It's amazing how quickly word spreads around So Cal [and even beyond] when something happens to a fellow tuner's car. In order to dispell the rumors that I already know are starting to fly, I figure it's best that everyone hears the REAL story straight from the owner's mouth before things are blown out of proportion. Right after the turbo was installed and we wired up the E-manage, we took it to dyno for tuning. After a few dyno pulls we found that the exhaust leak was just too bad, so we went to work to fix it properly. After correcting the leak, we began to hear what sounded like a stuck valve at idle. After taking some time to diagnose, (check coil packs, plugs, injectors, etc) the problem diminished. But, something was apparently wrong, and during tuning/testing the engine failed. From what we found, a valve dropped due to a retainer breaking and BOOM - you get 5 awesome *sarcasm* holes through your block.

After doing some research through the forums, dealers, and word-of-mouth we discovered that the early 05 engines seemed to have a problem of blowing the motor in common. I encountered people who blew their completely stock engines, people with only basic bolt-ons, and a few with the TRD S/C. Some dealers were warranting replacement blocks and some were refusing service. Obviously a dealer would laugh if I took my car in saying I had a blown engine asking them to replace it - so that wasn't an option.

Also, for anyone that assumes it blew because I beat up on it, overboosted, or just generally neglected something with the turbo - I can assure you that this was not the case. Anyone that knows me knows that I baby the hell out of my car. Like I've said before - I've spent too much time and money on this thing to be dumb with it. Because it had not been completely tuned, the car was only driven twice under EXTREMELY gentle conditions - I never even got to feel it hit boost! (Sad, I know...)







The good news is, though, THAT "HER TC" LIVES TO RUN ANOTHER DAY!

We acquired a 2006 engine with half the miles mine had from the local parts yard for a really decent price and off "Her tC" went to my dad's garage to swap the motors. It didn't take very long at all and we got to install my new ACT street clutch along with it. ;) In less than two weeks, she was put back together and now she's running great. Definitely better than the old engine - and tuning and dyno time will help finish the job. Injectors, E-Manage, and turbo are all working amazingly together and I'm way stoked! Hopefully this turns into more of a sort of "beating the odds" type of story once everything is said and done.

And I finally got to actually get into boost! WOO! Anyone from the "boosted brotherhood" (and sisterhood!) knows how awesome it feels to hit boost for the first time and feel your car pull like it never has before. I just about died laughing with excitement! <3

Special thanks to my wonderful boyfriend, Matt, who loves and supports me and my car habit through thick and thin and Paul @ Dezod for being so patient with us while we worked to figure out the problems.

As much as I dont want to jinx myself again, we have a dyno appointment on Tuesday for more tuning and a few pulls to get some numbers. Cross your fingers and wish me luck!

Here's a video - nothing exciting - just shows its running. LoL.

 

Very well written Glad to here everything is ok now. As i've said before, you have the sickest tC on this forum IMO!!! While you had the motor out, did you build the block?

 

What a story, glad to see it running again.

 

YES while your replacing a block, you might as well fortify it! shame that happened, but you'll bounce back!

 

Would have loved to - but time and money did not allow for anything more than just getting it back up and running. Plus, I have no intention of making it anything more than a well-built all around show car.

 

No prob. Glad she is running and all is well. Glad I could help where I could have. ;)

 

cynce: im sorry about your problems, and good to hear that you are back up again... i know i saw you once at valencia driving... i was making a left turn when you passed by me, and i know you were not even on the throttle... good luck on your future plans, and maybe, when i see you around Valencia, you'll give me a few good runs ;) after my turbo install too :D

 

Next time you see me, give me a honk or flash your lights

 

wow, glad to see one of the best tC's is back in the game and running!

 

ok the valve thing, was there a specific noise you heard!??!

 

^^^^^^ur car is gonna blow up

 

When the car was at idle - it sounded like a "click click click click" type taping noise coming from the top of engine. The car had also developed a really rough idle - kind of sounded like a timing issue - so we turned it off and checked all the plugs, packs, injectors, etc - and when we started it back up, the noise went away. Later it was diagnosed as a bad cylinder which stemmed from the valve problem

 

oh great, i went to the dealership cos of a abnormally loud clicking noise
they brushed it off as an intermittend sticking valve and told me to bring her in and they would clean it



do you mind if I show them this thread?

 

that looks familiar lol but the hole in my block wasnt as big.... downside was I had 2 holes LOL

Mine also did that right before it happened, but it made that when I was on the freeway.... lol

 

im hearing the same thing, and i only got bolt ons, oh well hopefully it dont blow up till the new owner comes to pick it up, then i dont got to worry about it.

 

I need to PM you guys.

 

Based on the experience I just had, I would have them remove the valve cover and check the valves. Some people say fuel additives and oil flushes help "clean" sticky valves - but I always err to the side of caution - especially after this. Mine wasnt a problem of a sticky valve though - mine was a result of the retainter failing and allowing the valve to drop too low, thus hitting the piston and BOOM! under all that pressure in the cylinder.

But by all means, show them this thread if it helps them further diagnose what would potentially be wrong with your car

 

Let me first say...wow. That's amazing! Both in a bad and good way. :D

Second, Paul... Most of the companies I've deal with would have basically said "not my problem" and moved on. Not sure how much you did (wish it said somewhere), but great service is hard to find. You guys just went up a few notches in my eyes.

Third...what, no new pistons?

Seriously, that was some awesome work.

 

I am terrified.

Thanks I will def. show them this

 

The problems you talk about that you found with the 2005 are with the internals right? I have an 05 and it's getting sleeved and short block built, that's why I'm a little concerned. My 05 motor should be ok after that right?