Help - Loss of Power / No Engine Light?

[Jamestl]

So I was playing with my Solo DL / Smartycam today, and after plugging it in and started driving I got a check engine and traction light. I pulled over and put the OFT in there to read the error code, and it was a U0073. I looked it up, and unsure of what it was, I erased the code and tried to plug in the Solo DL again, and it produced the same thing, so I erased the code and stopped fiddling with the DL...

So I thought everything was cool - but then the car was really struggling after. I almost stalled it starting in 1st, and it seems like the car lost 1/3 of the power somehow. I pulled over again and pulled the battery to reset the ECU, but no change. All this time there's no engine light or anything. The only difference seems to be the tone of the engine when I'm giving it greater than ~30% gas, and it sounds really really raspy, almost like there's an exhaust leak? The car was working just fine right before, and it seems to be running fine otherwise, but it's just got no power.

Power mods: EL headers, OFT, Perrin intake pipe

Side note - the car did have the valve spring recall done ~500 miles / 3 months ago. I thought it could be related, but the engine isn't making any weird mechanical sounds - just the raspy sound when I'm pushing power.

Any ideas, folks?

[steve99]

When you clear codes it resets ecu, same as pulling battery terminal.


After reset you need to let the csr idle for a couple of minutes to ensure the vvt system calibrates and acrivates. If vvt does activate car will be way down on power.


Jist start car

Et it idle for couple of minutes should be ok

[Jamestl]

Originally Posted by steve99

When you clear codes it resets ecu, same as pulling battery terminal.


After reset you need to let the csr idle for a couple of minutes to ensure the vvt system calibrates and acrivates. If vvt does activate car will be way down on power.


Jist start car

Et it idle for couple of minutes should be ok

Thanks, Steve. Tried that. Reset the ECU and let it idle. Same issue. Also used the OFT to re-write the stage 2 tune - same thing...

[steve99]

Originally Posted by Jamestl

Thanks, Steve. Tried that. Reset the ECU and let it idle. Same issue. Also used the OFT to re-write the stage 2 tune - same thing...

Use oft to log vvt intake and exhaist make sure cams moving, log afr vs commanded afr ignition timing knock might give some clue

[Lantanafrs2]

Sounds to me like cams not moving. Mine did same thing couple of years ago but cleared itself out and no problem since.

[Jamestl]

Will try to take logs tomorrow (getting late here).
@Lantanafrs2 - how was it resolved? I actually had a P0018 code about 18 months ago, replaced an OCV, and ultimately had to replace the ECM to get rid of the code. My guess is that the engine did not like 5w30 oil (syn) during the colder half of the year (I think it first happened in Nov/Dec, so maybe around 30-45 degrees?). Ever since it's been fine.

[Lantanafrs2]

This happened within 5 thousand miles of complete engine replacement. I had just unplugged my oft after it told me I couldn't do real time analytics. Had a check engine light and car was sluggish but eventually it cleared itself. Been fine ever since.

[Jamestl]

Alright, here is a short datalog file that I logged via OFT.

https://ufile.io/a04twc8o

I'm not an expert in reading these logs so any help would be much appreciated!

I also replugged in the Solo DL, and now it's just flashing... Without the OBD connection it starts up fine.

.

[Jamestl]

Originally Posted by Lantanafrs2

This happened within 5 thousand miles of complete engine replacement. I had just unplugged my oft after it told me I couldn't do real time analytics. Had a check engine light and car was sluggish but eventually it cleared itself. Been fine ever since.

So you didn't do anything else? Just went away?

[tomm.brz]

you didnt log cams, but they are definitely activating from what I see... it knocks A LOT if it s a stage2 oft tune, -5 of flkc is a very much
also ltft a but high, could be a little exhaust leak?

[Jamestl]

Originally Posted by tomm.brz

you didnt log cams, but they are definitely activating from what I see... it knocks A LOT because if it s a stage2 oft tune, -5 of flkc is a very much
also ltft a but high, could be a little exhaust leak?

Thanks much! I'm not sure on the exhaust leak, but it's def possible as it sounds like crap (like it's struggling for air or something) under WOT (also way diff than prior). The part that I don't understand is why the leak happened at exactly the moment the check engine light came on, and why I'm not getting a CEL?

Would logging the cams be helpful?

[tomm.brz]

try logging them

leak wouldnt necessarily bring a CEL, fuel trims compensate... does it stink a lot and consume a lot?

[Jamestl]

not more than usual? i avg 30mpg on highway yesterday for about 50 miles.

will re-log

[Lantanafrs2]

Originally Posted by Jamestl

So you didn't do anything else? Just went away?

Yes, I just drove it lol