I Just got a galant, and it wont go past 3k rpm?

[Novablue454]

I picked up a 90 Galant N/A FWD last night and I just got a chance to look at it today. I replaced the starter, and it started right up. But when I drive it, it wont go past 3000 rpm. The guy I bought it from said he thought it was a clogged cat, but before I drove it I disconnected the exhaust at the manifold, So im assuming its nothing exhaust related. Im thinking that something is setting the computer into limp mode. What do you think could cause this?

[talontsi]

Are you throwing a Check Engine light? How does it run at idle? I would check the MAF sensor and make sure it is connected. Also, reset the ecu by disconnecting the battery cables for 60 sec, then reconnect.

[Novablue454]

I had the negative battery cable disconnected for about two hours today when I was doing the starter, and I had the battery completley out all of last night. There is no CEL, but the ABS and Battery light are on.

[talontsi]

Are you having issues with keeping the battery charged?

[Novablue454]

yes I am. But now i'm thinking the engine is blown. I got it stuck in some snow and it rev'd to around 6k spinning the tire. Then it started making this horrible noise like there were rocks in the cylinders. It didnt go away untill I turned it off, and it doesnt have enough juice to turn over. If its not knocking horribly bad, what else would that noise be?

[Novablue454]

And if it helps any, The car sat for about 7 months before I got it. Im thinking of buying some fresh oil,engine flush, plugs, plug wires, and some injector cleaner/tb cleaner/etc.. or would this just be a waste due to the knocking noise? The noise isnt there under 3k most of the time, but every now and then it get loud, then goes away.

[Zeppelin]

That could just be alternator noise. Have you checked to amke sure the alt belt is on and tightened properly?

[talontsi]

Did the motor sound like it was missing at all? Was it hard to keep it idling? When you say rocks in the cylinders, are you referring to a rpm based knocking? Does it knock faster as the rpms increase? Can you leave it at idle and get your ear close to where you hear the knocking?

[Novablue454]

no, its blown. The knocking is so loud at idle that my parents could hear it inside. And it only got louder and worse with RPM. Looks like im in the market for an engine.

[Novablue454]

::UPDATE::

the crank pulley/harmonic balancer separated and it bouncing between the crank and the frame was causing the knocking sound.