Here's the story: had a really strange problem happen two days ago. I was on the freeway driving up a bit of an incline (in 5th) and then all of a sudden I couldn't accelerate anymore when I put my foot on the gas. The engine was running, but was totally bogging down. I threw in the clutch and the engine died. While coasting, I decided to turn it back over, and it seemed to run alright in the low gears. Later that night I had to get it back home, and this time in third going up a hill it starts to bog (but after having driven probably 10 miles or so and doing okay). It feels very similar to when ignition timing is really out (due to the engine pulling it or what-have-you). Now the car seems to have an ignition problem in or out of gear. Parked the car for a bit; came back later. Still feels like the timing is bad, but need to move my car. The higher the RPM's climb, the smoother it feels (odd). Right before I park my car, it seems totally fine again.

Need to drive it again today. Drives fine most of the way to work, until I decide to try fifth. In fifth gear only, the car won't go anywhere. It completely bogs down and feels like the engine is pulling timing. Back to fourth and it's okay. I can only assume it's a tranny issue, but anyone have ideas? I've had a squeak coming from my tranny for a little bit now, but usually heard it most in the low gears. If I had to take a stab, I would say the syncro's for fifth are completely worn, so the mainshaft and countershaft gears can't keep locked together and the engine is fighting against the tires, but I don't know. I'm not sure why it would cause the engine to bog, though. I'm going to try a transmission shop in town and see what they say, but that may not be until next week (out of town this weekend). Ideas? (it's a 97 SH)

 

i wouldnt turn the car on while moving or jump it while in gear that causes people to jump timing ;]

 

^ i take it you've never roll-started a manual after it's died...

anyway, it appears I mis-diagnosed what was wrong. the engine is bogging in the lower-RPM range, from idle to around 3500rpm and is not gear specific. after 3500 it feels about normal. i have a faint knocking sound now, i'm going to check compression and valve lash again (just checked it a couple months ago however and it was good). what threw me off I think was the mechanical advantage of the lower gears; in first it basically feels normal. it seemed like it was a fifth gear problem because i'm usually at lower rpm's in fifth and it has the least advantage over the wheels, further enhancing the problem.

still feels possibly like an ignition problem to me. can the ignitor start to degrade before it actually fails? dizzy has about 160k on it. i also have an MSD blaster2 coil and msd wires & cap that are all about 40k old. gonna check the input to the coil with my dvm this weekend and make sure it's solid getting there. any ideas would be helpful though.

 

well, found the problem. pulled the plugs to look for any clues and discovered my #4 plug was completely coated in oil from the threads down to the electrode. i can only assume this was a headgasket failure, which i guess i knew was imminent. other three cylinders all looked fine, however. i should be putting in an SCE ics titan gasket and be fixing my water pump setup within the next few weeks hopefully, so i'll let everyone know how that goes. originally was hoping to get a vj done while the head was out, but don't think it's going to happen.