so if you rev it to say 2000+rpm and hold it, do the leds blink simultaneously together at all?

I'll check that out tomorrow and let you know.

Get injectors serviced Mark could solve your problem

The mystery has been partly solved!!!!!! I took it to a mechanic to get a compression test. Results are that Cyls 1,2,3,6 were 175psi - and 4,5 were 125psi indicating its loosing compression on cyls 4 & 5. Next step is to take the Head off and see if theres a problem with the valves or just the Head Gasket. I would like to thank everyone that has posted in this thread and helped me so far with this problem in lending me parts, or giving up a day or two of thier time to help me with this problem. Nick (XTC16) - Thanks for the intake manifold, wiring loom, spark plugs (btw, i owe you a set), and leads.. VLT-666 - Thanks heaps for the wiring loom, ECU and the offer for the injectors. Troy (pigsy) - Thanks for your immense help with many phone calls from myself, mucking around with the car on a public holiday and going to just about any length to find an answer. You were spot on with the possibility of a head gasket or exhaust valve problem. Stay tuned for more on whats wrong - at least I have a good indication that it is an internal problem with the engine rather than an external.

hmmmm.... I might have to get mine cheecked then...

No worries Marky, any time my man. Pigman - yet again, i'd be lost without your invaluable support and assistance over the time, a true friend.

above you say all plugs are black indicating over fuelling, but then you say that cylinders 4 and 5 have low compression. my simple thinking says you would only have a problem with those two cylinders, not overfuelling to all cylinders which seems to be happening? i don't get the relationship, but then again i'm certainly not a mechanic so there could be a plausable explanation which i don't understand. this is gonna sound a bit niaeve and sorry if i insult you but did you check for vacuum/boost leaks? for example if one of your connections for intercooler had popped off it might be just sitting there and goes in and out of position when the car vibrates....just a thought probably wrong tho...but could potentially cause your car to miss and overfuel. everytime my car misses even slightly, the cooler hoses are the first thing i check. They are now very secure but in the past, 9/10 times lose hoses were the cause.

Quote: Originally Posted by anothervl this is gonna sound a bit niaeve and sorry if i insult you but did you check for vacuum/boost leaks? for example if one of your connections for intercooler had popped off it might be just sitting there and goes in and out of position when the car vibrates....just a thought probably wrong tho...but could potentially cause your car to miss and overfuel. everytime my car misses even slightly, the cooler hoses are the first thing i check. They are now very secure but in the past, 9/10 times lose hoses were the cause. Already been checked Tim.

Yep... and i even went to the trouble of connecting the AFM to the Throttle Body (therefore bypassing the turbo and intercooler etc) and it still no change. The fact that all plugs are black.. hmm.. well.. maybe someone else can explain it - but it was clear when Pigsy was looking at the plugs - Plug 4 wasn't firing properly (once again - thanks Pigsy ) Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

call me stupid but overfuelling is generally caused by a sensor/electrical issue. i know you have low comp on two cylinders but how would that and an exhaust valve problem cause over fuelling? i'm still thinking along the lines of a TPS. now let me explain. back in my days as a mechanic we have a VLT 5 spd that had an int overfuelling problem. you would put your foot down and not be able to see out of the rear view mirror we had tried everything AFM, ECU, fuel reg, coolant sensor, o2 sensor and then finally the TPS. The TPS was the cause because the switches inside the TPS were loose causing the ECU to think it was at full throttle when it wasn't dumping a lot of fuel in. it didn't log any codes either. not saying it could be that but its just based on past experience. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by InsaneVL Yep... and i even went to the trouble of connecting the AFM to the Throttle Body (therefore bypassing the turbo and intercooler etc) and it still no change. The fact that all plugs are black.. hmm.. well.. maybe someone else can explain it - but it was clear when Pigsy was looking at the plugs - Plug 4 wasn't firing properly (once again - thanks Pigsy ) if cyc4 wasnt firing, it would have been igniting in the exhuast, and somehow when it ignites in the exhuast i've been told the o2 sensor thinks that it is leaning out, and this will make all the other cyclinders run ritch, so i've been told anyway. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

glad to hear that, Nick. any idea about the other part of my email? got me thinking now...

Quote: Originally Posted by lowbstvl call me stupid but overfuelling is generally caused by a sensor/electrical issue. i know you have low comp on two cylinders but how would that and an exhaust valve problem cause over fuelling? i'm still thinking along the lines of a TPS. now let me explain. back in my days as a mechanic we have a VLT 5 spd that had an int overfuelling problem. you would put your foot down and not be able to see out of the rear view mirror we had tried everything AFM, ECU, fuel reg, coolant sensor, o2 sensor and then finally the TPS. The TPS was the cause because the switches inside the TPS were loose causing the ECU to think it was at full throttle when it wasn't dumping a lot of fuel in. it didn't log any codes either. not saying it could be that but its just based on past experience. Did you just replace the TPS with a rand spanker or a second hand one? Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by Hingo Did you just replace the TPS with a rand spanker or a second hand one? second handy Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

One to try as I had a similar problem recently. PM Kane (epitaph) and get him to send you an AFM boot repair kit. Mine was doing similar things to yours in every way and I got one from him and fitted it. A hint is solder the wires to the connectors as you will find it stops them being that little bit loose and gives great solid contact. Has not had the problem since and both fuel economy and power levels are far better than what they were previously. I alos had a CAS boot kit too so I did it at the same time. Other than those 2 things I did not touch anything else and it cured the problem straight away!

Quote: Originally Posted by Hingo Did you just replace the TPS with a rand spanker or a second hand one? the tps was not set up write ,which it is now but, the tps does not do wat it was ,as far as its worked out so far its a head gasket, blown out the side from detonation, there is spots on the head to indercate the problem, so the closet so far has been marmo, and to all other elec problem said, every thing has been checked with a meter and is fine there is no power drops or shorting out problems

I would also check to see if the cat convertor is partially blocked (melted). Simple check so it would be wise to have a look.

Quote: Originally Posted by Blurr I would also check to see if the cat convertor is partially blocked (melted). Simple check so it would be wise to have a look. What could that cause???

hey guys im having similar problems.car has a big miss at idle,and light throttle as in taking off in first it will cough and splutter and sometimes die.as soon as it gets a sniff of boost it seems to come good but doesnt make as much power as a stock vlt should.the injectors are abit damaged i think,the pintles are broken off on some of them, could this cause the problem?it has a new cas, new plugs, leads, coil ,cap and rotor.thanks

Quote: Originally Posted by Hingo What could that cause??? If it was running rich! My mates turbo VK did it.