back to phase one

ok.. well i had gotten the VG running decently except for the fact that i had an exhaust leak where the manifold connects to the pipe..

well today i went to the muffler shop and got my exhaust system done.. 2" down to y-pipe and then from there 2.5" out

anyways, it sounds great and all, but now all of a sudden my car wants to run like crap again! it has a rough idle (bounces up and down between 500-700rpm) and when i try start in 1st anywhere under about 2500rpm it wants to bog down and almost die out.. then when i floor it, it feels like it pulls for a sec then it feels like it pulls in the opposite direction!

can someone please help!

Tried running an ECU diagnostic yet? Could be so many things, it's hard to narrow it down. Seems odd that getting a new exhaust would cause problems. Check your o2 sensor. That would be my first impressions since it's integrated in the exhaust system.

yeah i dont really know how to check the diagnostics...

so could you please enlighten me?

also, w/ the O2 Sensor, i had them put the bung for it in after the two pipes come together (like on the stock pipe),.. so unless it decided to die i dont know.. but i guess i'll find out more after i run the codes

check your timing, and you IAC..Idle Air controller..there are two 'set' screws on the passenger side of the block, closest to the dizzy. try adjusting the larger screw a little bit when running...im idling at 1100 rpm, and that has seemed to help (yea i know its like painting over rust, but it works until i have the $$$)

Okay. The ECU is located in the driver's side kick panel. Remove the plastic finishing piece that covers the left kick panel next to the clutch pedal. You'll see the ECU tucked up in there. You'll have to removed the couple of screws that hold it in, then let it drop down into the footwell. That way, you'll have access to the diagnostic screw and the diagnostic lights. Turn the ignition switch to ON, but don't start the car. Once you have the ECU down, turn the diagnostic screw clockwise until you feel it stop. It doesn't take much force to turn the screw, so be gentle. Here's a pic of the dianostic screw:
http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/pics/ecu/ecu.jpg
Once you have it all the way clockwise, watch the diagnostic lights. They will flash in sequence. You'll see the lights flash one time. Then the next time they will flash twice. Then 3 times. When you see the lights flash 3 times, turn the diagnostic screw all the way counter-clockwise. You are now in Mode 3 of the ECU diagnostic. Now you just have to watch the lights. First, the red light will flash. Watch how many times it flashes. After the red light is finished flashing, the green light will flash. Count how many times that it flashes. So, if you get 3 red flashes, and 2 green flashes, it is displaying Code 32. If you get 2 red flashes and 1 green flash, it's displaying Code 21. Get it? Now keep watching the lights, because if there is more than one code, it will display them all. Once it has gotten through any trouble codes that have been triggered, it will start over and display the codes again. If you can do the diagnostic tonight, and post your trouble codes here, I would be more than happy to decipher the code for you with my FSM. After you're done with the ECU, turn your ignition switch off and tuck the ECU back up where it belongs. Good luck!

When dropping the ecu..

Check the connections while its down and cars running. Bend the wire bundle one way then the other, Do this slowly. Cold weather brings out bad connections (things shrink), the car should be warmed up first. Sometimes, just a big rubber band can cure a crappy idle.

Other cheap fixes is to spray the PCV valve with throttle body cleaner. Also the TB itself. Check for vac leaks. Disconnect the coal cannister. Inspect inside the air box if stock. Should be clean. If dirty suspect a failed fume valve. Check injector wiring. I have an extra FI wiring harness around.

well the funny thing is that it didnt start running like that till after i got the exhaust put on today :wtf:

whats the total cost of the new Y-pipe? I like it! keep us posted and let us know how it turns out!