Ok 3 Repair Q?

[hardtail_pride]

#1 so in an effort to get my car running better, I thought i might replace my ignition coil in my 92 loyale SPFI wagon. I have been told it would help my car start better and send better "signal" to the Disty. I figured one of the "performance" $40 dollar ones from a local parts store would do the trick and maybe be better than stock.

 

#2 Second one, i have horrible TOD going on and lose oil about a half a quart weekly depending on how often i drive. I was told to try the cheap fixes like sea foam, which i bought but i am unsure on how to use it. Should i dump it in with my oil and just leave it? Or does it have to be right before an oil change?

 

#3 Number 3 my catalytic converter's innards decided to start rattling around and my gasket is missing ( the middle Cat under drivers seat). The loud is just annoying now, so im debating just doing away with that cat and putting in a straight pipe to replace that foot of pipe. Pros? Cons?

 

Thanks for your input!

[94Loyale]

Well....

 

#1- That aftermarket coil may work okay, and it may not. It sounds like they fed you a line of ************ about sending better signal and all that. Normally though, these cars don't seem to react well to anything but an OEM. $40 is probably what a stock one will cost you and is really your best bet. Edit: Keep that old coil if it ain't bad! You never know when you'll need it

 

#2- I feel stupid, but I don't know what TOD is. But if your losing that much oil, that quickly, I'd think one of the main seals. That is, if its leaking it out and not using it.

 

#3- Since the innards are rattling around, and the gasket is gone. It sounds to me like a great time to take it apart and replace the gasket Then, while your down there, decide what you want to do. By all means, I like to look out for the environment when I can but it all depends on how much money you want to spend. I would say... A: Buy a cat and throw it on, they aren't very expensive. B: If you don't feel like spending the money and getting more parts, then just knock the stuffing out of your cat now (if its already rattling, then half your job is done ) But make sure its not a heat shield or anything before you tear it apart.

[testy]

haha, last time I made a thread about cat converters it got pretty gnarly.

[94Loyale]

Hahah, yea, it seems that subject strikes a nerve with alot of people.

[hardtail_pride]

I figured it will, the car wont be re registered and i know it needs two cats to pass a sniffer test, but for the sake of going cheap i figured its a good fix. It will potentially become just a throw around and play with car.

 

Oh and the TOD is the Tick Of Death. Its the noise your motor will make when oil is not getting to the lifters so they tick badly. Kind of a joke i have about some Subarus.

 

And i love the environment as much as the next guy.

[94Loyale]

Ahh, sniffer tests...I don't envy you. Where I'm at it's just visual inspection yet. And the Tick of Death...haha, I should have known that one. All 3 of my wagons did it at one time. I just give it a rev and they shut up I don't know anything at all about Seafoam, but I'm also on E30tech.com (older BMW forum) and they swear by it on there. I just despise oil additives,haha.

[hardtail_pride]

Ahh, sniffer tests...I don't envy you. Where I'm at it's just visual inspection yet. And the Tick of Death...haha, I should have known that one. All 3 of my wagons did it at one time. I just give it a rev and they shut up I don't know anything at all about Seafoam, but I'm also on E30tech.com (older BMW forum) and they swear by it on there. I just despise oil additives,haha.

 

 

Ya im not a fan of additives but everyone swears by it so i thought i would give it a try, just dont wanna mess up my motor trying a cheap fix. Stupid sniffer tests.

[DaveT]

1. Use a stock coil, or the original. (I have yet to have one fail in nearly 20 years) - multiple EA82s, still driving the 90 & 92. The spark from the stock coil is strong enough to jump from the output terminal to the ground screw if you remove the wire that goes to the disty & crank the engine!

 

2. Never used seafoam, other engine cleaners didn't seem to do much. Not much risk in trying it.

 

3. If you aren't going to run the car much, the amount of polution isn't significant.

[idosubaru]

1. use the stock coil. aftermarkets are not reliable or needed. there's not benefit really.

