Patchy's Fawlty Towers risk management. Enter at own risk

[StanTheMan]

Hey STM, if you haven't already seen the following guide to leaning or richening the NA6 AFM, it might provide some more scope for adjusting Patchy's richness:
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=59320

seen something similar....but it wasn't Nitro Dans it was a post prolly on Miata.net.
Must admit.....doing it dodgy. as I don't have any way of testing how much Ive leaned it out.

Originally I leaned it out before I installed the Crystal in the ECU years ago. This was to increase the RPM & make it run leaner....can't recall....2006 around that time? maybe it was even earlier.
After I installed the Crystal I re adjusted it again back to its original position. Its all kind of really vague. I just cant recall the exact sequence of events

[manga_blue]

Exhaust leaks have a HUGE impact on the accuracy of O2 sensors. Leaks introduce oxygen into the system and the O2 system senses that then the ECU assumes it's running super lean and starts dumping fuel to compensate.

[StanTheMan]

Exhaust leaks have a HUGE impact on the accuracy of O2 sensors. Leaks introduce oxygen into the system and the O2 system senses that then the ECU assumes it's running super lean and starts dumping fuel to compensate.

that would be a leak before the O2 sensor right?

[manga_blue]

Not nessesarily, depends on gas flow and pulse characteristics. Oxygen from leaks downstream has been known to work its way back and stuff the readings. The things are that sensitive.

I fixed a rich condition in mine with a spot of weld over a hole in a Y towards the back of the headers. Maybe you could try some exhaust putty over your leak as a temporary test to see if it changes mixture?

[StanTheMan]

Not nessesarily, depends on gas flow and pulse characteristics. Oxygen from leaks downstream has been known to work its way back and stuff the readings. The things are that sensitive.

I fixed a rich condition in mine with a spot of weld over a hole in a Y towards the back of the headers. Maybe you could try some exhaust putty over your leak as a temporary test to see if it changes mixture?

It was a bolt which had come off in the joint a fair way down from the O2 sensor.
Perhaps I'll replace the old seal & add some putty to make sure is correctly sealed.

[StanTheMan]

Check it with a mobile phone GPS app.
The only obvious thing is a blocked air filter. I over-saturated a Unifilter with oil once, and it sucked juice.

Well , well well,
Its kind of embarrassing thing to admit but since you're all allowed to laugh at me I figure I may as well l share this.

Opened up the mania CAI. It was choker block full of sh*t.
to the extend that some of the leaves had turned to dirt & it was caked onto the air filter. I'm surprised much air actually got through.
I didn't take a photo as I thought this is too embarrassing.

But this has fixed the cold Idle issues I tried to fix a few months ago.Cold idle hasn't worked since around 2008

filled her up with 98 she's going real sweet.
its a real pleasure.

Patchy is being taken off the road from the 17th Dec until mid Feb. as we have some huge bills to catch up on. I'll try to drive her lots until then to see if that makes any difference in fuel consumption.

But while she's off the road I can address the little rust bits popping up here & there & the rear bootlid

[93_Clubman]

Great that you've found the cause of the poor cold idle (at the very least) - just after buying my old NA6, found a cloth had been sucked into the factory airbox snorkel.

[hks_kansei]

[quote="StanTheMan"
Opened up the mania CAI. It was choker block full of sh*t.
to the extend that some of the leaves had turned to dirt & it was caked onto the air filter. I'm surprised much air actually got through.
I didn't take a photo as I thought this is too embarrassing.[/quote]


That's the main reason I got rid of my fake mania intake.

It was just annoying having to clean the thing out every fortnight.

[slug_dub]

Better to find the detritus was the problem than something more serious though Stan!
Glad to hear she runs better now.

[StanTheMan]

talk about face palm of big magnitude......

This thread is called Fawlty Towers risk management for good reason

[StanTheMan]

Opened up the mania CAI. It was choker block full of sh*t.
to the extend that some of the leaves had turned to dirt & it was caked onto the air filter. I'm surprised much air actually got through.
I didn't take a photo as I thought this is too embarrassing.

That's the main reason I got rid of my fake mania intake.

It was just annoying having to clean the thing out every fortnight.

Yea I might just cover the intake with some chicken wire. as I live in a area full of trees......

[hks_kansei]

My girlfriend used a dirt bike pre-filter on the end of her mania intake and it seemed to do the job.

It was basically just a fine thin mesh thing, so I imagine a small piece of flyscreen or similar would do the job for cheaper (she got the pre-filter from the $2 bin at the local shop ages ago)

[Magpie]

I must admit that I found the same issue with my Mania CAI when I removed it. It would appear that the leaves and Mania CAI are a match made in heaven... Like a Kiwi eats, roots and leaves...

[bruce]

Glad I could help.
That should improve your fuel economy too.

[speed]

Have just caught up with this thread. Christine certainly has been though a bit over the years.

I can relate to having issues and then just leaving the car for a while before I figure out how to fix.

You've done well and appear to have learnt a bit over the years. Good work!