Well after more than 5 years of driving my 2G without it ever leaving me stranded it finally broke down on me today on my way to work. ;(

I have been running 8psi of boost for a little over 2 years now and started smelling a faint burnt smell since last week. This morning the car lost most of it's power for a few miles, then the check engine light started flashing on and off and the next thing I knew I lost all engine power and the oil light came on. I was able to coast carefully to the side of the freeway and called a flatbed to come pick up the car. This afternoon I decided to put in some new spark plugs and throw back on my stock wires and coil pack but nothing. Then I checked my fuses and noticed that the 30amp engine fuse was blown. I put in a new fuse and the car now starts but the engine shakes violently to the point where I have to shut it down. I searched on here to see what it could be and guess that's it's a blown headgasket but am not 100% sure. The oil pan and other lower parts of the engine bay are covered in oil but I could not tell where it's coming from. Does anyone have and clues of what it could be?

Compression test time.

Originally posted by DanKid
then the check engine light started flashing on and off

Misfire.

and the next thing I knew I lost all engine power and the oil light came on.

Was this before the engine was shut down? Or while it was still running. I would be interested in looking for a puddle o'mess on the ground, or perhaps somewhere else...

Definitely time to do a compression test.

Check for oil in the coolant too.

Originally posted by 1slw97
Compression test time.

Will do as soon as I get a chance. :thumbsup

Originally posted by CODE4
Was this before the engine was shut down? Or while it was still running. I would be interested in looking for a puddle o'mess on the ground, or perhaps somewhere else... Definitely time to do a compression test.

I'm not sure since it all happened so fast. I think the engine had already shut down but i'm not 100% sure. The car was still doing about 60mph and I was in the middle lane so my main concern was to slowly limp to the side of the freeway before I lost all speed. :whoa

Originally posted by Nemo
Check for oil in the coolant too.

Thanks. Will add that to the long list of things to check. ;-)


I'm upset that this happened but the way I see it, this can be a chance for me to upgrade. If the headgasket is blown I might as well throw in a new MLS gasket with some ARP studs. I don't know anything about building motors but I might also check around to see if I can have someone build the bottom end to handle a bit more boost. My only problem now is that I haven't really done enough research to know exactly what to buy. Any suggestions out there from you guys with built motors? I'm currently running a 14b turbo which is rated as being able to handle 300hp so that would be a nice goal.

Yep..time for a compression test to see if you dropped a cylinder.

Did you lose any oil or coolant? What did the plugs look like when you pulled them?

Sorry to hear it left you stranded.