The saga continues.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Well, last week we tried to check everything out on the dyno to make sure before dropping it off for CARB. Well, it made anywhere from 136 to 180WHP and varied. We trouble shot it down to #4 cylinder not doing it's share of the work (lazy bum :)). We check the injectors and, for good measure, pulled them and took them over to a shop that does bench flow testing. They all were within a percent of each other and functioning fine. Then we did a compression check (175 across the board). Then a leak down check and it was less than 5%. Then we checked ignition and and found a broken spark plug wire. Made a temporary fix and ordered new. Time ran out so I packed it in and took it home for the weekend. Went back today and took the oscilloscope along. Today we checked the pulses at the injectors to make sure the PC-Pro was doing it's thing and the injectors were all getting their correct signal. Back to the leakdown check for good measure. Today it was 20% off (BAD!). All of a sudden, while we were watching the gauge, it popped right up to great again. The 05 is back at Mike's Place for valve checking now. We think that the exhaust valve on #4 is not closing (sticking). This car was purchased September a uear ago for CARB. The kit was installed and, except for a couple trips to California and a few runs around here, has stayed parked up at Mike's place. It would be started in the morning and moved out to the lot and parked. Then, at night, started and moved back inside and parked. 5 days a week for months. We think there is probably some yuk on the valve stem/guide that is causing it to hang sometimes. Mike is going to try some new oil and cleaner and see if it will clear. If not, it might have to come apart and get valve work.

Just wanted to keep everybody informed as to why the delay.

The other two problems (Cold start and the VTCS CEL) appear to be fixed. The cold start issue was my lack of knowledge of the PC-Pro. I spent a couple hours on the phone with the owner Friday and he took me through every line of the programmer and I now know how much it can do (WOW) and understand the tricks. This thing could almost run like a stand alone. It can add fuel at idle, cruise and boost as well as startup and transitions from vacuum to boost. Anyhow, I have that in hand and no more start up issues. As for the VTCS CEL, I grabbed the VTCS actuator and check valve from the stock IM and stuck it in the VTCS circuit. Just laid the actuator back by the firewall and no more codes, so far. I was getting one almost everytime I started/drove the car after Ari cleaned up all the vacuum lines. Vacuum is too good now. :) The VTCS circuit needs a bit of a leak and the actuator fills that role.

I should have it back by the end of the week. If it tests well over the weekend, it will be off to CARB Monday or Tuesday.

[99mx5]

Awesome!
Dont forget to replace that air filter. I know that the alternator can wear a hole in the filter element if it rubs against it.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Well, that did it. One quart of Rislone and lighter oil and the valve appears to be unstuck. When we were testing Tuesday, exhaust runner 1,2,3 were about 500F at idle and 4 was around 250-300F. Under load our meter was above max (1000F on 1,2,3 but 4 was only about 500F. Now they all seem to be within a few degrees like they should be at idle and after a hard run.

One more thing to try with the O2 circuit, then back to the dyno Tuesday and off to CARB.

[Mathrips]

Exellent

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Well now. :) That seems to work just fine. Problem appears to be resolved. NO CELs. No startup issues. No transition for vac to boost issues. Goes like the wind.

I will drive it and try cold, hot and warm starts. So far, so good. Just to show you my heart is in the right place, I will take my bride up to the mountain resort in Greer to test high altitude and COLD start. It'll be a sacrifice but I'll do my duty. :)

If it passes the cold test, I will get the oil changed again to eliminate the Risolen and set up the CARB test as soon as they can schedule it; which could be Wednesday. The test takes three days so we could know as soon as Friday. :) If it passes, I should have the EO# in 2-3 weeks.

