new member. wont rev

37nickf · August 17, 2016, 18:09

hi. new to forum. just bought 2001 mr2 with problems. has excellent body but running badly. got it for right price and knew wasnt running well. will start and tickover engine all quiet no funny noises, no faults on obd2 reader. but when trying to rev will go to about 1500rpm very roughly but no more , if put foot down anymore seems to choke it and dies. if put in gear as no power to move car just conks out.any ideas. got a fuel filter and maf ordered. thanks nick fields

1979scotte · August 17, 2016, 18:25

Blocked cat?
Does it still have pre cats in the manifold?

37nickf · August 17, 2016, 18:28

hi. thanks. probably will as everything looks standard. will check at weekend

Carolyn · August 17, 2016, 19:32

Got to start with the basics. Pull the plugs and see what condition they are in. Do a compression check. How clean is the oil? How long has the petrol been in the car, does it smell rotten? No point guessing when you don't have the basic info.

Ardent · August 17, 2016, 22:03

Hello and welcome
As above
Start at the cheap end
Check, Air filter, plugs, fuel,

37nickf · August 17, 2016, 22:14

hi. yes very sensible , as a newish airfilter , very clean. and added 2 gallons of fresh fuel was very low . will replace plugs and have a compression checker so will check that as well. oil looks clean on dipstick .

37nickf · August 18, 2016, 18:32

checked compression between 165 and 175. so that seems ok car done 83000 miles. spark plugs hard to tell since not running right anyway. but new ones on way.

Carolyn · August 18, 2016, 19:50

You probably won't have the kit, but I'd check fuel pressure. If plugs don't sort it it's probably the next step. I'm sure someone in the club has a trick for this.

37nickf · August 19, 2016, 11:35

changed fuel filter and new plugs. fuel pressure approx 50psi at pump connection on top of tank. no different. now trying to get heatshield off exhaust manifold to check precats. bolts all well rusted probably first time off.

37nickf · August 19, 2016, 12:43

hi. cut heatshield off, well half of it. undone manifold and pulled back about 15mm clear of head started up and reving as it should up to 5000rpm too noisy any more . so well pleased now removing exhaust to remove precats.

jvanzyl · August 19, 2016, 13:42

Good result! Hope that the removal of the precats solves it for you!

37nickf · August 19, 2016, 14:27

found problem main cat rattly and blocked. precats already gone. started up with just manifold on and all ok. new cat ordered, so soon be on road. thanks for the help.

tricky1138 · August 19, 2016, 14:42

Quote from: "37nickf"found problem main cat rattly and blocked. precats already gone. started up with just manifold on and all ok. new cat ordered, so soon be on road. thanks for the help.

Was it precats blocking the main cat though?

Could be the symptom of oval bore and may need a rebuild.

Check your oil use closely when you get her on the road. Hope its not too bad.

37nickf · August 19, 2016, 16:23

never thought of that, probably worth cutting cat up to see whats in it . looking at pictures of precats seems to be quit a a lot of stuff to them so should be easy to tell.

Carolyn · August 19, 2016, 16:38

Given your compression readings, which are as they should be for the mileage, I'd say you're probably fine. Badly worn bores would have shown up as (at least) a big variation between cylinders. If the readings had been higher I would be more concerned that the oil control rings were gummed up.

37nickf · August 23, 2016, 17:59

new cat on and took for a 10 mile test. every thing good, revs well. up to now seems very good looks as though it as been well looked after.