1.8VVT Running poorly, where to start?

1.8VVT Running poorly, where to start?

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Discussion

MrDan

Original Poster:

303 posts

197 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
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Hi All

was unsure of where to post this , here or kit cars so mods please feel free to move if need be.

Long story short -

I have a MK Indy RX5 kit car which I bought as a completed project but then iv ended up fixing one thing after the other, finally due to a chain of events it ended up massively overheating, I mean I REALLY cooked it. There was water in the exhaust when I took it apart.

Anyway, rather than try to repair, I picked up another engine from the breakers (saw the donor it was scrapped for body rust) and swapped them out, First time iv done anything like that but I took my time and kept my Haynes manual handy.

Whilst out of the car I also swapped the clutch and timing belt.

Anyway - IT RUNS. but horribly.

I’m basically tired of fixing it now, and I’m wondering where to start I am hoping for it being something simple.

Ideas -

1) Timing - Hope not I’m confident I got it right, everything matched up and it starts without any issues.
2) Crankshaft position sensor, I had to bodge this with some metal plate as the bracket had perished, I’m wondering if its interfering with the signal, so I have ordered a fresh one
3) Is it not firing on all cylinders? Stupidly thew all the old plugs away so iv ordered a spare to check.

Things I can verify-

1) Its been run up to temp and oil looks fine
2) No errors on ECU

any other ideas? or have I fitted a dud engine frown

video - YouTube

pigface1000

79 posts

65 months

Thursday 3rd August 2023
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Could be as simple as the coil pack/leads