 

2. sometimes changing oil oil helps the TOD, do that frequently. find out where you're using your oil before you proceed. you likely just need to reseal the oil pump properly to get rid of your TOD.

 

TOD is normally caused by two different things that both have entirely different solutions:

 

A: Oil pump seals. the mickey mouse seal is usually corrupted, this is the most common problem. some people have problems getting the mickey mouse seal to seal properly. in these case i think a new oil pump is needed.

 

B: HLA's. these will need treatments (MMO, ATF, Seafoam) or replacement.

 

trying HLA fixes for oil pump problems or oil pump fixes for HLA problems will not solve your issues.

 

if your HLA's are random and intermittent and many are noisey, then it's likely the oil pump. if it's just one, then it's probably an HLA and not the oil pump.

[Gloyale]

1. DO NOT use a gimmick aftermarket coil. Save you're money, if you're coil is working, there is no reason to replace it. You won't gain anything form a new one, and you are likely to have problems with non-OEM

 

 

 

2. Best thing I've found for TOD is a half quart of ATF in the oil.

 

Run it for about 2 weeks before you change the oil. You may have to do this a few times before ti goes away, but eventualy it will. If it doesn't you may need to reseal you're pump. Which it sounds like you need to reseal leaks anyhow.

 

 

 

3. It is against the law to remove or alter you're catalytic converter without replacing it. Brand new y-pipes are available, not terribly expensive either. Save the money from you're coil and get a new cat.

 

or....... find someone with a y-pipe to sell you. Don't ask Junk-yards, they can't sell used Cats.

 

or...... A good ole boy type muffler shop should be able to replace the *y* section with pipe, then put a cheap straight through, generic cat behind it.

[Qman]

WOW! Doom and gloom.

 

1. The coil does indeed get weaker over time. As does any electronic device. Aftermarket ones are indeed viable replacements. They do work well with Subarus. I have replaced every coil in all of my EA and ER equipped Subarus. I have not heard of any bad coils lately. Accel had a run of bad chromies a few years back. Maybe you should start a thread asking how many people are running aftermarket coils. Might surprise you on the results.

 

2. TOD, many long-winded articles have been written on this subject. And, a lot of bad info has been given over the years.

 

Two things cause this(as Gary wrote). Bad oil pumps or seals. Weak or bad HVLA. Hydraulic lifters do not go bad very often. The TOD is caused by low oil pressure. This can be repaired by replacing the oil pump or by the seals, in most cases. However, this does not always solved the problem. I each head-cam assy there is a small spring and check ball. This allows the lifters to pump up before sending oil to the rest of the head. If this spring weakens the pressure will not be reached and the lifters will tick. You can order a new spring or try to "stretch" the old one slightly. Beware that you can overstretch the spring and cause it to need too much pressure.

 

Seafoam does work as an internal cleaner. Follow the directions on the can. It works in the engine and the fuel system to clean out the gunk that plagues.

 

3. Cats, another long-winded subject. Again reaping loads of bad advice from those with no clue.

 

You can replace cats. You can replace two cats with one high-flow cat. You can swap in a "test-pipe". But it will not regulate the emissions. My Imoreza has a catless system and will not pass sniffer. Add the stock cats and it has almost zero emissions. I am not getting into the enviromental side of this as I will not be hypocritical(sp).

 

For a non-registered vehicle I assume it will be used offroad only.

 

Hope this helps clear up some of the myths.

[hardtail_pride]

Ok you guys have helped out a lot. I have had the TOD for about a year and just checking my options to fix it. Last i checked the oil pump is upwards of 200 bucks plus labor. I bought the car for 200 bucks and only need it to last another 2.5 months. So i will do the seafoam then maybe the ATF trick. If it presists then i will turn my ipod up louder. And im going to try and just make my cat ststem work, i will pull it out and do a new gasket tomorrow and see if the internals really are rattling like the local muff shop says. Thanks again!