Ok, it started like this...

... This afternoon, I was working on my AFM trying to put it back to its normal position because it was upside down. While finishing up the AFM, this R/L (rich/lean) switch caught my attention. I then though about how my car is now running rich because of all the mods I did to it. So moved it a little bit to the lean side thinking that it will lean it out. I got on the car and here is what happened next...


... So I launch the car and to my surprise, I felt some G force that I've never felt before with this car before. I know it wasn't the 6-port because I disconnected that temporarily. My car was fast so I shift 2nd and oh man, the same thing, G-force baby!!! So I decided to go on the freeway and man, I felt like I was driving my Z3. It was fast and it feels like I just installed a turbo on my car. I've been driving my car for a long time now with all my mods and it never ran like this before. So I concluded, it has something to do with that R/L switch. BTW, on a side note my temp did not even move above 180.

So after having fun at the freeway, I stopped by at Taco Bell to get something to eat. When I got out of the parking lot, I noticed that the car was not performing as it was a while ago. So I drove for about 1/4 of a mile and exited back to the freeway. The car was now different; it wasn't as fast as before. Then all of a sudden, I smelled coolant. I looked on my temp gauge and damn it was climbing and just a few seconds later, my temp is already 205. To make the situation worse, I was on HI-101 and the traffic was so slow and my house is still a mile ahead. I tried to pull over but I was in the middle of a freeway junction. So I continued driving and my temp was still climbing up and was now 210. I tried to stay calm and tried to drive my car slowly. I was now on exit and freaking traffic got me stuck on a ramp. My idle was now getting erratic and I had to give it gas or else it will die. So I got on the overpass and I was now close to the traffic light before my house. While I was slowing down for the red light, I saw smoke coming out from the hood. My temp is still 210 on my autometer gauage but it was way pass H on my stock one. I was now worried so I turned off the car. The temp wouldn't go down and just a few seconds later, the light was now green. So I started it again and go. My car was still smoking and I knew it was my coolant. So as soon as I got home, parked the car, I turned off my engine right away and pop-up the hood. Coolant was all over the place...

... Guess what the problem was... the cap on the filler neck was gone. I don't know what happened but the thing came off. Here is the interesting part... the filler neck happened to be under my newly installed strut bar and the gap between the cap and the bar was only about 1/2 inch. I remembered, on my freeway exit to Taco Bell, I made a hard turn and I was thinking that it caused the cap to touch the strut bar.

So, which causes my filler neck to come off? Is it my strut bar or did I do something stupid on the R/L switch?

Oh well, I'll try to get a good sleep tonight and work on my car tomorrow!!!

Sorry for the long post.

 

Where is the temp. probe for the autometer gauge? Is it on the engine side of the thermostat, or on the radiator side?

Hopefully it didn't do too much damage

 

the lean rich screw only effects idle... if makes no difference to driving..

210 is not hot at all. but I find it odd that that stock one was at H. I guess becuase you were so short of coolant. where is your autometer gauge placed?

 

radiator side. I hope it didn't do any damage on the engine

 

so was it because I mounted my AFM correctly now? I swear it was faster and quicker than before.

 

so guys, did i do anything wrong with the R/L screw?

 

The r/l screw may affect your ability to cold or hot start. pita to adjust it back.

 

You got it. The s4 AFM is a swinging door type so mounting position is a big deal.
-Bill

 

Like its been said, the R/L screw only affects idle. Nothing more. Actually, without the "Inital Set Plug" grounded, this could raise your idle. Nothing more though.

The power you felt probably had something to do with the AFM. If you mount an S4 AFM on its side, Gravity will pull on the flapper door. This tells the ECU there is more air coming into the engine, so your car will run rich.

 

wow, I didn't know that by just moving your AFM to its correct position will give you that much power! This is like a free horsepower to me I am an idiot I've been driving the car with the wrong AFM position for 2 yrs now. Oh well, I learned new thing again with this FC.

So I guess, I'm safe then (hopefully). I just need to fill up my coolant again. It must be that damn strut bar

 

i had the same problem where my cap became untightened and poped off one time scared the **** out of me all kinds of smoke came out of my car hehe damn radiator caps...hey uh spdst3r i just recently bought a gtu from a friend and he too ran his afm the wrong way and only ran a 15.9 in the car...hmm coincidence i think not ...

 

I'd say put it to the right position. It'll make a few point secs difference. I'll probably get my car dynoed after I get an S-AFC

 

i found with the screw thing in the full R position i would get back gas milage but huge flames.. i think it changes a small part of the fuel graph.. anyways.. i have it set full lean so i can get a bit better milage rather then 300km per tank.. nice flames though