Mazda omitted installation of the Boost Gauge on the FD, but didn't they install one on the FC?

I am wondering if maybe it was omitted because the thin settup does not product the same reading all the time.

Could it be that the boost patterns are so conditional that the 10-8-10 rule is not a true constant and Mazda did not want owners running to the shop each time the pattern deviated slightly?

Opinions?

 

I figure it's that moving gauges cause people to think something is wrong with the car - hence the immobile temp gauge. I wonder why we got a somewhat accurate oil pressure gauge as opposed to what they started putting in the Miata starting in '95 (the L-H gauge that doesn't ever really move). Also boost is dependant on altitude - at a higher altitude you won't be pushing the same boost and may therefore think soemthing is wrong.

I'd bet they did some sort of analysis that based the amount of labor it would cost (under warranty) for dealers to unnecessarily inspect the cars of suspicious owners as compared to the cost of saving based on the fact that an owner would see a boost problem and have it corrected before it caused any damage.

Keep in mind, the general majority of car owners are hugely ignorant

 

Yeah, the TII has one, and yes, it was an odd decision to not put one on the FD. I don't think the reason was the 10-8-10 pattern, though. Most original buyers probably didn't even know there *was* a 10-8-10 pattern.

Come to think of it, maybe *that* was the reason:

Customer: "You know what, every time I run her up from a standing start, I can always see the boost moving back and forth between 8 and 10. See if you can take care of that."

Service Writer: "Hmmm. Ok. Plan on pickin' her up on Tuesday."

edit: Wow, BrianK had the same answer while I was typing...

 

I must have been asleep when I wrote that. What I meant was... I am wondering if maybe it was omitted because this setup does not produce the same readings all the time.

 

I agree with you, but I wasn't implying that the average owner would look for 10-8-10, but that the average owner would get used to seeing one range, then suddenly see something "out-of-normal."

 

They could have made it like the water temp gauge. But thats a whole other topic. Infact maybee in that case they did us a favor by not installing one. I agree with you guys, they may have thought people would bring the cars in for needless repairs.

 

Well, my whole point in this thread is that maybe people here should not be so worried that thier boost pattern is not always exactly the same as what everyone else is posting.

For the past three years that I have had my car, I have seen variations that others on in the community (not necessarilly this board) call "bad spiking", or "over-boosting" and they warn that I should get a boost controller immediately.

I don't think these cars are as fragile as others do. In the three years of my ownership, I have only rolled 33K miles; but I have not yet heard any ping or detonation, I change the oil regularly, I try to take good care of the car, but I don't stress over it. Perhaps, this is because mine is still relatively stock, and I don't really run it hard all of the time.

I also wonder how many of the folks here are actually in the know as opposed to those who are just parroting what they think they heard other people say.

And how many are just trying to sell parts? One of the most common things I hear from folks here (as soon as an engine is determined to be dead) is 'time to go single turbo', yet I don't often hear them mention the disadvantages of a single verses the elegant twins our cars were born with.

For now, I will continue to drive the car, have fun, watch the boost gauge for signs of radical changes in boost patterns, and keep my fingers crossed

Maybe it is the fact that my 88C has 200K miles and still runs well that gives me a little more hope.

 

You seem a tad bitter... the majority of the guys on this forum are going from experience... and most of it makes sense from an engineering standpoint.

 

Bitter? I don't know where you get that.

I just like to have good information. And even though I don't detract from the efforts of the people here, I am just more of a fact than an opinion presented-as-fact guy. I value all the input I get. I just want to be able to catagorize it.

 

I agree with BLKTOPTRVL with the parrotting and the parts promotion here. But there is still plenty of good info here.

As far as the boost guage dont forget mazda put it on the 99 Rx-7s. I think they left it off because they did not want people to increase boost over stock levels

 

So, you are saying that you think Mazda's point of view was "if you show it, they will mod."

That's a good point, perhaps by 99 they had enough experience with it that they were more comfortable.

I do wonder if the ratio of stock to moderately/highly modified is the same in Japan as it is here.

 

JDM FD's have a boost gauge, much like the one on the turbo eclipses sold here. It's not a spectacular one (like my Defi ), but it does give a general indicator of boost and such. If I had to take a guess at why they didn't include one on the USDM FD's, I'd say that it's either because most FD buyers (in 93-95) didn't care about it or know enough to care, or that it was a cost thing...maybe the additional parts weren't justifiable financially based on previous research or something. Automakers are wierd about stuff like that...introduce on feature in one market and another (or none) in another market.

*shrug* who knows.