Gutless GT4 PLEASE HELP!

[Tania]

Hi guys,
I have a 1990 GT4 and I'm having a little trouble with her. When she's cold she is completely gutless off turbo. Eg. in 1st, 2nd & 3rd gear I can put my foot to the floor and she may go about walking speed until she hits the turbo and launches. The problem seems to disappear when she warms up though. It's making it really difficult to pull out of intersections etc. I just had an exhaust manifold leak fixed and thought this would fix it but it hasnt. Anyone got any ideas what the problem is/what I should check? Thanks!

[HELBND]

dont put your foot down when its cold

[Boosted_162]

Checked the plugs? I got random misses and lost power from fouled plugs.

[flygt4]

all gt4's are pretty sluggish when cold, they limit the boost to like 5psi until its up to temp. are you sure its not that? from what you say it sounds a bit worse than that tho

[Tania]

Well even if I don't put my foot down it goes nowhere.... so i have to put it down to get the turbo to kick in, otherwise I would never be able to pull out at intersections.
Haven't checked the plugs yet but will try to... just got no time.... since all the intercooler has to come off it will take a while wont it? How long do you think it will take me? So if its better when its warm could it still be plugs? I'd have thought that it would have other problems too if the plugs were fouled.... I don't know though... I am just a girl
Yeah its mpore gutless than it should be, I've owned a non-turbo previously and it was nowhere near this gutless. Like I say, I can get my foot to the floor and it goes no faster than walking speed.
Thanks for the help guys... I appreciate it!

[Silent Knight]

Where do you reside?

If you are in Auckland and can't manage to get the I/C off etc by yourself then I'm sure there would be someone willing to do the job for a couple of cold ones.

...me included.

[Boosted_162]

If you havent done it before, leave yourself about an hour. Ive got it down to a skill, and can do it in about 15-20mins

Dont do it while the cars hot, the interwarmer will burn you!

[GTCRSHR]

Where do you reside?

If you are in Auckland and can't manage to get the I/C off etc by yourself then I'm sure there would be someone willing to do the job for a couple of cold ones.

...me included.

not if she wasnt a girl you wouldnt

[Tania]

I live in West Auck... I'll give it a go one night this week... maybe my brother will give me a hand. Any tips for doing it? Should I just get some Denso plugs if I need new ones? or would you guys recommend something else? Cheers guys!

[Tania]

If you havent done it before, leave yourself about an hour. Ive got it down to a skill, and can do it in about 15-20mins

Dont do it while the cars hot, the interwarmer will burn you!

Hehe interwarmer... I love it! I know I'm just a girl but i'm still not silly enough to work on a hot engine!

[Boosted_162]

If you havent done it before, leave yourself about an hour. Ive got it down to a skill, and can do it in about 15-20mins

Dont do it while the cars hot, the interwarmer will burn you!

Hehe interwarmer... I love it! I know I'm just a girl but i'm still not silly enough to work on a hot engine!

The problem is the interwarmer retains heat for ages!

Just get the plugs listed on the japanese sticker on the bottom side of the bonnet. If your running higher than stock boost, wouldnt hurt to go one plug colder. If you cant find the sticker, i can look on mine.

[Silent Knight]

not if she wasnt a girl you wouldnt

Course I would. I'm always here to lend a helping hand.

Any tips for doing it?

Be sure to drain the water/antifreeze before ripping everything off.
Remember to try and remember where everything goes once you take it off.

I'd normally go for NGK Iridiums but Platinum should be fine for a 3S... ?
Not sure what sort of gap they need, one of the 3S boys should be able to enlighten you...

[Boosted_162]

Be sure to drain the water/antifreeze before ripping everything off.

Why would you do that? . Its only a air-to-air cooler, not a water-to-air

[Silent Knight]

Be sure to drain the water/antifreeze before ripping everything off.

Why would you do that? . Its only a air-to-air cooler, not a water-to-air

aaH my bad then. Thought all the 185s had WA. I'm guessing it's just the RC that had that then?

[Tania]

Yeah just standard interwarmer (sorry I'm stealing that!) Its a 3SGTE methinks! Just the ST185 GT4... Thanks again i do need as much help as I can get! Also anyone know where I can get the standard tweeter covers from? previous owner ripped them off (DUH!)

[fivebob]

You're probably wasting your time replacing the plugs, as given your description of the problem (i.e. Gutless when it's cold, ok when it's warm), it's unlikely to be the plugs.

Gutless, as opposed to misfiring, is more likely to be a fuelling problem, so I would look at the temp sensor, or the cold start injector, either of which will require a bit more mechanical aptitude to diagnose than changing the plugs. The temp sensor can be checked with a multimeter, the cold start injector may require some special tools.

Another possibility is the perennial 3S-GTE problem with the rotor, cap and leads, which might need replacing, but again they’re more likely to cause a misfire, not just a lack of power, and again they wouldn’t cure themselves when the engine warms up.

[Loudtoy]

Lots of black smoke when you put your foot down when it's cold. Any one here think it could be the oxy sensor or do they run closed loop when cold?? If you haven't done plugs while you've had it or suspect previous owner hasn't done anything to it then it would be worth pulling them out and changing them anyways. Plugs should be pre gapped if you use the right ones and if you don't you'l have more to worry bout than just the gap anyhow.
Some one other than me will be able to tell you if the 3s's in the 185's use a singe wire oxy sensor or not, might just not be gettin up to temp quick enough and if you say you just had exhaust manifold leak fixed it may be that they have damaged it whilst it was getting done. Either that or they've inadvertantly got two vacume lines crossed somewhere

[Malcolm]

plugs are a very easy job, even with the RC w/a it only takes like 10 mins from when you start dismantling to having it running again. But as fivebob says, bad plugs wont cause your issue. Does it make any funny sounds when it's playing up? A misfire will cause popping and a certain amount of jerking. Have you run an ECU diagnosis? If not that would be the first thing to do, there should be something in the FAQ explaining how. I'll bet you have a dodgy connection on a sensor

[matt dunn]

What fuel do you run it on,

and

Has the ign timing been checked?

[larryex]

All cars run in closed loop mode when they are warming up. In fact they are only in open loop at light throttle in cruise mode, that is the only time the ecu is actually responding to information from the oxy sensor.
When you use full throttle, or idling, or in warm up it runs on its preset closed loop programs. the oxy sensor is only really there to satisfy emission laws in japan etc which is why most NZ new vehicles are not fitted with them, other than Oz spec cars.

As for the young ladies problem yes the cold start injector is a good place to start or the CTS.

Chris