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New PFC and car runs even worse

Old Aug 25, 2005 | 07:59 PM
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New PFC and car runs even worse

So here's my original post from forever ago.

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/still-running-rich-other-problems-401456/

So i eventually got fed up with this and bought a new power fc. I installed it and couldn't get the car started. It just kept flooding worse and worse. So i took my plugs out and cleaned them up and tried again with no luck. I eventually just tow started it. Here's where it gets ugly

First the PFC is supposed to do the idle learning curve, but my car wouldn't hold an idle if it's life depended on it so i can't get the PFC to learn it. I have the idle set at around 1200 and it still can't hold it.

So i am trying to clear out the flooded stuff when i start it and it smokes blue rich smelling smoke forever as expected, but it is acting very weird. I can floor it and the engine won't go past 4,000 rpm's. it just sits there and runs like ****. If the engine goes below about 1800 rpm's it just stalls. It also moves across the rpm band very slowly and is weak and runs shitty. I'm starting to get really pissed. Also im getting a burning smell at this time and i have no idea what it is. I've checked all the readings on the PFC but no sensors are outta wack or anything. Everything seems to be in order. Here's some stuff we can eliminate in case your too lazy to read the old post
1. fuel injectors have been serviced and cleaned so they're not sticking or anything
2. new FPD
3. good compression
4. all sensors good
5. fuel pump wiring is good and grounded well
6. MAP sensor is plugged in

And here's where it starts to get really weird. I guess i was shot about 2 feet of flames out of my exhaust when trying to start it, but i only have a downpipe and cat back. Still have the airpump and main cat in there. So it shouldn't really shoot flames. I'm stumped here people i really need some help. My car ran better with the stock ecu than the stupid PFC.
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Old Aug 25, 2005 | 08:12 PM
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when you had the standard ECU in did you see if it was throwing any error codes?
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Old Aug 25, 2005 | 08:13 PM
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get it to a professional, i would quit messing with it you may mess something up.
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Old Aug 25, 2005 | 08:28 PM
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From: slc, ut
it was throwing a knock sensor code but the PFC reads it as fine so im assuming the stock ecu was just being gay
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Old Aug 25, 2005 | 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by KevinW
get it to a professional, i would quit messing with it you may mess something up.
There's not any reputable shops around here in Utah. There is one place called modern garage who can tune and has a decent reputation but i still don't trust them that much. I've heard some stories about them that aren't good. THey may be decent at tuning and stuff but I think they're mechanical skills on the 7 aren't very good
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Old Aug 25, 2005 | 08:34 PM
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Are you sure you put the injectors in the correct places, and hooked them up correctly?
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Old Aug 25, 2005 | 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by youngin
Are you sure you put the injectors in the correct places, and hooked them up correctly?
pretty sure. new o-rings and pintles and everything. lined up the notches and everything.
I'm still confused as to why it would run even worse after putting in an ecu that should make it run better. And how it could run so shitty and not throw any codes or anything
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Old Aug 25, 2005 | 08:56 PM
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Make sure the PFC is set for the right Map sensor
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Old Aug 25, 2005 | 09:07 PM
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Why is the assumption that the engine is making good compression. By/rent a $15 compression tester from Autozone, test it, watching for the 3 peak numbers and do it for both rotors. Then come back and tell us what it is.

Tim

Last edited by Tim Benton; Aug 25, 2005 at 09:15 PM.
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Old Aug 25, 2005 | 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Tim Benton
Why is the assumption that the engine is making good compression. By/rent a $15 compression tester from Autozone, test it, watching for the 3 peak numbers and do it for both rotors. Then come back and tell us what it is.

Tim
If you have a boost gage are you gaining boost? I had this same exact problem with the power fc and it ended up being a blown apex.... It was really fkn wierd a blown apex and it still ran... but yea if you are gaining boost really slow I suggest doing what tim said.. IT sounds like a blown apex 2 me.
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 12:43 AM
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When I installed my PFC I had to cut 4 wires from the harness. Did you do that? I had no problems starting my car with the PFC and everything runs great.

