Strange engine performance diagnosed and resolved!

ZOLE · 05-08-2012, 10:08 PM

Thought I would share my recent experience with a random engine "problem" with everybody.

Was on travel all last week (Mon-Fri). Came back home and went to start the Z Saturday. Car started ok at first then sputtered and started to feel like it had no power (check engine light came on). Drove it down the block and back to my garge. Car would not get up past 3,500 - 4,000 rpms in first. I was freaking out at this time!

What could it be? Bad gas? Loss of compression, bad pison rings? Fuel starvation? On and on I kept thinking the worst.

Got the wife to come out to start the vehicle several times for me so I could pinpoint a strange sound (after blipping gas) coming from the driver's side of engine. After about 5 mins. of looking around the engine bay and listening for the strange sound, I finally stumbled upon this...

Turns out that while I was away a rodent got in my engine and chewed away at this harness near the driver's side firewall (VVEL sensor?) and part of some tubing that carries coolant. Next to my car I noticed a box of birdseed that my wife put out in the garage that the rodent got into.

Luckily it only ate the two wires. I promplty spliced in two new 20AWG wires (see image below) and and epoxy & taped the partially chewed coolant hose.

Cleaned up the repair by placing a new plastic corrugated conduit around the wires and taped it all up. Not exactly sure what the two wires (green & yellow) are, but I believe they provide pwr/gnd/signal to/from the VVEL sensor which would explain the loss of power, i.e. the ECU was confused and the VVEL stepper motor was stuck at the position which would not allow the valves to open all the way.

Very glad I was able to quickly pinpoint the problem and fix it myself. Lessons learned here: 1. Never leave food out for rodents near your car, 2. Put rodent poison/traps out in the garage near the garage door, 3. When car has been sitting for a while and an issue occurs during restart, inspect for rodent damage around engine.

Don't know why this stuff is so enticing to those critters, but I've had this happen years ago when a squirrel took out all the wires in my main engine harness in my Jeep while parked in the city for a week.

Hope this experience will be helpful to others experiencing weird random engine failures

Red__Zed · 05-08-2012, 10:12 PM

wow, crazy. glad you got it fixed.

Rodents are such a nuisance around cars, be glad they didn't tear up more

anthonyy · 05-09-2012, 01:16 AM

damn rodents! nice job diagnosing and fixing the problem OP

NYBladeZ · 05-09-2012, 01:32 AM

Nice issue spotting and self help fix.

1slow370 · 05-09-2012, 03:12 AM

had a mouse eat the entire knock sensor, injector harness on my dads ridgeline which is under the intake manifold. yeah furry little basterd cost us 760.

GaleForce · 05-09-2012, 07:33 AM

Nice troubleshooting! Thanks for sharing!

indyn · 05-09-2012, 01:14 PM

rodent cracked the VVEL

twinturbonet · 05-09-2012, 01:49 PM

Wow! Good find on this!

MaDMaXX · 05-09-2012, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1slow370

... yeah furry little basterd cost us 760.

Haha, sorry, i like this comment

Telephone · 05-09-2012, 05:21 PM

Good find and fix. Get rid of that bird feed.

SPOHN · 05-09-2012, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYBladeZ

Nice issue spotting and self help fix.

LakeShow · 05-09-2012, 06:13 PM

Wow that's insane man. Stupid rodents.

Waiz · 05-09-2012, 06:15 PM

Time to adopt a cat

ZOLE · 05-12-2012, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waizzz

Time to adopt a cat

Yeah, we actually have two cats but we normally don't let them into the garage. Now when I go away for more than a few days, think I'll keep the door open so they can take care of business.

Also, I removed the birdseed and went out and got some rodent poison/traps.

IDZRVIT · 05-12-2012, 07:41 PM

If the hose required epoxy to repair, replace it!

