What have you done to your P5 today?

Got A Call From One Of My Co-Workers During Lunch Telling Me Someone Just Reported That My Car Was Hit... No Witnesses... Hit And Run... Suck Balls
Completely Ripped Off Both Tabs From Each Side Of The Bumper Cover(They Are Still Sandwiched Between The AAC Brackets)... Broke Off Both Tabs From The Headlights... Broke Off One Of My Side Markers... And Put Another Crack In My MSP CF Lip

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I tried removing my intake manifold tonight and got stuck when I realized that the EGR tube needs to be disconnected =/

The service manual makes no mention of this. Damn you Mazda!
 
After finding out that it wasn't an endlink but the front driver brake caliper bolt was missing, I have been driving the piss out of it. Gonna drive out to the coutry on Sunday play disc golf, Chicken Ranch Pizza, go to a Winery, go to a brewery, then head home. Get a bit of testing done before I drive 7hours to work a beer festival, drive back home, drop people off, then drive 7hours the other way to a family thing. Mazda will get some love this month. I might actually give her a wash.
 
I tried removing my intake manifold tonight and got stuck when I realized that the EGR tube needs to be disconnected =/

The service manual makes no mention of this. Damn you Mazda!

Cant you just remove it from the header/ cat. converter? it probably easier that way n then just remove it once you have the manifold out. they rust out preeeeeetty bad. you might have to remove your radiator hoose or that too... still easier than attemting to unscrew it in that tight little space. im not sure though, thats next weeks project :)
 
Today:
Ordered KL re-ring kit
sorted out wires from KL harness that I'll need for Megasquirt - losing the rest that are extra. Tucking all.
polished enginebay's new blue paintjob.


Ready for the newly rebuilt forged internal KL engine.

I'm starting to get excited now... (alright)
 
Cant you just remove it from the header/ cat. converter? it probably easier that way n then just remove it once you have the manifold out. they rust out preeeeeetty bad. you might have to remove your radiator hoose or that too... still easier than attemting to unscrew it in that tight little space. im not sure though, thats next weeks project :)

It turns out you don't need to remove the EGR tube as long as you don't need to remove the bottom-half of the manifold (or as it's referred to in the service manual, the "dynamic chamber"). You'll end up with the following left in the engine bay. Which is fine, if all you're doing is checking the VTCS/VICS butterfly screws then you don't need to remove anything else.

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BTW, you're going to need new gaskets so get this kit from Mazda (FSY1-13-SRZ):
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You get all of that for $22 (less than the price of just the intake gasket)! This was the kit they developed for the VTCS/VICS recall, and most places still have a bunch in stock (my local dealer had over 400). The lady at the parts counter literally had to wipe the dust off of it before selling it to me :D

While I was in there I deleted my VTCS butterflies, the butt-dyno says it pulls harder but we'll find out for sure at the track on Monday ;)
 
Attempting to replace the rear pads/rotors. I'm pretty sure that BOTH calipers are seized to s*** but not giving up yet! On both sides, I cannot get the bolt from the bracket to back completely out of the caliper? Never had that issue before and after some work I got the DS tightened back up but the PS gets to a certain point and then won't screw in anymore??? Driving me crazy and now that I've taken a little brake (bad joke) I'm going back out to try again.
 
Oooo, more weight loss. :) I'm about ready to do the same with mine....how much lighter do you think she'll be without rear rotors/calipers? hahaha Finally got the bracket off on the PS but couldn't get the piston to retract allowing the new pads to go in. While loosening the cursed allen screw, it came all the way out and I ended up using a c-clamp to push the piston back in while also turning the allen screw. Got the caliper put back together but pads are resting on the rotor and I could hear them scraping when I backed out of the driveway after putting it all back together. I believe the piston is seized. Everytime I tried tightening the allen screw I'd get it going and then it would break loose and come out with the allen wrench, so I'd start all over. Bolted everything back up just before dinner and left her in the driveway. They are frustrating the hell out of me and I'm ready to just take it to a shop and pay someone else to fix the headache for me.
 
Oooo, more weight loss. :) I'm about ready to do the same with mine....how much lighter do you think she'll be without rear rotors/calipers? hahaha Finally got the bracket off on the PS but couldn't get the piston to retract allowing the new pads to go in. While loosening the cursed allen screw, it came all the way out and I ended up using a c-clamp to push the piston back in while also turning the allen screw. Got the caliper put back together but pads are resting on the rotor and I could hear them scraping when I backed out of the driveway after putting it all back together. I believe the piston is seized. Everytime I tried tightening the allen screw I'd get it going and then it would break loose and come out with the allen wrench, so I'd start all over. Bolted everything back up just before dinner and left her in the driveway. They are frustrating the hell out of me and I'm ready to just take it to a shop and pay someone else to fix the headache for me.

Bah, who needs rear brakes? Vice-grip the lines and throw out those pesky calipers!

I think you should do what I did, go on amazon and order yourself 2 rebuilt calipers. They're not too pricey and you'll have properly working brakes :)
 
Bah, who needs rear brakes? Vice-grip the lines and throw out those pesky calipers!

I think you should do what I did, go on amazon and order yourself 2 rebuilt calipers. They're not too pricey and you'll have properly working brakes :)

LMAO, something to think about! I was searching around last night contemplating going with the Mazda6 or 626 upgrade but would then have clearance issues with my 14" winter wheels. (gah)

Just called Autozone and they have them in stock so leaving work early to pick them up. Good thing is that I replaced one side already with a Duralast so it will be free after the warranty. :D Have a buddy stopping by after work to help me with the bleeding. I'm not that familiar with the process and why I gave up over the weekend. Could have easily swapped them out but wasn't confident in my abilities to bleed the system properly.
 
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