhere that is prone to leaking? Just to help me pinpoint it.

Cheers.

kevo10

Check all the small boost hoses to and from the boost solenoid valve, One of mine had a tiny split in one end under the clip. Replaced with silicone and cleaned the boost sol. valve and cars so different. Dont forget to check for restrictor pills in the hoses tho.Car ran crap till i did .