[99mx5]

Good deal! :)

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

I forgot to add that sadly I will have to take miles and miles and miles of twisty roads to get there. But I'll suffer through that too.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

And, sadly I will have to take miles and miles and miles of twisty roads to get back. But I'll suffer through that too. :)

[Mathrips]

I would have thought you and your bride would have tried high altitude already. :oops:
Good for you.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Well, the trip up here to cold 7000 feet country was flawless. If it starts Ok in the morning, off to CARB it goes.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

!@#$%^&*()

Well, it ran flawlessly back down and started just fine and no more O2 CELs so that is fixed but, for the first time in awhile, it tossed a P2004 (same as P1518). That would have failed CARB. That is still that VTCS (which no longer exists) and has no function. I will work on that tomorrow.

However, I have a glowing report card for the PC-Pro. It just ran flawlessly. AF was consistent at 7000 feet with 1100 feet. The automatic altitude correction works as designed. Perfectly. I should probably run over and see Pat Conlin next week with it so I can test it at sealevel (and convince him the time has come to drop some $$$). This is the way the 01-05 Miata should have come from the factory.

[cmetzner]

Isn't Pat Conlin in Palm Springs? If so, it is not that much further to deliver a PC Pro to me! I am only at 100 ft above sea level

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Nice try. :)

I placed an order yesterday for a batch. I should have them soon. Then we might have to ration them out. Not sure how quick I can get volume. First I will get some out for test. Other than Chuck's FFS hotside :) I want to test coldsides first. Especially 01-05. I would like an 01-05 hotside to test as well

[Serpico]

I'll gladly try one Tom.

My Elf seems to be behaving itself, but it does run really rich briefly when I first go to WOT.

[jwalton]

Hey Tom, glad to hear that things are progressing. I have an '01 with no intercooling and no 5th injector (E-Cool) that I'd be willing to pay for and install at the same time you want the testing done (the E-Cool setup). (Pick me... Pick me... Pick me...)

Desperate in SoCal, (Jim)

[Dr Evol]

Tom,

I would be willing to test out the JR-Pro on my 99 if you are interested. Please include me in the first batch if possible. I still have some free dyno time to burn up.

[tomwest]

to be members of the Mile-High Club?

[ThomS]

Tom HOw is your car running now? No codes for me so far. But I will test drive it again tonight and that will be a good test for cold start, it hasn't been driven since Miles from Michigan came here wednesday.?

signed Joe Bfstplk

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that orders started pouring in and I have a couple of hotside people that have been here and more coming to see if I can help. The bad news is that I have been off the 05 since returning Wednesday. I did pick up the Czech valve ;) and like the idea of Ari's about a small cheap canister to emulate the missing vacuum chamber. Things to try in my spare time. I need a volunteer to come and take the 05 and put some miles on it to see if the CEL comes back.

[chuckerants]

I did my part with the 05.

I was over at Tom's house the other day installing the new fuel rail, the PC Pro and tapping the DTB for the Aquamist WI. It got a little late and one of the injectors looked like Old Faithful so we called it quits and Tom let me drive the 05 home - 1 1/2 hours to my house.

The next morning, I drove the 05 back - anotehr 1 1/2 hours and no CEL at all. On the drive back to Tom's house with the 05, it ocurred to me that the 05 had none of the ON/OFF nature of the coldside that I found different from my hotside. It really drove JUST LIKE OEM. If it didn't have the SC whine (and barely noticble at that), one would really think it came from the factory that way.

Also, now that I have the PC Pro on my car, the idle is PERFECT from the get go. Whereas I had to let the ECU get used to any changes like a new pulley and have to reconfigure the idle i]in a couple of days, the PC Pro had the idle PERFECT as soon as it was installed. This was including the AC on.

Uh, and my apologies to Tom for adding ANOTHER set of tires marks on his main street. Since I got the new clutch, I can chirp the tires from 1st -> 2nd. When I took the car for a test drive after the PC Pro install, I chirped the car from 1st -> 2nd and the tires kept spinning in 2nd so much, I had to lift off the throttle. :D

[99mx5]

Chuck, you might want to check your bypass valve for the brass insert. In the past, I asked Brant about the brass restrictor and he told me that BRP removes them by default. You may not have yours installed.

