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nvu

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Posts posted by nvu

  1. With the spark plugs out, crank the engine until you see oil pressure.  It'll crank pretty fast and build pressure after a couple tries.

    Also don't prefill the oil filter,  if the oil pump wasn't preprimed it'll take very long for the air to overcome the oil stuck in the filer.   If you're not sure, just crank it with no oil filter until you see it spit out oil, then the pump is primed.  Put back the filter and crank for pressure.

    I'd crank until the oil light goes out, let it rest while I button up the some things, come back and test crank again to confirm the oil light instantly goes out.  Then you're sure everything ready to fire up.

    • Like 2
  2. If anything, inspect the donut flange area. if it's rusted out I'd just replace the entire thing.  A sometimes leaking and sometimes not spring loaded donut flange makes it hard to chase the inevitable p0420 code.  The muffler end can fall off and it wouldn't set codes.

    No resonator wouldn't bother the neighbors, it'd bother you with highway droning if you're sensitive to that.

  3. 11 hours ago, el_freddo said:

    I’m not 100% sure on what the required action in this situation is - eg: back off all bolts, replace offending unit then restart the procedure or do that ^ and replace the head gasket you just fitted. 

    I don't know if there's a definitive procedure for creaking bolts.  I could tell the if a creaking bolt has gone beyond it's yield, it just feels springy when you tighten.  A good bolt can creak too, it's sometimes due to the threads in the block not matching the threads on the bolt.  Good bolts that creak still feel as stiff as ones the didnt creak.  I run them in and out a couple times lightly with a drill and clean/relube the threads.  then try again.

    Be aware MLS gaskets deform as part of sealing, and then bite a bit into the aluminum at final torque.  You shouldn't loosen the bolts all the way once you started, if you need to work on a problem bolt, back off the other bolts as little as you need to and always leave them in tension. 

    At the torque wrench stage, try and keep everything creak free.  Keep cleaning and relubing if needed.

    After that is the 1st 90 degree stage, some likely creak, you need to remember the feel of the good bolts and decide.  It's the last chance to back off and redo.

    The second and final 90 deg stage, if it's a bad bolt you will definitely feel it.  Never go more than 180deg total for those two stages, if it felt loose after the two stages... it's overstretched already.

    • Like 1
  4. did you go from nonturbo to turbo?  the p0420 is pretty tricky to catch even on the original car.  even throwing on a different exhaust system could trigger it.  don't try and chase the problem itself, but get other things dialed in and worry about p0420 last.  the car will run fine with p0420 code and no other codes, at least anything before 2007.  it just won't pass smog.

    with that, some things to check if you haven't done so already:

    your mass air flow sensor is probably okay.  make sure the car runs strong in closed loop, no misfires or rough idling.  part throttle should be smooth, put it in 1st and see if it can creep along smoothly in idle.  creep along smoothly 1000-1500rpm. try 2nd gear  if it's bucking or missing, then check your maf sensor, intake, vacuum leaks...

    on the exhaust side of things, make sure the entire path from engine to the rear cat has no leaks.  the flex joint and gaskets just before and after the cat are usual suspects.  test with whatever way you think will help, i don't know of any surefire way

    for me, i had one car that would pop a p0420 every couple months, even did pressure smoke testing and never found the anything.  only by chance one year i decided to sand a rusty looking flange only to find that it was slightly bent, the other mating flange was bent in the same direction so everything mated up and sealed fine, but was C shaped ever so slightly, you can't even tell by eye.  after getting everything flat again, the problem went away for good.  still on original cat from 2002

  5. 1 hour ago, wtdash said:

    - What would you Gurus check first? If I did mess up the Tbelt install, wouldn't I get a Cam, Crank or Misfire code? 

    Is the EJ251 like the old EJ22 sohc with only a single cam sensor?  If so, I've had an EJ22 skip many teeth on the non-sensor side and not throw any code.  Engine ran really rough on idle.

    The flashing cruise is an immediate misfire signal and doesn't set any code.

    I'd check timing again with just two covers removed.  

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