Found This in Cylinder #4...

[ProbeChris]

Finally got around to tuning this thing again tonight. Drove it around a bit and it seemed to be running MUCH better so I decided to get on it in 2nd gear. Immediately after the pull it stalls, so I restart it and its stuttering real bad. After limping 2 blocks home I pull the plugs to find #1 gap is a little low and #4 had no gap what so ever. Upon inspection I find what looks to be a small beat up bolt(it appears to have had threads) or something in cylinder #4.

Anyone have any idea what this may be? Last time I tuned it I somehow sucked a bearing into my new turbo, I'm sure it wouldn't have been much longer before this thing made it into the new replacement.

 

[808MP5]

Moon rock? Jk can't tell you what that is

 

[Kreepaevox]

VICS screw?

 

[31N007]

Money!

I didn't think the MSP had VICS? could possibly have made its way in through your intake, whatever it is. That's strange...

 

[ProbeChris]

^^^definitely didnt make its way through the intake filter, turbo, fm, and maf. I wasnt familiar with vics or vtcs before just now, seems like a really stupid design. Im guessing that is where this came from, so im assuming the only way to know for sure is removing the manifold?

 

[31N007]

Fair enough. I didn't think it would have. Unless there's a massive hole in a pipe. But then you would have bigger issues. It doesn't look like a screw to me but then again, it doesn't look like much of anything. (moon rock)

I'd say take the intake off if you have time to. Prod around and see if anything's missing. Both the shutters serve a purpose, albeit rather menial ones.

 

[ProbeChris]

It's pretty hard to see in the pic, but on the right 3rd of the object there were definitely threads. Look at the very top and bottom portions, the center of it has obviously been flattened.

I took my probe out of storage this morning and will take the manifold off this after a job interview this afternoon.

 

[S_]

All I can say is that hopefully it won't cost you more than 10cents to fix it if you notice an issue.

 

[31N007]

^+1

I wish I looked more thoroughly. I guess it might be a VICS screw then?? That seems odd as those weren't the ones prone to failure?

 

[ProbeChris]

It was definitely one of the screws. As you can see in the pics, only one of the 8 screws remain and three of the plates were just sitting in the lower portion of the manifold.

 

[CHIQLES]

dam I do remember a while back hereing of a recall for the screw problem but i thought that the later cars where addressed

 

[CHIQLES]

here it is
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...-oHoBw&usg=AFQjCNE28MCxV3_Oqp4Fm5ikwlR_gbz-dg

 

[dirtysouth_msp]

Damn. Glad I switched to a single runner 626 manifold back when I built my engine. Hopefully you don't have any scarring on your cylinder walls.

 

[31N007]

Jeez. Thats scary. Looks just like how my intake mani looked. I pulled the runner out of the mani w/o taking any screws out... Found 5 of them. 3 went into my engine. Scored the cylinder up and the combustion chambers in 1&4.

Sorry about your luck. I wish it was something less serious.

 

[ProbeChris]

I'm hoping It didn't score the cylinder walls. I will do a compression check once it's reassembled and compare it with numbers from the last one I did. Are there any aftermarket manifolds available for our application? I've searched and found a few but can find a link to where they can be had. At the very least I think I'm going to remove the vics and vtcs systems. According to the vtcs/vics delete thread I found, I can remove all of the vacuum lines and actuators and swap out the check valve with a piece of normal hose? I'm assuming I will lose a little bit of bottom end torque but I'm perfectly ok with that. This won't result in a cel light if I leave the solenoids in tact will it?

 

[protege3690]

you can use a 626 IM. theyre single runner manifolds that have no vtcs/vics in them. only thing is you would have to leave the solenoids plugged in to keep your check engine light from turning on.

 

[dirtysouth_msp]

Yup, been running a 626 single runner manifold on my car for years now. The powerband is actually smoother without all that vtcs and vics crap.

 

[31N007]

Im interested in seeing a dyno of a bone stock protege with the 626 Mani and stock Mani. Anyone by chance have one? I'm probably going to keep the stock one since I've bought enough goodies for the car and the engine doesn't need any more stress... (I rag on it. But now I've stopped, I get 20 more miles to the tank )

 

[ProbeChris]

Compression numbers came back at 190 190 170 180, not the greatest but spot on with the last one I did. Hopefully there was no other internal damage. Took it for a spin and everything seems to be back to normal.