AMRAAM4

first off, 1994 with 63, 800 miles. Fluidyne,RB single tip, M2 DP, Aluminum AST.

OK, here is the deal. For some time I have notice that after my car sits for days at a time from not driving, when I start it there is a bit of smoke that comes from above the turbos. It exits from right at the end of the UIM near the boost gauge nipple side. I figured this was just some oil burning off that had seeped out.

Recently I started smelling a bit more gas than normal and have been watching it. Well, today on my way to work I am at a light and smoke starts seeping out from the sides of the hood. I go on the alert (of course the damn light is taking forever). I'm monitoring the temp gauge, all was ok, smoke wasn't getting worse. Finally the light turns green and I take off up the road where I know there is a parking lot. I pull in (temp gauge is still fine) and shut her down. Pop the hood. Smoke is pouring out from around the UIM, especially near the turbo side. I was thinking "****, must be the Fuel pulsation damper is about ready to go, good thing I pulled over"

However, after making a call to work I head round back and notice a line of coolant streaming out back in front of the rear tire. I look underneath the engine and it came from below the turbo/UIM area. It did not drain entirely, however. So I figure something must be leaking and hitting hot parts (causing the smoke).

My question is, what is back there that it could be? I was told by a Maz-duh mechanic I had a LIM gasket going, could this cause the coolant leak? A mechanic friend checked the oil for "chocolate milk", everything was fine, and no white smoke out the exhaust before or now.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

There are coolant lines running to the turbos. They tend to get hard and brittle from the heat. That would be a place to start checking.

AMRAAM4

Thanks Mahjik! I know all the concerns/problems about the FD, heat, fuel system, etc. Just don't know what is really down there because it's a biotch to see in there, plus I have never had all that stuff off

Guys, please keep providing some insight. Maybe give me an idea of where to attack. How hard is it taking the TB/UIM/solenoid rack off. I have had the car since March and this would be my first delve into it, maybe that would be on my part.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

No problem, check this thread:

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=214546

Very similiar problem.

AMRAAM4

Mahjik..not brown nosing here, but giving props...you always do a damn good job helping people out. A majority here know the answer to questins but just don't feel like answering

Thanks again

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

I just did almost all of my coolant hoses. The turbo hoses aren't easy, and there is one on the back of the UIM that I didn't replace b/c it would require the UIM taken off. I took pics and I can send some when I get home.

Dave

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

Oh, how hard is it?

I'm a mechanically inclined type without much car experience. To take off the UIM and replace the rear hose I'd budget a day if I hadn't done it before. That way you can be patient and spend some time wiping things clean and looking around. It's also a perfect time to change plugs and wires.

You'll need metric 10 and 12 mm sockets with 3" and 6" extensions. The hoses can be annoyingly hard to loosen, but if you're replacing them just use a knife to cut and peel away the coolant hose connections. Much easier Just be careful taking off the TB and elbow - the machined faces are easily nicked and the gaskets should be handled with great care unless you're replacing them too (also a good idea).

Dave

DaedelGT

I did my turbo coolant hoses as well. Really not a tough job. By far the hardest part was the belts. PM me if you have any questions in particular. I may even have pictures from when I did mine. Make sure you have a nice long set of needle nose pliers.

What?!? There is a turbo coolant hose behind the UIM? I don't think so. The two turbo coolant hoses connect to coolant filler on the bottom side.

AMRAAM4

Well, time is on my side....after the hurricane comes through though

The Rex isn't my daily driver so I can put up with it sitting for as long as I can put up with not driving it

I am familiar with removing the intake piping, IC, airbox, battery, basically all the crap in front. However, getting into the TB/UIM/solenoid rack is taking it to that next step for me. I'm pretty good with thinking things through when it comes to, but I still have that worry that "oh ****, what was that" is gonna happen. Eventually I want to learn WTF is up around the inner recesses though so that I can save some money in the long run doing work myself.

Pics of the area and anything else visual that will help would be great. Put them up on this thread if you can, or PM me for my email.

Appreciate the knowledge fellas.

DaedelGT

AMR, there is no need to remove the TB/UIM for the turbo coolant hoses.

What is required is to remove the intake hoses, remove the belts, remove the airpump, then remove the ypipe. That's all fairly simple.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

You're exactly right - but there are also coolant hoses on the back side of the UIM. If the leak cannot be traced to that hose in back, I wouldn't worry about it.

It makes sense to check the turbo and radiator hoses first, since they're surrounded by hot components in the middle of the bay. I dug through my pictures but unfortunately I don't have any of the hoses themselves. If you have any issues they can be found on the parts lists, and found in the parts list under "Hose...".

To change the 2 turbo coolant hoses and 2 radiator hoses, I removed:
1) Airbox and air pipes
2) Intercooler piping, intake elbow, y-pipe crossover section
3) Accessory belt, air pump
4) Underbelly pan (to access radiator hoses)
I also tackled the miata thermoswitch install and thermostat replacment while at it. That required the alternator as well.

Dave

AMRAAM4

Fellas,
Here is where I am at.
--removed airbox and all hoses that lead to/from it
--removed IC..removed its piping
--removed battery (just for more open space)
--put AST over to the side in battery area

So, I have a big open space to the front of the engine. I can't really see anything so far. I am currently at the phase where twinturboteddy is in his first pic of this thread
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=224136
I know how to remove the PS/AC belt, but is the main drive belt just as easy (should be in the shop manual right)?

Also, how hard is the air pump to remove? I see that is right next to the radiator filler. And I take it the Y-pipe is the pipe right to the left of the air pump?

Please accept my ignorance, this is my first time with hands on experience here and I just want to check things over. If you guys could please keep checking back on the thread in case I have questions that would be great. I'm done with working on it till Wednesday evening.

-A

P.S. That plastic air ducting **** that leads to the IC from the front of the car, do I need to put that **** back on?

ZeroBanger

Hey I didn't read everyone's response so if this is solved just ignore this, but with my car the hose behind the upper manifold cracked at the base and leaked under the car and to the subframe. you could not see it. Infact even with a flashlight It was hard to find. It requires to take the manifold off to replace.

Later.

AMRAAM4

Gentleman, can someone point me in the direction via words or pics where the heater hoses are on teh passenger and driver side.

So far I have checked rad hoses, turbo hoses, 2 TB hoses. I don't wanna rip off the manifold if I don't have to so I want to check the heater hoses first.

Once again, most of the steam was coming from the passenger side of the extension manifold, with the coolant drip being right below there by the downpipe.

Dear God: Please don't let it be the hose on the base of the block