2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

What's the cheapest mod/repair you've done to your car?

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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 07:41 PM
  #1  
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RX Vegan!
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From: Las Cruces, NM
What's the cheapest mod/repair you've done to your car?

My moment of glory was when I bought one of those K&N filters you install into your stock air box. But when I installed it, it sounded exactly the same and had only a modest power increase that was barely noticeable. I remembered seeing a person's car in RX tuner mag where he had a K&N intake and drilled out the top of his air box. I wanted to do the same, but didn't have anything to cut it with and didn't want to. But the next morning, I had an inspiration. So I ran out to my car in my PJ's with a handfull of rubber bands. I took of the lid on the air box and secured the filter with the rubber bands!
Now I can really tell the difference and I hear a great throaty intake sound any time I floor it!
What cheap mod or repair have you done?
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 07:45 PM
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My idle was pretty rough and there was some power loss, so I checked out my TID and it was cracked right at the turbo. Some duct tape patched that mother right up. This is a temp fix but it still counts i think
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 07:49 PM
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LOL...OMG I'm so going out to my car with some rubber bands later.
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 07:56 PM
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just take a dremel and cut the center out of the top of the box. The part that says MAZDA. Works great.
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 08:19 PM
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ghettoest fix ever..... hmmm

wow, i can't think of one on my fc
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 08:26 PM
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From: Rutgers
my car was getting the shittest milage ever.....then i found out the o2 sensor was disconnected...plugged it in...drove like a grandma....its been getting 17-19 even with spirited driving every now and then
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 08:30 PM
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Car wouldn't start, pulled carpet in hatch, reconnected (the unplugged) fuel pump.

Car starts.
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 08:46 PM
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i got a million of them....car use to run pretty hot......then i realized dirt/oil had covered most of my AC condenser....took it out just leaving the rad....the temp has never been above 1/4 since....
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 08:56 PM
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lol, wow. I'm going to try this rubber band thing out. But then there's the concern. By doing that, wouldn't you be pulling in hot air as well? Another ghetto mod that I saw someone do, The had shitty idle, so what they did was attach a spring to the throttle to keep it open a tad bit, thus, their idle while stopped at a light or even in neutral is perfect. It wasn't a big spring either.
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 09:12 PM
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2.00 yankee candle air freshner,now the car smells so SWEET!

>edit: signature removed for size violation

Last edited by Icemark; Feb 16, 2006 at 12:59 AM.
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 09:14 PM
  #11  
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coolant temp sensor.. last owner broke it and the car didnt run well, bought it for cheap and fixed it. haha
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 09:46 PM
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I washed the dirt off my car and improved my gas mileage. Dirt= the enemy of aerodynamics.
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 09:58 PM
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when i first got mine my exhaust rattle loud as hell. so ilooked under and found the hanger the was off and put it back on. sounds nice now. a good 30 second mod.
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 10:11 PM
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The cheapest mods/repairs I've done so far are:

- Disconnected the OMP and switched to premix (ran noticably smoother, smells like a chainsaw... later fully removed OMP and injectors.)

- One of the wires on the BAC connector had been broken when I got it, so I just soldered it back up and used some good shrink tube to cover it.

- Fixed aux. ports by taking them off, removing the gunk in the little air holes that feed them, soaked the top in carb cleaner where the rod enters the actuator, then beat the **** out of the rod with a deadblow hammer until they moved... they now work very well.
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 10:14 PM
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oh man..........this thread is SOOO wrong in SOOO many ways........
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 10:16 PM
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radiator had air pockets in it, brought it to my work and used the coolant flush machine and now it struggles to even get to half temp. never knew it coolant flushes would help so much
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 10:17 PM
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duct taping my intercooler coupler cause it was ripped.
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by CyborgRyu
duct taping my intercooler coupler cause it was ripped.
hahah i did that on my integra when i had a turbo, worst thing ever. the piping would pop off everything i boosted halfway.
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 10:21 PM
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on mines not that cheep or ghettoest, it was a new tire. that cost just over 100. everthing elles has been in the 100's, and 1000's.
Attached Thumbnails What's the cheapest mod/repair you've done to your car?-my-car.jpg   What's the cheapest mod/repair you've done to your car?-my-car-3.jpg  
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 10:25 PM
  #20  
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From: Haverhill, MA
i vented my stock BOV to the open air and put a one way valve on it...it has a nice WHOOSH to it now...and i used parts from HOME DEPOT to make my intake



YES, the gold oneway valve on the BOV...and the home depot intake

-Matt
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 10:32 PM
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I got stolen tires for $100....does that count?
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 10:35 PM
  #22  
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heater hose broke. went to ace to get hose 2 ft worth, 1.99 per foot. told clerk it was 1 foot for 1 dollar. hahah napa wanted 30 dollars for it.
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 11:01 PM
  #23  
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gee~ the keyword is "cheapest"

let me see~~~

how does cut away melted drain hose counts? see? THAT is like taking away from my car....

instead add onto it, i take away from it....

now nobody beats it
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 11:20 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by red87tll
just take a dremel and cut the center out of the top of the box. The part that says MAZDA. Works great.
I did this, but we used a razor blade, and it took forever. For-fricking-ever.
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 11:27 PM
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hmm....sounds interesting
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