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View Full Version : 91 SC/5-spd resurrection (long)


andyw
07-04-2005, 01:58 PM
I’ve got a 91 SC/5-spd with 144K on it. I’ve had it since new. It’s always been a love/hate relationship. I love the car, but I hate the cost of maintenance so it doesn’t get the TLC it deserves.
Two years back it was crunch time; I seized the motor by getting just a little too enthusiastic on the 401 on the way out to Ajax. Do I fix it or put it on the heap?
Well after driving past the hulk for 2 weeks, I decided to push it into a hole-in-the-wall shop in Ajax, selected purely because it was a short 5-minute push. The mechanic was pretty good, he figured out most of it by comparing and swapping pieces from one of his employee’s 93. I joined SCCoO to try to keep my rekindled enthusiasm for the car. I've never made it to a meet, so this is my first introduction to you all. I need your help.

Problems:
-Rough idle since before the rebuild, both O2s were replaced when the motor was rebuilt. Still rough, always feels like it’s going to stall when I sit at a light for more than a couple of minutes especially with the A/C on.
-A/C compressor will not stay engaged for more than a minute at idle, it keeps cycling in/out at and the idle oscillates between 6-1100 rpm.
-Overheating. What’s the fix? I had it in the shop (C/T) to check, and all they did was change the coolant and note that the fan comes on with the A/C. But it still seems to run too hot.
-Exhaust, I think I have that covered by PPE with a quote for 840 for magnaflow dual in dual out with two tail pipes and two tips, effectively a true dual system with built in X pipe and eliminate the two rear mufflers all stainless. Sounds like what I want, but is this price reasonable?
-Suspension. It’s 14 years old with nothing but brakes and tires over the years. What should be wearing out about now?

sumzxr7
07-04-2005, 07:51 PM
Have you ever replaced the Head Gaskets in the car? Or the rad cap..it may just be a simple problem with the rad cap not holding pressure...if all of this does nothing then you maybe looking a bigger problem (headgaskets).

As for the Exhaust thats decent price. Its Pipes performance right? They did my car, did a good job but they are slow sometimes..

As for the suspension, you should check all bushings and ball joints...considering you have fairly low milage (i have over 250K on my 92 XR7) then they maybe okay, but don't take a chance as the ball joints can come off and cause a serious accident..shell out the money and fix it right if there is any sign of them being loose...mine crapped out at 250K..you will also need an alignment after its all done..

Anyways, im not expert on the 3.8SC motor, but I hope this helps.

Samir

Jason Wild
07-04-2005, 11:05 PM
Idle soulds like it could be plugs or wires. maybe the gas is old or the injectors are dirty. Or the number one thing on an SC a vac leak.

as for the AC sounds like it's low.

Steve Richards
07-04-2005, 11:33 PM
I guess the mechanic who did the rebuild is no help?

If he ran some engine diagnostics on it to read the codes in your computer, he may be able to find out what is wrong. You could get a code reader from CT and run it yourself.

Poor idle could be caused by:
defective IAC - goose like sound when engine shut off
vacuum leak - less than 20 inches of vacuum at idle
old gas separating over time or low octane
dirty maf filament
damaged or unconnected sensors (o2 etc)
bad plugs or wires, possibly wrong firing order, plugs not gapped properly
clogged air filter
tb not opening
defective fuel pump or dirty injectors
was the crank sensor replaced and is the balancer ok?

Overheating:
If the engine was rebuilt because the car was driven after the head gaskets had blown causing the bearings to seize, you might have a bad rad, defective thermostat, or old rad cap. Did CT pressure test your system?

AC:
Don't worry about it right now, you have bigger problems. If it sat for a long time, you may be low on freon, sensor problem may be causing it to shut down especially when you are running hot.

Sorry, these are general comments. We need some more info to help narrow the problem.