intro & diagnostic help needed (maybe attn Hal)

[deejayDSM]

some of you may know me, as I've been with CODSM for awhile.. finally decided to make my way over here.

I've been pretty frustrated with my car lately, and haven't really bothered with much talking.
I got a 91 GST in 1996. Since then I've done upgrades and repairs.
Well, now my car has over 186k miles on it, needs a brakes system overhaul, and it has a smoking problem (presumably leaky valve seals).
Well, my ex-coworker is selling her 91 GSX with ~71k miles on it for a pretty good price. I took it for a test drive today and all was well but a couple of things that I need a little help diagnosing.

1> when driving the car, the exhaust is already somewhat loud (I thought it was stock but after taking another look it appears to be an aftermarket) so noise is understandable, but as RPMs rise, so does the loudness of the exhaust, along with a strong vibration. She says her mechanic looked it over and said it needs a new cat.. which does make some sense, but I wanted to see what others thought.

2> inside the engine bay, with the car idling (maybe while driving too, but it's a little hard to listen in there driving down the road ;)) there is an electric sounding crackle/click noise. It seems to be originating around the TPS, but I can't tell for sure. It almost sounds like a plug boot isn't on one of the distributors (I think that's what it's called) but I don't think that's where it's coming from. Anyone know what a dying TPS sounds like?
Maybe if you read this Hal you can tell me, being as you were nice enough to cough a TPS up for me once.. is that the sound it makes?


Thanks!
Nick

[v413nc3]

Nick I can take a look at it if you want. Call me, if you don't have the number anymore Lauren should have it...


Jake

[Mirage]

Originally posted by deejayDSM


2> inside the engine bay, with the car idling (maybe while driving too, but it's a little hard to listen in there driving down the road ;)) there is an electric sounding crackle/click noise. It seems to be originating around the TPS, but I can't tell for sure. It almost sounds like a plug boot isn't on one of the distributors (I think that's what it's called) but I don't think that's where it's coming from. Anyone know what a dying TPS sounds like?
Maybe if you read this Hal you can tell me, being as you were nice enough to cough a TPS up for me once.. is that the sound it makes?


Thanks!
Nick

This sounds too much like the PCV valve. Was the idle glass smooth? Or did it have a slight miss to it? I'm almost willing to bet that the noise you're hearing is the PCV valve rattling back and forth. Nothing is wrong with it rattling around a little, but it can get a little annoying (I know, mine used to rattle A LOT with the web cams installed. Then I disabled the PCV :D ) Hope this helps.

[deejayDSM]

thanks for the offer jake. I may have my bro and his mechanically inclined friend check it out, not sure yet though.

Marcus: I don't think it's the PCV valve.. like I said, its electrical sounding.. almost like a shorting noise. My 91 GST doesnt make this noise.. and I seem to remember hearing the noise in my car previously and fixing it (but it was probably 3+ years ago and I can't remember what the problem was)