Follow my MAM SS kit install

I have the car running, and idling okay, but with no Wideband (backorder), and no exhaust, it's hard to tune. No wideband = no A/F ratio information. No exhaust: my garage fills with exhaust fumes!

Whenever I step on the gas, the car just about stalls, and that is when the vacuum drops to zero, and it's almost boosting. Something is causing the car to stall as I approach zero pressure (no vacuum, no boost). Anyone have any ideas?
 
I also found a coolant leak where the coolant temp sensor assembly was added to the line. I will have to redo that, which likely means better clamps.
 
couple of changes to my setup: I removed the MAF, and I now have an exhaust. Pics forthcoming. But for now all of my posts on the tuning side will go to this thread:
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104997

Beau told me the MAF is very restrictive, and it turns out that removing the MAF (since I have the MAP sensor) was half my stalling-with-throttle issue. I did some basic tuning, and the engine is revving just fine up to 3000 rpm at idle. I don't want to keep doing that as the engine gets hot when it's not moving. My little fan isn't enough to help it out. Plus, I don't have my plxdevices.com M300 air fuel ratio meter. I opted for that instead of the AEM because the AEM was on backorder, the m300 is cheaper, and the m300 datalogs to the haltech. I'm happy!

Now I gotta get my bumper back on.
 
This just started up right at the end of my tuning session: a rattling that sounds like it is coming from the crank pulley. A screw from my VICS butterfly maybe? I get to pull it all apart and take a look. Fun eh?

You'll hear me on the phone with my buddy. I didn't think it would pick up my voice. Anyone heard this before? There is another video of a guy that had issues with his VICS, and some more links are in that thread, too.

rattle rattle vid 5.5mb

other thread

Same thing? I will be taking apart my intake system to find out. Freaking sucks!
 
not quite. I have the head off now, but I have no idea how to properly remove the valves... looking into it. Its not where I expected it to be in the service manual, so I have to do some digging.
 
Problem solved: I talked to Beau, and check this out, I'm so stoked. He's sending me a new head with all the valves, lifters, cams, and cam brackets pre-installed. Holy S---, that's awesome! I just have to plug it in. Then I send him my old one. You can't beat that.

I actually have the Mazda brand Service Manual that I paid $130 for. That thing has been worth its weight in gold. And it's heavy.
 
Oh, I also posted I have the GT3071R, I have the 2871R. Sorry!
 
Yeah, there are some vague spots in the steps in the service manual. One problem for the Haynes for 99 and 00 pros, the haynes book goes from 95-2000. It lumps the 99-00s in with the 2nd gens! That's some serious foulage.
 
I am still waiting on the new head. The thing got lost somewhere in the shipping process. In the meantime I figured I would fit the new grill material from customcargrills.com onto the bumper cover and check it's fit. It turns out I have to re-mount the FMIC, as mine is too far forward. I would have to do a bunch of cutting to the bumper cover to fit it as things are now. I will get two new flanges welded onto the fmic since the holes I already cut in the bumper won't allow for the strength needed if I were to put in two or even one more hole where I need it. This will set up for a better mounting of the FMIC anyways, and only a small modification to the bumper cover. It won't matter too much anyways, because I plan on covering that hole with grill material also.

For the two smaller holes I removed the plastic fake grills and screwed grills in place in the original holes. Pictures will be forthcoming, but it looks a lot better already. These will also allow more air to circulate around the radiator since the FMIC will be blocking that entire opening. Whether the net result will be better than with them plugged, only and aero-engineer could tell.

I also installed the check-valve recommended by LinuxRacr in this thread:
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95550
 
Last edited:
Alright! progress! Not to mention the wife came home from a 193 day deployment to Iraq, and the kid was delivered by the grandparents two days later! (that was two weeks ago) I have a family again.

I also have started reassembly.

I finally got the new head in, took it to the machine shop for the valve job and porting. Bob the machine shop guy told me to order new shims for the valves, they were on back-order, so I had to wait another week to get them, and I finally took the new head home on Friday, only to find the dealer gave me the wrong head gasket, so again I couldn't do anything. Monday I ordered the new one, got it today, and I have the head back on as of a couple hours ago! I reassembled the turbo/downpipe/wastegate/manifold assembly and that is now ready to reinstall... I am close again! However, I won't be able to finish until I get back from my trip to New Jersey looking for a new house (due to my coming reassignment), which won't be until the 4th of June. It's been a long frustrating trip, but I am once again almost there. The interior is mostly back together as well. I just have to finish the gauge lighting and my second test of my new custom icons...

Thanks for hanging in there... results to come.
 
definitely! I wish I could stay up all night working on it, but I have to be on a schedule again for the kid.
 
Please log in or register to reply here.

New Posts and Comments

I
Hard wear on edge of tire
Replies
7
Views
173
leeharvey418
L
P
Changing Instrument Cluster Language to Polish
Replies
4
Views
127
MzdCX_5
M
K
High Mileage CX-5s - report in
28 29 30
Replies
594
Views
244K
stupidngenius
S
U
2008 CX-9 Windshield Replacement and worried about BCM
Replies
0
Views
27
unforgiven
U
U
2008 CX-9 Grand Touring Key Fob Question
Replies
0
Views
22
unforgiven
U
X
  • Question Question
About to get a Mazda Portege 5!
Replies
0
Views
50
Xavjr._
X
View more…

New Threads and Articles

Back