Varable Resistor
 

Im trying to make the car run really lean so that ill beable to pass emissions but i keep on turning the screw on the varabile resistor and it seems like im doing nothing at all!!! Ive turned the screw countless times and i think its shot? Or do i just have to turn it for a reallly really long time? Any help would be great, thanks.

There should only be approx one turn in it. There are stops at each end. Yours sounds broken if it turns more than one turn and has no stops at each end.

yep, sounds like it is broken which could be your whole problem.

Also, the variable resistor only effects idle. Now that you've messed with it, you will have to set it back to factory specs with the help of an exhaust gas analyzer.

if it was broken initially then i don't think he had a choice.

Fudge. Put a volt meter on its output wire with the key to ON. See if you can turn it til it reads approx 2.5 volts. Then leave it alone. Or out of curiosity, turn it and watch the voltage output. Question: does it change when you turn the pot and if so what is the range? From high to low.

Better: get one out of the junk yard. Five bucks maximum.

If it's just free spinning now, it's most likely broken. That happened to mine when I was trying to adjust for emissions and I just ended up unbolting it, unplugging it from the harness, and taking it out. I posted and asked if it would be a big deal to do so and the consensus was that the ECU most likely had a default or fallback setting. Everything is fine since then, though, no problems with idle or running so I assume it's fine to remove it.

Yea mine does the exact same thing!
It turns in an infinite loop
It does nothing when you turn it!

Im going to take ddubs advice and get it the hell out of there. Thanks ddub.

Just replace it. It won't cost much from the wreckers or a parts car. Do the job properly the first time...

yup, easy and cheap to find at a wrecker or on the forums from people parting out their cars, by taking it out it could cause you to fail emissions, assuming you have emissions where you live.

I don't see a point in it really, especially when the only junk yard within a 100 miles of me never has any rx7's.

I don't have emissions where I live. Well everyone does, but its just not enforced at ALL unless your car is from a different province, it will be inspected.
I got a parts guy that can help me, for now I will remove it, but I will take your advice and replace it. The factor setting is 2.5volts you say? Would it not be different for every car?

thx

It's not an emissions device. It's a required part of the EFI system.

Required in what way exactly? How does it really effect anything for idle really? Especially after lots of work has been done to the car. I mean you seem to be under the belief not to mess with it, correct me if I'm mistaken it's just the impression I take. But after porting, various mods, and other tweaks how can it really be beneficial in its stock before its been "messed" with? I'm just trying to understand the real importance of this device, especially as more work is done to the engine.

it is an input for the EFI system that affects emissions. i don't know about other states but in California we have to do an idle emissions test.

it can be beneficial to help you smog a modified engine, assuming you have access to an exhaust gas analyzer, most people do not which is why most of us say not to mess with it unless it is too late.

So who's right ;)

i don't live in Canada so i can't comment on that, but try turning your variable resistor full clockwise and stick your head by your tailpipe and tell me it doesn't affect emissions..

No I completely agree with you, just looking for some more explaination on where Aaron is coming from, I'm curious.

Believe me I played with it enough, when it was working, to know it makes the idle rich/lean depending where you turn it, enough so to make the car want to die (either too much fuel or lack thereof).

i don't know why he made the comment either.. i'm curious as well.