05-08-2012, 10:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
ZOLE Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Reisterstown, MD Posts: 164 Drives: 370Z PG Touring MT Rep Power: 15	Strange engine performance diagnosed and resolved! Thought I would share my recent experience with a random engine "problem" with everybody. Was on travel all last week (Mon-Fri). Came back home and went to start the Z Saturday. Car started ok at first then sputtered and started to feel like it had no power (check engine light came on). Drove it down the block and back to my garge. Car would not get up past 3,500 - 4,000 rpms in first. I was freaking out at this time! What could it be? Bad gas? Loss of compression, bad pison rings? Fuel starvation? On and on I kept thinking the worst. Got the wife to come out to start the vehicle several times for me so I could pinpoint a strange sound (after blipping gas) coming from the driver's side of engine. After about 5 mins. of looking around the engine bay and listening for the strange sound, I finally stumbled upon this... Turns out that while I was away a rodent got in my engine and chewed away at this harness near the driver's side firewall (VVEL sensor?) and part of some tubing that carries coolant. Next to my car I noticed a box of birdseed that my wife put out in the garage that the rodent got into. Luckily it only ate the two wires. I promplty spliced in two new 20AWG wires (see image below) and and epoxy & taped the partially chewed coolant hose. Cleaned up the repair by placing a new plastic corrugated conduit around the wires and taped it all up. Not exactly sure what the two wires (green & yellow) are, but I believe they provide pwr/gnd/signal to/from the VVEL sensor which would explain the loss of power, i.e. the ECU was confused and the VVEL stepper motor was stuck at the position which would not allow the valves to open all the way. Very glad I was able to quickly pinpoint the problem and fix it myself. Lessons learned here: 1. Never leave food out for rodents near your car, 2. Put rodent poison/traps out in the garage near the garage door, 3. When car has been sitting for a while and an issue occurs during restart, inspect for rodent damage around engine. Don't know why this stuff is so enticing to those critters, but I've had this happen years ago when a squirrel took out all the wires in my main engine harness in my Jeep while parked in the city for a week. Hope this experience will be helpful to others experiencing weird random engine failures __________________ "In my universe, evolution kills the strong". -Dilbert

05-09-2012, 01:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
NYBladeZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New York Posts: 2,158 Drives: Lotus Exige S Rep Power: 20	Nice issue spotting and self help fix. __________________ 2009 Carbon Fiber/Red 370z aka Trish: Sports Package, Meisterschaft full catback, Fast Intentions Longtube Headers, Injen Long Tube Intakes, UpRev Tune: Sold 2008 Lotus Exige S Club Racer aka Bella, always leaves me smiling

05-09-2012, 03:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
1slow370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the D Posts: 3,732 Drives: v8 74 260z ;) Rep Power: 7251	had a mouse eat the entire knock sensor, injector harness on my dads ridgeline which is under the intake manifold. yeah furry little basterd cost us 760. __________________ ANSWER PRICE LIST Answers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $0.75 Answers (requiring thought) - - - - $1.25 Answers (correct) - - - - - - - - - - $12.50

05-09-2012, 07:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
GaleForce A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 21,749 Drives: Varis Arising II Rep Power: 51865	Nice troubleshooting! Thanks for sharing! __________________ >>>GaleForce's Build<<< >>>FaceBook @3GsCustoms<<<>>>Instagram @GaleForce370z<<< Varis Kamikaze-Z

05-09-2012, 01:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
twinturbonet Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Miami, FL Age: 42 Posts: 335 Drives: 11' Z #024 - SFZCC Rep Power: 13	Wow! Good find on this! __________________

05-08-2012, 10:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	wow, crazy. glad you got it fixed. Rodents are such a nuisance around cars, be glad they didn't tear up more

05-09-2012, 01:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
anthonyy A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Los Gatos, CA Posts: 1,027 Drives: Lexus CT Rep Power: 16	damn rodents! nice job diagnosing and fixing the problem OP

05-09-2012, 01:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
indyn Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: farr north Posts: 241 Drives: 11 BMW 335i 6AT Rep Power: 14	rodent cracked the VVEL

05-09-2012, 05:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Telephone Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 297 Drives: 2012 Sport M6 Rep Power: 14	Good find and fix. Get rid of that bird feed.

05-09-2012, 06:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
LakeShow A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: L.I., NY Posts: 5,307 Drives: Everything Rep Power: 26	Wow that's insane man. Stupid rodents. __________________ \|2013 Audi S4\|Ibis White/Black\|S-Tronic P+\| \|2013 370z\|PearlWhite/Persimmon\|Touring/Sport/Nav\|F.I. CBE 18" CF\| \|Sold\|2011 370z\|Gun Metallic\|Touring/Sport/Nav\|

05-09-2012, 06:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
Waiz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 9,262 Drives: Z33 & GE8 Rep Power: 459	Time to adopt a cat

05-12-2012, 07:41 PM	#15 (permalink)
IDZRVIT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Halifax Posts: 1,659 Drives: '13 CTS-V, '76 Vette Rep Power: 27	If the hose required epoxy to repair, replace it! __________________ "America.... still builds rockets!" Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp '13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

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