Why did this car get lazy on me?

[hotrodf1]

So,

after I had installed the SLS pipe and mount (intake already on) I did not reset the computer. Probably should have I guess. Didn't think about it.

The car was an animal (nevermind the boost leak). If I got on it in 1st, I would just spin. And it would start building boost very quickly, at around 2700 RPM or so - when I got the car it wouldn't boost until 3500 or so.

One morning I was in a hurry, and it was cold. The intake gives my a cold bog problem that many others have experienced as well. I killed the car a couple times trying to get it to move faster than it wanted.

It seems ever since then, the car is much more reluctant to boost, taking up to 3200 RPM or more and I really have to be on the throttle pretty hard to make any power. Before, I could give it half throttle and it would run like crazy.

Anyone know what could possibly cause the car to "settle down" like this? If the next thing to try is to disconnect the batt., I can do that.

ideas?

 

[hotrodf1]

BUMP------- (thinkbeer

Im thirsty

 

[jmv]

sounds kinda like my car.... for some reason it seems like it goes through mood swings. i dunno. maybe if i could get the unichip fixed it would help, maybe not.

 

[orng1]

There's probably a leak somewhere in the intake, it's a comon problem as there is a whole lot of intake. If you were to measure it all up there's probably 5-6' of intake. That's just my guess, it could also just be heat soak from the extra power that your not making but I doubt that.

 

[hotrodf1]

Not gonna be heat soaked in the first 10 min of driving.

It's not a problem that comes on when the car is really warmed up or in traffic - it just always feels lazy now (compared to what it did). I doesn't have the same reckless tendencies it did.

I do think that I have a leak somewhere in the intake tract. I know for a fact my car has no rubber sleaving stuff at the IC junctions for one thing. going to fix that in the near future - I'm sure those junctions leak some. I just dont see why the car would "learn" to be more reserved.

When I was looking through the manual, it lists all the sensors and such and how to test. I'm pretty sure I saw a turbine speed sensor. Now that just floors me. Could it be possible that there is a sensor on the turbo??? I wouldn't think so. But maybe the computer was seeing the turbine spinning too fast (or too soon?) and has adjusted timing and such, so that it doesn't spool as quickly????

 

[hotrodf1]

sounds kinda like my car.... for some reason it seems like it goes through mood swings. i dunno. maybe if i could get the unichip fixed it would help, maybe not.

I know that the weather does change things around a LOT on a carbureted vehicle like my camaro, but I always thought that fuel injection adapted to the weather conditions - but of course barometric pressure has a direct influence on motor performance - it basically sets the density of the air I think. More dense air = more HP capability.

Could the weather be doing what you're talking about or no?

 

[msp35]

Welcome to the perplexing world of tuning a mazdaspeed protege.

 

[jmv]

Welcome to the perplexing world of tuning a mazdaspeed protege.

haha, yeah.



As far as weather, well yes you can definitely notice the effects of weather on the car. My car loooves having cold weather, even with the way more efficient intercooler.

 

[hotrodf1]

haha, yeah.



As far as weather, well yes you can definitely notice the effects of weather on the car. My car loooves having cold weather, even with the way more efficient intercooler.

u have SMIC or FMIC??

 

[miss_steele_msp]

my car did that when it use to heat soak.

 

[hotrodf1]

my car did that when it use to heat soak.

Yeah, I get that too later on, but this is more of a total lack of will to move forward, even when it's cool air, and the motor is just starting to warm up.

I'm tellin ya - it's different that just the regular ol heatsoak.

I'm gonna reset the ECU and let you all know what happens.

 

[hotrodf1]

For anyone following:

I reset the ECU last night. Now the car is responsive again! Bizarre . . .

Why would the car learn to be unresponsive?