My previous engine fell victim to coolant seals. I purchased this one to replace it. Supposedly the engine is street ported, and has less than 1000 miles on it, this is my extent of the knowledge of the rebuild itself.

I just finished installing it. I removed all emissions except for the IACV in hopes that it would help the car idle. Car has a power FC with what the previous owner stated is a "base map". My problem is, the car BARELY stays on, even when it's warmed up. The idle vacillates between 4-700 rpms, all the while blowing black smoke out the tail (smells like gas). The plugs are brand new, as are the wires.

I was under the impression that this was supposed to be drivable, even on a base map, otherwise how am I supposed to break in the engine before I get it tuned?

Any info will help, I have a video, but I have no idea where to upload it.

 

did you re-learn the PFC?

BAM!

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/how-make-your-untuned-pfc-basemap-safer-idle-better-no-datalogit-needed-841706/


Did you happen to run a compression check or get verification that the engine was any good? If no, yesterday is a good time to do so.

 

Thank you for that link. No I never verified compression......It was a new rebuild that wasn't even broken in. I'll try to find a compression tester.

Oh and, I don't have a commander to reset the ecu :/..... anybody know if you can reset it without a commander?

 

hey!!! ask jaime if you can borrow his commander to have it relearn. might have to have the pfc relearn the voltages of the car for idle, for the very short while i drove the car with that engine it ran great also if jaime will let you borrow his commander, check your tps settings..that plays a BIG role in your idle, also there is an air bleed screw just below compression tube where it goes into the throttle body, should be 1/4 turn out from full in

 

Thanks Darin. I was going to check my TPS settings today, I guess I need a commander to re-learn the idle as well. Is it supposed to be running super rich? Blowing plenty of black smoke out the back (smells like gas)

Also, what details do you have on the engine in terms of the build.

 

First thing I thought when you said bad idle and black smoke was maybe the MAP sensor isn't hooked up or there is a vacuum leak. I'm in the middle of replacing my motor for the 1st time for the exact same reason so I'm interested in what it turns out to be.

 

^^My first thought too. MAP sensor plugged in? It is easy to knock this vac line off when messing with idle adjustments/tps. It also does sound like you may have a small vac leak somewhere (bouncing idle) if the TPS checks out. Also if it is streetported you may want to raise the idle a bit over stock.

And I feel your pain. I just lost my motor a couple months ago to the same thing. Damn coolant seals. I will be using Pineapple's coolant seals to hopefully not deal with losing another motor due to this again.

 

Don't mean to highjack this thread but:

I have a Malloy Mazda engine that I'm about to install. So I should start the air bleed screw a quarter turn out??

Thanks,

 

Map sensor is plugged in and fine, the car runs and drives. No more smoke, just a shitty idle. The 1/4 turn out is where you start when you want the PFC to learn your idle.