QuestionI seem to have an enigma car! Maybe you can shed some light on what may be wrong with it.
When I start my car up from a dead cold, I can only give it about the weight of my foot in throttle or the car wont go anywhere, similar feeling as a rev limiter, and it will spark knock (pinging sound, ive been told its a spark knock) when the car gets warmer, trust me you can tell when it hits operating temperature, the problem alleviates itself, somewhat, i can instantly feel the power come, i can give it a bit more throttle, but only about half at most, or it will do the same thing plus the spark knock.. ive got a friend with some state-of-the-art snap-on computer diagnostics and we're no wiser.. checked spark, fuel pressure, timing, all good, no vacuum leaks... yesterday, we took the EGR valve off, seemed ok, we did see that the passage between the EGR valve and the space under the throttle body was clogged (real bad!) with carbon, when i checked this out on the net, the symptoms were exactly the same.. so we hurriedly cleaned this passage out hoping and praying this was going to be the end of my problems, but alas, no change at all! so i pass it on to you and your competent hands, please help!
much appreciated!
AnswerHi Jacob thanks for asking. And sorry for the delay.
This problem sounds like it may be severe.... while the engine is running do you hear any kind of noise coming from under the timing chain cover? It think there is a possiblitily that one of the timing chains may have jumped a tooth or two on the gears. that may be the cause of the EGR being plugged so bad, it will happen quick running like that, the spark knock that you are hearing is the fuel being ignited way too soon or too late, usualy from timing being all out of wack, this is an interference engine so if that chain jumps again or breaks the engine is going to suffer severe damage. Before doing this make sure the cam sensors are ok if one of those are no good then it just wont detect what position the cam is on and fire the spark plugs off base factory timing, wich works without any retarding or advancing of the timing. But usualy the vehice is still drivable. thats why I personly think it is the timing chain. have some one pull the valve covers and check where the mechanical timing is. If that is ok then get back to me and ill brainstorm another idea for you.
good luck
Chris P
