Few oddities

[Shigun]

I've been having a few odd experienced with my S14A SR, hoping somebody might be able to help out on some/any.

1) The car hasn't been started for the past ~4 days or so as I was changing out the suspension in the evenings. Before that, I could start the car and it would start up fine, no problem. Finished up the suspension and went to start the car today and it immediately dies. Start it up again, it starts, but the idle is really rough, and you can tell it wants to die. If I give it some gas for about 15-20 seconds, I can let off then and it will idle fine.

2) I have AC installed, but I haven't been able to use it because it seems like it's not kicking the idle up. I've taken a multimeter to the Blue/Red wire on the purple IACV plug and have confirmed that it is, in fact, getting voltage when the AC is turned on, but it doesn't seem to have any effect. Prior to #1 occurring, I could have the AC on and as I was driving, it would work fine, but as soon as I would come to a stop, the idle would drop and it would want to die on me.

I'm wondering if my IACV is bad, but the fact that just a few days ago, problem #1 wasn't happening doesn't really make me think so.

To add to this, I seem to have an exhaust leak at the turbo to o2 housing right at the gasket (I can feel the air). I need to get another gasket, I think, because I've tightened everything up as best I can but it still exists in that one spot. Somewhere I have a laminated composite gasket, but right now the one that is on there is a fairly shitty flat metal gasket, like this

http://i.frsimg.com//images/detailed_images/FR_0112930700154d12aebf85bae_59952.jpg

but no depth to it, it's just straight flat. Would the laminated composite work, or should I just bite the bullet and get the S15 one? As well, how much of an impact is this leak going to have, given that it's pre O2? I'm looking to fix it ASAP, but just want to know what I'm looking at in the way of behavior.

Thanks guys.

[Rayne]

Let's start with the exhaust leak. Use OEM when ever possible. You can try the laminated composite gasket to find out if the leak is sealed.

If you have been tightening things up over time a small issue will usually show up. The idle issue just may as well solve itself after you replace the faulty gasket.

[Shigun]

Let's start with the exhaust leak. Use OEM when ever possible. You can try the laminated composite gasket to find out if the leak is sealed.

If you have been tightening things up over time a small issue will usually show up. The idle issue just may as well solve itself after you replace the faulty gasket.

I replaced what was there...I wouldn't even bother to call it a gasket, seriously.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2795455/2014-06-22%2001.33.17.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2795455/2014-06-22%2001.33.23.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2795455/2014-06-22%2001.33.33.jpg

In the second picture, you can see where it was leaking out in the top left corner.

I also found another leak at the exhaust manifold to turbo due to a loose bolt, which was a bitch to tighten up given that it was a rear one behind the turbo (stock manifold). I got both of those tightened up and went searching for any more exhaust leaks, but found none.

The issue with it wanting to die at idle still exists, but I actually think it might be related to my alternator. This is a motor swap in a car that with the stock motor has an alternator with 105a at idle. The alternator I have in now is only an 80a alternator, and I isolated the problem down to if I am just sitting there with nothing happening, most of the time it idles ok. If I, for instance, turn my lights on (HIDs with ballasts), the car instantly starts to bog down and want to die. Same on if I turn on the AC, so I think the car just isn't getting enough power.

I've ordered a Quest 110a alternator and will be working to install it and see if it helps rectify some of the issue.

[SHIFTrl240]

You can try using this stuff to seal the gasket if you have further problems:
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1445565&kw=furnace+cement&origkw=furnace+cement&searchId=48186947413
I actually had my Manifold->Turbo , Turbo->Collector and Collector->Downpipe sealed entirely with that stuff on my old KA-T

It is possible that you're not getting enough power to spark, have you monitored the voltage on the battery when it bogs?

I'm having a bit of a rough cold-start issue myself that I haven't quite figured out.
From my research so far it could be IACV or the coolant temp sensor, but I haven't checked out either one just yet.

Good luck.

[Shigun]

You can try using this stuff to seal the gasket if you have further problems:
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1445565&kw=furnace+cement&origkw=furnace+cement&searchId=48186947413
I actually had my Manifold->collector and collector->downpipe sealed entirely with that stuff on my old KA-T

I'll keep this in mind, thanks

It is possible that you're not getting enough power to spark, have you monitored the voltage on the battery when it bogs?

I haven't, though I probably should. I'll pull out my multimeter and watch the voltage as I start / turn on lights / turn on AC / etc.

I'm having a bit of a rough cold-start issue myself that I haven't quite figured out.
From my research so far it could be IACV or the coolant temp sensor, but I haven't checked out either one just yet.

Good luck.

Thing that is odd to me is that it's not just on cold start, it could be warm as well, which led me to testing and playing. Good luck with figuring yours out as well!