vrracing

iTrader: (1)

I wouldn't think the full range TPS isnt in play with your idle issues since that is the sweet spot for the low range TPS.

I would assume its currently flooded. With the S5 to unflood it all you have to do is put the pedal all the way to the floor and crank it.

If that doesnt work you can pull the plugs and using an oil can squirt a little 2-stroke oil into each hole.

If you havent already you might want to put new plugs in it too. They only last a year or so.

If your TPS is set correctly and you have a bouncing idle it's almost guaranteed to be a vacuum leak. You'll want to pull the AFM and pressurize the whole system from there back to 10psi and then use a small hose to listen for leaks.

Good luck

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

I unflooded the engine this morning and on first start up it smoked like a pig then died. Started up again with less smoke and started the bouncing idle again even with the TPS set correctly. Strangest thing happened, I got the car started and noticed smoke coming from the bay. I got out of the car to check and I immediately noticed my alternator was smoking right at the pulley, it got so hot it slightly melted the belt! Im assuming I need a new alternator now which sucks. Ill find out later when I take it to Autozone. I didnt know in the S5 all you had to do was floor the pedal and crank the engine over Ive been doing it by taking the plugs out and EGI fuse then cranking it, cleaning the holes and plugs, adding some oil through the holes and putting the plugs back in. Im going to have to wait to see whats up with my alternator now to start the car back up. I have new plugs but its probably safe to say theyre fouled by now. I have another back up set but they are used. After trying a ton of things to try and fix the idle Im going to have to agree, I think its a vac leak somewhere too. How do I pressurize the system? I know the car has to be off. If it has to be running I wouldnt be able to hear a thing because of the open headers. My brother told me about the starter fluid way of checking for vac leaks but it had me a little sketched out spraying start fluid around a running engine especially on the rats nest/LIM area right above the headers.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

Started the car up and the alternator belt snapped. I need to buy a new one but the alternator still spins freely so Im not sure if its bad or what caused the belt to get so hot it started to smoke and melt. I figured out what you meant (vrracing) by pressurizing the system. Im going to try it out this weekend hopefully.

vrracing

iTrader: (1)

Here is the plug I made from PVC parts from Home Depot. I used a belt sander to taper the fitting but you could probably get a smaller cap and build it up with duct tape. The air compressor fitting is also available at HD. I used a hacksaw to cut across the thread making it "self-tapping" into the PVC. You could buy a tap at HD too but that'll cost more than all the other parts combined.



You pull the AFM off and put this in its place. Then you hook up a compressor and increase the regulator pressure to 10-15psi. Since the internal seals in your engine are suspect (hence the flooding) you might want to get a small inflatable ball at Walmart and plug your exhaust. Potatoes might work with the stock exhaust.

Then put a 1/4" ID hose to your ear and with the other end trace along the airflow path. The hose will really amplify the sound of any air leaking.

I use that same bit of kit for the RX7 and for the younger boy's 91 MR2 turbo.

Oh, I found a video I made of using that plug. It's the MR2 and I'm using bubble juice but the idea is the same.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for all the info Vrracing Im going to try that out as soon as possible. I have someone who is going to help me look for vac leaks by doing this method. Bubble juice is just soapy water correct? I was thinking that the engine might have low compression due to a broken seal. I want to compression test the engine as soon as possible. Hopefully my neighbor will let me borrow his compression tester. If the engine is blown Im going to be really upset. Id have 2 choices if it is blown, sell the car or sell the engine and get another one because I dont have the money to rebuild it. I really dont want to sell the car. I was thinking of putting the car in my other garage and letting it sit until I can afford to fix it. Buy another car for a daily. By the way that is a nice MR2 judging by the clean engine bay.

vrracing

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, you can use any liquid soap solution. I used bubble juice from Walmart - the stuff kids use to blow bubbles - because it is designed to create and sustain large bubbles. And its cheap.

If you havent seen it Aaron Cake has a quick how-to to see if you engine is blown. You should be able to borrow a compression test kit at any auto parts store. If you havent done that before its easy. You buy one of their loaner kits, use it, and then return it for a full refund. Great system.

I wouldnt panic yet. Cars using late 80's tech are hyper sensitive to vacuum leaks. They can be a bitch to find but it's free. And for free you'll be able to see if the engine is blown.

vrracing

iTrader: (1)

Thanks. It's amazing what you can do with a little paint and a bias for ****-retentiveness - uh... I mean a "commitment to quality"

I put a couple of pictures in my album in case you wanted to see more of the MR2.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

Ill probably end up mixing dish detergent with some water. That should work fine and its free. I actually have read through his site before but its been a while so I probably am going to check it out again. I remember he had a sound clip of a blown engine posted up so I can use that and compare it to mine before I compression test it. By the way thanks for letting me know about borrowing a compression tester from an auto parts store, I never knew that. Ill have to try that out if my neighbor says I cant use his. Finding a vac leak is a real pain in the *** because the leak can literally be anywhere on the engine. I guess thats the point of pressurizing the system and using soapy water. About the MR2, no problem. Its a rare car around here. Ive only seen a few and they were beat. I definitely am going to check that album out. I thought of buying an MR2 before and doing a 1jz swap.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

After I got home from work today I decided to see if I could finally break open the turn signal housings in the front of the car. This is my third time trying to get them apart and somehow it turned out successful this time. The turn signal I had originally thought needed to be fix was fine but the drivers side turn signal housing was broken and all the metal inside, including the area where the bulb screws into was completely rusted away. I'm going to have to cut the wires a few inches back from the housing and solder in a better condition one once I find one worthy enough. I have not been able to make any progress on the car as far as checking for vac leaks go thanks to someone in my family taking the battery out of my car and never bringing it back. Looks like I'm going to have to go out and buy a new one. I really am praying that I have some time this weekend to make some progress on my car. I would like to drive the car once before this years first snowfall. This project is taking way longer then I expected it to.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

My friend mentioned to me about finding vac leaks with the smoke method instead of pressurizing the intake tract. I looked it up and there are expensive smoke out kits available but Im looking to do it the home mechanic way which from what my friend tells me is by taking a lit cigar and blowing smoke into the intake and the smoke will come out from where the vac leak or leaks are. Can anyone confirm if this will work? I never tried it but it sounds legit.

vrracing

iTrader: (1)

I tried that on the MR2 with a big *** smoke Texas smoke bomb. That thing cranks out tons of white smoke for two minutes. I would be surprised if a cigar would produce enough smoke to survive all the way thru the intake system.



