Chirps like a PO'd chipmunk and has no power!!
 

A few days ago I pulled the front cover off of my new rebuild and put a forgotten thrust washer in (bring the end play perfectly into spec at .002"). I just this PM to the guys who built my engine, hoping they had some ideas. I'd greatly appreciate any ideas on what could be wrong -- i'm scared :(


I just went outside and pulled some stuff off the motor (radiator, manifolds, water pump, etc.) to get a good reading on the endplay of the e-shaft. The verdict: An absolutely perfect reading of two thousandths (.002") of an inch... DEAD in the middle of the range that Mazda recommends. The motor spins beautifully, doesn't seem rough at all, and has good compression (all the pulses are there, and it pulls more vacuum at idle than ever). When it was chirping before, I checked the oil pressure and it was up at around 60 - 70psi (just fine), so I don't think it's that.

So, i've narrowed the probable causes down to: Nothing (don't you hate it when that happens? :rolleyes:) Good oil pressure, good compression, timing (at least for the L1 plug) is dead on, oil pressure is good, end play is perfect ...?! :D

I'm baffled!

The only thing that I can think of is that when i put the front cover back on, the CAS missed a tooth, and the timing was off about 25 degrees when i started it up. I fixed that in the Haltech software, but I am thinking that it might be possible that the trailing plugs are firing 180* off (??!!)

When I step on the gas, the motor stumbles a lot (especially at idle), and seems very rough at times (almost like something is locking up!) When trying to start it, it will also 'seize' upon occasion :( I wonder if something is up with the clutch / transmission now...

wow that was long... If you've made it this far, thanks, and any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again,
Manolis

Come on, 23 views and nobody has any ideas? help! :(

I talked to mazdatrix today, and they told me to F off because I didn't buy the motor from them (I only buy everything else from them)... wonderful guy on the phone...

The thing about the timing. I'd go back and make sure the cas is installed right and set the timing with a timing light.

Well, i checked the timing on the L1 plug with a timing light, and it was dead on. I just called Rotary power and after a few suggestions he arrived at the conclusion that it was very strange and mentioned that I should check the main bearings (not really because that's what it sounded like, but he didn't have any other ideas!). I find it hard to believe that it's the bearings though, because right before I put the washer in, everything was perfect (good power, no noises, etc.), but the very first time i revved the motor after installing the washer and setting the endplay, the chirping / stumbling happened.

I think i'm going to have to take the front cover off again this evening and make sure nothing happened when i bolted it all back up, but i'm really frustrated because [b]everything seems to be perfect.

So much for the 300 mile drive this weekend... :(

That sounds EXACTLY like when I put my distributor in 90 degrees off. Leading timing was correct (since both fire at the same time) but trailing was 180 degrees off.

The chirping is detonation, if I'm right. Make sure the trailing is correct. If you put the timing light on the #2 rotor trailing wire and you see the timing mark, this is what you did.