Heres the info on which wires to cut. I just read on forums that if you dont cut, your car will run like ****.
http://westpenn.rx-7.org/ApexiPFCpinout.htm
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 01:33 AM
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I installed it and couldn't get the car started. It just kept flooding worse and worse. So i took my plugs out and cleaned them up and tried again with no luck. I eventually just tow started it
Make sure you cut the 4 pins & the pfc is firmly plugged in.

Also, the PFC shouldn't cause this to happen if everything else is fine.

Did you try to swap the old ecu back in and start it? If the car is still having problems, its not due to the pfc. I'm guessing when you took apart your car you didn't put everything back correctly.
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 10:59 AM
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Yes i cut the four wires. And i just had a rebuild so that is my assumption that it should be good compression.
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 11:09 AM
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Not trying to be a dick or anything, but did you cut the correct wires? Double check to make sure you didnt cut anything you werent supposed to.
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 11:13 AM
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Originally Posted by ska*utomatic
Yes i cut the four wires. And i just had a rebuild so that is my assumption that it should be good compression.
??????????? Don't assume anything! - you've had the problem for quite a while.

You won't know unless you check it!
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 02:12 PM
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I didn't cut the 4 wires but then I also removed all of the unnessary sensors from the uim and the car runs great.

R.K.
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 02:17 PM
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Is it safe to assume that you are running the base map on the power fc? Also did you upgrade you injectors to eg. 850 primaries and 1300 secondaries? If you did up grade the primaries then you will have a problem unless the proper adjustments have been made on the ecu to compensate for the larger injectors.

R.K.
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 05:12 PM
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who built the engine and installed it? It seemed that you did it, but not really sure when it says....

"Well i just got my motor in the other night and it wouldn't start."

Then..

"Maybe my ignition timing is off due to the streetport. I did it myself so there could be an error but i used the same template as my friend did on his rebuild and his is running fine now."

I hate to say it, but I think it's the engine and or the install, but I'd bet money on the engine. Not to say you can't build one correctly, but it's not something just anyone can do and do it right

Tim
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 05:36 PM
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If your car is heavily modded, you probably shouldn't be running the stock maps.
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 06:41 PM
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Gas doesn't burn blue that would be oil.
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 06:47 PM
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Double check your ignition. Are all the wire to the coils and coil to plugs correct?
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by ska*utomatic
And how it could run so shitty and not throw any codes
You won't get codes with the PowerFC
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Old Aug 26, 2005 | 09:32 PM
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Is it possible to get the same setup you had when it was running last? I am lazy and did not read your old thread so tell me to shut up if I am reinventing the wheel. But, if you can put everything back to the way it was when it was running last, then just do one mod at a time until it screws up again. I know hindsight is 20/20 but doing more than one mod at a time realy makes it difficult to pin-point problems. Good luck
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Old Aug 27, 2005 | 12:13 AM
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Let say my engine compression is bad. It was running at least decently until the PFC was installed. And yes i know the PFC doesn't throw codes but it will highlight a sensor if it's going haywire or the voltages are incorrect. And since then Tim i have got my motor in and corrected the problems with starting except these hot starts. And even if i have bad compression it still doesn't explain why i am running amzingly rich and getting bogged down. I mean i was shooting flames with a stock cat. That's alot of extra fuel being injected. So even if i had the compression checked i still wouldn't have this bogging down thing figured out. Oh and yes i still have the stock injectors and base map. All the settings should be set correctly. This really seems like a leaky injector problem or a sticking injector to me. But i know they're not sticking. I guess next on my list is to check the o-rings o nthe injectors to see if they tore while putting them in. Man i hate getting to those things
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Old Aug 27, 2005 | 11:39 AM
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From: ft. collins, colorado
what is the root word of "***-sume". He is right never assume anything, get a compression test, asap. Report back when you find out.
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