3sGTE Intermitant 30-40% power loss

[gee120]

i cant remember if you said you have checked the timing whilst in ecu test mode yet or not so im still leaning a little towards that but another posibility is a bad O2 sensor although there would be an error code if that were he case not sure if you have checked for any codes as yet

[worldwalker]

As I said, no codes, no lights, I still havn't checked the timing in the ecu test mode. But I have adjusted it.

[Mr Revhead]

have you got a boost gauge?
whats the boost doing?

[worldwalker]

The engine is preoducing normal boost and there doesnt seem to be any change in boost

The problem almost has to be electronic.

[Hulk]

Have you fiddled with your TPS lately?

[worldwalker]

I just baught the car, I did notice the TPS has some form of swivle/slide adjustment. But I was game to play with it.

[-GT-]

When was the last time you changed plugs?

[Mr Revhead]

good point
plugs, leads, rotor and cap are very causes of issues on 3sgtes.
infact, after oil filters thats what i sell most of!

[Roundy]

he has already said he replaced them tho

The problem when the car is cold sounds to me just like a cold 3S-GTE

as for once the car is up to temp, no idea, did you ever drive it when it was behaving properly??

[Mr Revhead]

i loose track

possibly a dud efi temp sensor then?

[worldwalker]

It has run really well at times and is a lot faster. I just dont see how there can be absolutely no difference in acceleration between half throttle and full throttle.

[sirbob]

Just a guess here, but if there is no obvious difference between 1/2 throttle and full throttle that could indicate that your problem is with your fuel/air mixture which could tie back to an ECU/TPS issue.

Are you still getting terrible economy?

Also you said "I still havn't checked the timing in the ecu test mode. But I have adjusted it."

Am i right to assume that you adjusted the timing WITHOUT using a timing light and the bridged ECU? If tis was the case i would check it with a timing light and see whether or not you are actually 10 degrees BTDC. Even one or two degrees difference can make a significant difference.

[-GT-]

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, and work through these things one at a time. Have we even ruled out a faulty knock sensor yet? It sounds timing based, so get your timing checked properly and adjusted if need be, then we'll go from there.

You said the dizzy was at full retard, and it's now fixed, but you haven't actually had it done with a timing light while in diagnostic mode? You can't set timing by eye, so even if your dizzy is only slightly out it could still mean you're timing is advanced enough it's pinging under load/boost and the knock sensor is having a field day. If that's happening, i'd expect it to be limiting the fun much the same whether you're at half throttle or full.

After your timing is perfect, then we can look at possible fuel supply issues, or spark issues. I also still say you should replace your plugs, it can't hurt, it costs bugger all, and you never know, if you've been running full retarded timing and not firing every time one or more of them could've fouled up pretty quickly, and the hesitation you mentioned sounds a lot like poor spark due to fouling plugs. I know all about that one.

[Roundy]

It has run really well at times and is a lot faster. I just dont see how there can be absolutely no difference in acceleration between half throttle and full throttle.

i dunno, i find it sorta hard to discern between half throttle and full throttle on my car, it will hit peak boost with half throttle and still pull pretty hard

also -GT-, if you go std plugs you are up for ~$100 for just the plugs on a 3S-GTE...so not a cheap option

but the point you made about the timing is a good one, it absolutely MUST be done in diagnostic mode with a timing light to get it correct.

if you did it with a timing light out of diagnostic mode you have measured the timing after the ECU has tinkered with it, which at idle (should) have it advanced past 10°BTDC, which means if you have set it to 10° without the diagnostic mode you still have retarded ignition.

So adjust the timing properly, and see how it goes.

Cheers
Nathan

[worldwalker]

Its got brand new iridiums with less than 200km on them. I highly doubt it would be the plugs, besides the car has run excellent at times with the new plugs. I'll check the timing properly now, as that seems to be the thing that its all coming back to.