Syclone Astro running fault

[jayworldofice]

I have introduced my self and my Sy-Tro (made up name) in the new members section and could now do with some help in making it run properly. This is what happens

It fires up and ignites fine but you cant give it too much revs or it will stall. If it stalls at this point then it will not re-start for a couple of hours. I leave it on idle for 10 minutes to warm up enough to engage drive without stalling. During this time you can smell a lot of petrol from the exhaust and if you try to increase the revs there is a lot of light grey smoke, if i try to increase the revs a bit more then it feels like its missfiring and doesnt realy want to rev.When you can get it to drive without stalling it takes about another 10 minutes up the road to fully get up to temperature and then it drives fine gently round town until you demand some speed. when the boost builds up it then splutters and holds back again but if I am lucky, the orange service engine light comes on and then it goes like a rocket. This light goes on and off whilst up to temperature (long periods not quickly flashing)but never seems to come on when the engine is cold. When the engine is hot there is far less smell of overfueling and virtually no grey smoke and will re-start after stopping.I think I have a sensor fault or the lambda sensor in the manifold is faulty.I do have basic knowledge of engines but its hard to get help here in England with these engines so any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks

 

[bezerk]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

first off all, you should get datamaster a scantool. it will help you out a lot.
basicly it can be alot of reasons, a vacuum leak could do it, do you also have a Syclone/typhoon gauge cluster in there with a boost gauge?
if you have a vacuum leak, you're map sensor will give a wrong code to the ECM and making it to rich.
when it get's hot your ECM will shift into open loop and will do a bit more with the o2 sensor.
you're best off giving your engine the basic tune up. like filters, cap and rotor, plugs and new vacuum lines.
after that you still have the feulpump to do, cause these are most of the things you need to do when you buy a USED syty. when you know nothing about it's history.
and datamaster and a laptop is a must foir these beasts.

btw. nice astro you got there, i know alot of people where thinking about this project but never did it cause of the room in these things.

yup, also an european member of this board

 

[jayworldofice]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

I dont have any useful gauges, no boost or temperature gauge so I will have to add plenty of gauges as I would like to know what is going on.
I will do like you said wiyh the servicing and checking pipes but it feels more like something to do with temperature ( just a gut feeling )
I must get hold of an owners manual for this engine as it will help to learn where all the sensors and pipes are as I feel like I am working on it blind
I presume a datamaster is a fault code reader of sorts and I do have a hand held one but I dont know if I can get hold of the program and lead to allow me to connect it.
How much and where can I get a datamaster?

 

[bezerk]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

I dont have any useful gauges, no boost or temperature gauge so I will have to add plenty of gauges as I would like to know what is going on.
I will do like you said wiyh the servicing and checking pipes but it feels more like something to do with temperature ( just a gut feeling )
I must get hold of an owners manual for this engine as it will help to learn where all the sensors and pipes are as I feel like I am working on it blind
I presume a datamaster is a fault code reader of sorts and I do have a hand held one but I dont know if I can get hold of the program and lead to allow me to connect it.
How much and where can I get a datamaster?

datamaster is a program where you can datalog your truck, see all the readings of your sensors etc.
it also let you see codes, all you need is a laptop and contact ppi typhoon here on the board, he makes the cables for that.

search online for chiltons repairbook manual, but than again 90% is different in your case, but it helps if you want to set timing and check the sensors.
but datamaster is your first priority

 

[jayworldofice]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

Thanks for your help

 

[Daron]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

I would prolly start with the basics. Do the typical tune up stuff; decent distributor cap, rotor, wires, plugs and the like. Troubleshooting something like you are experiencing without getting the basic tune up stuff to a known state will make things frustrating.

 

[jayworldofice]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

I intend to get all that sorted but first I need to know if all the syclone engines were the same as I dont know what year the engine is or which vin id would have been with it.
The other problem is that here in England it is not easy to get service parts and I am in desperate need for a contact in the US that can send me parts.
Does anyone have any suggestions of a company that I can contact?

 

[mmp142965]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

I intend to get all that sorted but first I need to know if all the syclone engines were the same as I dont know what year the engine is or which vin id would have been with it.
The other problem is that here in England it is not easy to get service parts and I am in desperate need for a contact in the US that can send me parts.
Does anyone have any suggestions of a company that I can contact?

we do a lot of international shipping where I work. I can get the parts you need and send them off if that helps. I'd love to see this thing run good cause i have a safari

 

[turbodog]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

Those symptoms could be due to a bad temp sender (by the thermostat) or wiring. Is the 'check engine' light wired up? any codes being stored? Idle OK, stalling with throttle apply could be bad TPS sensor or wiring. You can troubleshoot these with just a voltmeter (although a scan tool is better) if you have the shop manuals. Go to www.sportmachines.com to get the SyTy manuals on CDROM.

 

[jayworldofice]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

cause its an Astro I think the light you refer to is named"Service engine soon" that goes on and off from time to time especially when warm. Dont know how to read the codes if they are stored.
Is a TPS sensor what I would call a TDC for crank position?
I will order the manual today, Thanks

 

[Robert Lone]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

TPS...Throttle Position Sensor

 

[jayworldofice]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

we do a lot of international shipping where I work. I can get the parts you need and send them off if that helps. I'd love to see this thing run good cause i have a safari

Thanks for that. I would be interested to know how much it would be for good plugs, cap and rotor, ignition leads,chiltern workshop manual for 1988 Astro and a manual for the Syclone.
If you have time to find this out for me then I would be very grateful.
I can see me getting very interested in the performance of this vehicle as well as the interior and sound system that I have ready.
Thanks

 

[jayworldofice]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

Thanks for that onfo, is it a switch or a variable potetiometer

 

[Robert Lone]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

Variable potetiometer. It let's the computer know how much throttle you are applying.

 

[mmp142965]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

Thanks for that. I would be interested to know how much it would be for good plugs, cap and rotor, ignition leads,chiltern workshop manual for 1988 Astro and a manual for the Syclone.
If you have time to find this out for me then I would be very grateful.
I can see me getting very interested in the performance of this vehicle as well as the interior and sound system that I have ready.
Thanks

ok ill see what I can come up with. I would also invest in new sensors as well. TPS, 02, MAP, engine temp, air temp and IAC...just to get that out of the way. Also new vacuum lines.

 

[jayworldofice]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

Ok, I will take your advice on that then as it sounds a good idea to be sure everything is ok. Do you mind finding out how much that whole shopping list is as information here in England is hard to find and the parts are even harder.

 

[mmp142965]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

Ok, I will take your advice on that then as it sounds a good idea to be sure everything is ok. Do you mind finding out how much that whole shopping list is as information here in England is hard to find and the parts are even harder.

you got it, PM sent

 

[leadfoot]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

I don't know? I would have to call a FPR (Fuel pressure regulator) if you idle, but then stalls or dies when you rev. It sounds like a flooding condition. Check your electrical /vacuum lines on the FPR.

You can check the TPS with a voltmeter to see if the voltage changes when you turn it.

I have had a seemingly bad TPS sensor check out good when I put in a fresh battery.
( on a FI car) Sounds wierd, but when I put in a new battery all the problems went away.

 

[kentuc]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

Check to see if the engine has a thermostat. Or just put a new one in...

 

[Timbo]

Re: Syclone Astro running fault

It's definitely a rich condition. Find out what size injectors you have.