Thread: Think my car just blew up :-( ideas?

Can't think rational right now, please help me think clear.
She's been running best she's ever run lately. Headed to work just now everything was routine. A few miles into it she sort of hiccuped but smoothed right out. I figured it was a quirk in the fuel map, she does run rich. A couple miles later I gave her a good hard 4th gear pull, she pulled hard. Then 30 seconds later, pfffft!

I wanna say a coupler popped off cause that's how it felt, but not really at the same time. Also i didn't see one popped. Wouldn't rev passed 3k and was super choppy through the short rpm range. Limped her home to get my truck, problem stayed consistent. She was barely drivable and bucking the whole way. Idle AFRs were high 10's, low 11's. She didn't stall. No clicking, clacking, banging, rapping, or any other unusual noises.

Maybe I'm thinking the worst?

lost maf signal?
also do a boost leak test

Check the MAF, vacuum lines, boost leaks and if all checks out do a compression check.

If its still running, not blowing oil everywhere, then id say its a maf issue or blown coupling. Fingers crossed you find its just something simple.

Now a little more awake than earlier at 5am and just trying to get to work, and mulling it over and over while driving to Boston (delivery driver), I'm thinking it's gotta be a coupler I missed. That or MAF, like y'all have said. It's just I've blown coupler before and it's never broken up so badly in the short 3k RPM range. That hiccup is what's really got me quirked. I had all the tools I needed but saw no issue....funny, I even jiggled the MAF wires. I hope to report back it is something stupid. I hope!

Thanks guys

That hiccup, and when the issue happened, were both just cruising conditions. Barely in boost, if at all. That's also why I'm leaning away from a coupler. That and again, didn't see one blown off. But that doesn't mean one wasn't. Shoulda called out sick, lol!!! Ima be crazy all day!

MAF seems to be toasted. I checked all couplers and all was well. Checked a couple other things under the hood which all checked out. Plugged in the laptop and went straight to trouble codes to see a code 12: MAF circuit. Viewed in realtime diagnostics to see 0.01% voltage from the MAF.

I have a bad habit of feeling impending doom. I think the worst and hope for the best. I'm done now for the night knowing the issue. I'm beat tired! I'll scope the wiring tomorrow to see if sOmething came undone. Any other suggestions as to A: why a MAF would just shit out like this? And B: possible tactics to resurrect it.

Thanks fam to help me think clearly today

This has happened to me before in my 200sx to be exact 5X 1st time the MAF Gave out 2nd time blew a Park plug 3rd time a Spark plug wire came a bit loose and 4 and 5 time a coupler came off

dont freak out if she still made it home at least working its probably something simple

Good luck

I see the post times, you must have been typing just as I was posting my last comment. Seems to be the MAF. Thanks though.

Where is your MAF located? Before the turbo inlet or between the I/C and T/B ?


Also, bead roll those I/C pipes and use quality clamps - you won't have to deal with that again.