[Banshee]

Hey Tom,

I would like to try a PC-Pro. I'm still an "official club member" right?

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Chuck, I have some of those brass restrictors here if you need one.

[Kyp J]

What brass restrtictor and what do it do? Or am I on the wrong side of the street (engine) for this issue?

[99mx5]

The brass restrictor goes in the hose barb of the bypass valve on the supercharger. you will have to pull the hose off of the bypass valve to see if its there or not. It basically makes the bypass valve operate slower but smoother.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

I just put one on Steve's (almost) FFS hotside :) tonight. If I hadn't read this thread, I wouldn't have remembered to put it on. The MP62 comes from the factory with it and BRP always pulled them out. Not sure why. Guess they just knew better than Eaton how to make it work? Kind of like porting, Ari?

Kyp, if you pull the vacuum tube :) off the bypass valve nipple and it is missing, let me know. I keep some in inventory and would be happy to throw one in an envelope.

[99mx5]

...................................



;)

[Kyp J]

I just put one on Steve's (almost) FFS hotside :) tonight. If I hadn't read this thread, I wouldn't have remembered to put it on. The MP62 comes from the factory with it and BRP always pulled them out. Not sure why. Guess they just knew better than Eaton how to make it work? Kind of like porting, Ari?

Kyp, if you pull the vacuum tube :) off the bypass valve nipple and it is missing, let me know. I keep some in inventory and would be happy to throw one in an envelope.


If I find my dental mirror I will try to look at it. Kind of hard to see it where it is. In fact, I'm not sure even pulling the hose off is worth it. I just changed the hose since it had a squishy clear plastic tubing that collapsed on vacuum. It seemed an odd size and I didn't get any large hose in my kit originally, even though it was in the picture of parts I think. I used some German fuel hose I had left over from an old VW.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

The short vacuum tube from the bypass valve to the intake manifold barb is 1/4". Should be available at any auto parts store.

[raceskier]

Hmmm........... I will have to check mine as well. I have noticed the very abrupt response due to a sudden lift of the throttle. Kind of disconcerting mid corner. I thought it was just the nature of the beast that came along with the great throttle response.

[chuckerants]

Hmmm........... I will have to check mine as well. I have noticed the very abrupt response due to a sudden lift of the throttle. Kind of disconcerting mid corner. I thought it was just the nature of the beast that came along with the great throttle response.

Tom's 05 doesn't do this though I first noticed the very abrupt response to lifting the throttle on his 99 when I first drove his car around 8 or 9 months ago.

[99mx5]

If I find my dental mirror I will try to look at it. Kind of hard to see it where it is. In fact, I'm not sure even pulling the hose off is worth it. I just changed the hose since it had a squishy clear plastic tubing that collapsed on vacuum. It seemed an odd size and I didn't get any large hose in my kit originally, even though it was in the picture of parts I think. I used some German fuel hose I had left over from an old VW.

You shouldnt need one. You can feel it if you touch the hose barb on the bypass valve. Its even easier to see if you remove the wiper washer bottle. If the end of the hose barb is smooth to the touch, then its in place.

[99mx5]

Tom, Any luck with the vacuum chamber?

Maybe Joe Btsflk isnt as unlucky as we thought...

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Spent the weekend turning Steve's 00 hotside from a 165WHP to a 200WHP+ and building three new kits to ship. The 05 just sat and was used for parts trips. Didn't get anything installed or tested. However, it made a lot of trips (starts/stops) and no CELs.

[Mathrips]

Tom is the PC-pro able to run the e-cool yet?
Kingdon

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Not yet. Looks like we will continue to use the SS for the time being.

[jwalton]

Not yet. Looks like we will continue to use the SS for the time being.

Where do you stand on the overall status of the PC Pro and E-Cool for '01-'05's? When do you think it might be available for purchase by a regular Joe like me?

Still pinging in SoCal ;),
Jim

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

I just ordered the first batch of 20. should be here "soon".