My car is toast. What should I do?

[peepsalot]

OK, I just did the vtcs removal/intake manifold porting mod on my car, finished it last night. I also installed outlaw engineering spacers and did the TB coolant bypass mod. I took the car to work this morning and everything seemed fine. On the way home today it dies on the highway.

I get it off the highway and the temperature gauge is through the roof. I check the radiator and it is full of water, and not even steaming. If I put the keys in the ignition and turn to on, I see abs light, oil can, and e-brake lights(even when ebrake is off). No CEL though. The fans won't turn on either. The voltage was getting low by the time I checked, but I think that is just from having the heater and lights on for a couple minutes.
So what the hell, is my engine blown or what? Is there some connector I neglected to put on securely that caused this. I looked it over and did not see anything obvious.

I don't know what to do. I have it sitting in my apt complex parking lot right now. I have a very bad feeling about this. Should I just bite the bullet and take it into the dealer, with my totally ****** warranty? Would it be better to take it to another shop? Is there any possibility it is a loose connection somewhere that is a simple fix? oh **** oh **** oh ****.(nervous)

 

[mp5jeff]

your brakes aren't sticking are they? seeing how your eblight etc came on, maybe they are dragin bad and overheating engine?

 

[azian6er]

e brake is only in the rear though, i doubt it would overheat the engine.

You are scaring me though man. My IM is off and i just removed the plates as well. I hope i dont have as much of a problem as you do.

I say reset the ecu, then see whats up.

-bryan

 

[peepsalot]

I don't think they were sticking, the brakes felt fine. How can you tell? How would that overheat my engine?

 

[mp5jeff]

if he is on the highway and the back brakes are dragin pretty bad, thats enough to overheat the engine im sure

 

[mp5jeff]

because you are making the engine work alot harder then stock.

 

[azian6er]

reset the ecu man. then come back and post what happened if anything.

-bryan

 

[peepsalot]

well, it happened about an hour ago, but brakes are ambient temerature now. I just unhooked the ground, waiting for a whlie.

 

[peepsalot]

I was on the highway, and I got on it a little just to test out my latest mod, and then the engine just quits all the sudden. I think my engine is blown or something, I am worried that something got into it while I was working on it, and just hosed one of my cylinders or something. It still cranks, and I don't see any leaking fluids though. I checked my oil level and it actually looked very high, above the full line.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

Too high oil level is not a good sign. I suggest draining the oil and see what comes out if it doesn't start after the ecu re-set.

If your check engine light doesn't come on with the key on you have an electrical problem, not a mechanical. Check all fuses and relays.

 

[peepsalot]

Hooked the battery back up after a few minutes, and same thing. Temperature gauge is topped out. Could it be wrong? I doesn't seem very hot in the engine bay at all. Is this some kind of electrical problem?

 

[peepsalot]

All fuses are fine. There are two empty spots, but I'm assuming this is normal, since I never touched the fuses before.

 

[peepsalot]

Not sure how to check a relay though.

 

[peepsalot]

How long does it usually take for the ecu to reset after unhooking the ground?

 

[strongbear0]

Yes. It is an electrical problem, but what we don't know because you did all of the disconnecting. You need to check all the fuses and relays in the car and under the hood. Make sure there are no wires melting on the intake mani and make sure all of your fuel connections are right on the mani. Did you hear anything when it shut down? Detonation? Anything? It's kind of hard to diagnose a problem if you don't have anymore info than, It died.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

do you have a check engine light with the key on?

Does the engine run? or is the temp. gauge peg while key on?

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

wow someone confirming with me that I'm right....how reassuring.

 

[azian6er]

do you depress the brake pedal when restting the ecu? just unhook the ground, then go depress the brake pedal all the way for about 10 secs then let off and hook the negative back up. That is restting the ecu. If you just unhook the negative, you need to let itsit for about 30 minutes to rest the ecu i believe.

-Bryan

ps if your temp gaue is topping out when you start your car cold then it is most definately an electrical problem

 

[peepsalot]

I haven't upped the boost or done any other power altering modifications to my car.

Sorry, I don't have much more info on how it died. The engine just cut, and the lights I described came on. I didn't hear any pinging, but then again I wasn't listening for it.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

If the pcm "thinks" the ect temp. is too high it will change timing and fuel so much it may be impossible to start.

I would check for shortage of the ect wiring.