We didnt have any success with it but we were having all kinds of issues including the cam timing being off so its possible we didnt have an intake system leak at the time.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

I didn't think a cigar would make enough smoke either but that's what my friend told me to do. I'd rather try out using a smoke bomb. I'm positive there is a vac leak somewhere and I can't see any reason why smoke wouldn't work by coming out from where the leak is unless the hole is so small the smoke won't be able to be seen. I didn't touch the CAS at all, is there a possibility that the timing is off?

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

Got a new alternator belt and installed it today. Dumped some more gas in the tank too. Im going to fire the car up tomorrow and see if the TPS is still set correctly and try to find the vac leak or source of the idle problem.

vrracing

iTrader: (1)

the CAM timing was off on the MR2. The 13B doesnt have an equivalent. Good luck tomorrow.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

I am aware of the fact the 13b has no cams so therefore no cam timing adjustment needed. I was just thinking that my timing might be off due to the CAS but I haven't touched it since the engine has been in my possession. Thank you though.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

I finally got around to fixing the rest of the exhaust. Not much more work is needed and that will be done. I have decided that I am going to convert the engine to carburated. I am getting a rough price together for the Racing Beat UIM and Dellorto 48 DHLA carburetor and this week I will begin to buy the parts.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

I decided not to go carbed. I bought the PVC fitting needed to test my intake tract for vac leaks and now I just have to fabricate the fitting for the air compressor hose. Hopefully by this weekend Ill have the vac leak tracked down and fixed. I ran into a small problem with the exhaust. It has to jump from a 2 inch outer diameter pipe to a 3 inch outer diameter pipe.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

At a stand still with the project, the car is getting much needed work done on it tomorrow after or before work. Can't wait to have this beast road ready, its so close!

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

Its been weeks and months since Ive touched the 7. I still have not pressurized the engine for vac leaks or did a legit TPS adjustment. My brother stole the gas out of my tank so I need to dump more in before I can start the car and do the TPS adjustment. I want to get the adapter for my exhaust made by a shop I feel that clamping adapters on from Autozone isnt legit. I miss working on the 7 but its hard to with 2 cars and a tight budget.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

Did some small stuff today. Added oil, coolant, put the hood back on and fixed the weatherstrip on the drivers door that was starting to peel back at the top.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

Started the car today. It is hard to start up at first. The rpms shot straight to around 3k and began to drop slowly while bouncing the entire time. When I put my foot underneath the gas pedal and pulled towards me the car stalled. I think I need to adjust my throttle cable. I also remember when I was putting my engine in I had to ghetto fit a hose for the fuel inlet hose off the fuel filter and I think its causing me to not have the right fuel pressure. I realized that the big ring terminal for the starter harness ground that bolts to the starter is accidently bolted to an engine to trans bolt above it and I think thats what causing my starter solenoid not to kick over once in awhile like today after my car stalled. I cleaned all the grounds and checked the solenoid and the starter everything is good that has to be it.

S4 Vert

Great job on your build, I am going through my first RE swap an it has been a journey. Any new updates? Is your fc up and running?

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

Thanks man, the engine I put in this car has been the first actual engine install Ive done but Ive taken an engine out once before this in another Rx-7. It has been a journey for me too. Im glad I opted to go this route instead of paying a shop because Ive learned a lot from it. The car does run and drive but still needs an exhaust adapter made. I have to find a vac leak and set my idle too. After I started the car the other day it hasnt wanted to start due to the solenoid on the starter not getting enough power to turn the starter. I can hear it clicking. There are some hoses I need to buy because I rushed the install and custom fit a fuel inlet hose that isnt a fuel hose so I dont think its holding the right fuel pressure but its a easy fix.

S4 Vert

Yep, the proper fuel hose is very important, I was going to skimp and buy some fuel hose from Pep Boys, but it wasn't high pressure hose for fuel injection so I put it back. It felt real soft and weak, I bought silicon vacuum and fuel hoses from Madatrix instead.
True, it does feel better to do the work yourself, I was going to pay to have my swap done, and because of financial reasons I did it myself. I can honestly say I know why shops charge what they charge to perform swaps. But I gained a lot of experience by diving in. I look forward to finishing this project, and to start another RE project in the future, maybe a VW Bug with an RE swap.

cab91089

iTrader: (3)

Yes I know it is but I was excited to start the car for the first time and I forgot that the fuel hose was cut when I took the engine out of the parts car I had at the time. I rushed it and threw a random hose on there, it had thick walls but apparently mightve been too thick and not allowing the right pressure to build in the system. Im going to buy a new hose but not from Mazadatrix. I have bought parts from there before but I have to say they are kinda pricey. I will end up just going to Autozone for the hose. I did the swap myself for the same reason and also it was meant to be a project car. Its been taking a lot longer than I hoped it would but Im positive Im getting this car on the road for spring. I never really thought of swapping a rotary into a non rotary before. Eventually Ill Turbo2 swap the vert or sell it for a Turbo2.