Newbie questions regarding the FD
 

Hi, I'm new to this forum and recently purchased a 1993 FD. I have a few questions regarding this car. Everything under the hood is completely stock.

Is it normal for the car to seem to run rich (when the car idles there is a strong gas smell).

After a "spirited" ride, sometimes I notice that as the car idles it backfires from the exhaust. It does not do this very loudly, a quiet intermittent popping. I was wondering if this is normal as a result of the stock intake/exhaust combo along with running rich, or is signs of possible engine problems. The car seems to run fine.

My final question deals with jacking up the car. The FD is at stock height with a MazdaSpeed kit. It sits 4" off the ground which doesnt allow clearance of my jack. What is the best way to jack the car up? Is there special jacks or techniques I can use.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Ryan

Re: Newbie questions regarding the FD
 

Congrats on the car! ;)

It's not normal for the car to smell like gas. Are you smelling the gas inside the cockpit? Outside the car (to the rear or to the front of the car)?

Since you just got the car, I would recommend getting a few maintenance items taken care of:

- Change spark plugs (check plug wires to see if they need to be changed)
- Change O2 sensor
- Oil & filter change
- Air filter change
- Flush coolant

I'm not sure of the side skirts on the MS kit, but if you have access to crush line (or whatever it's called) you can use the stock jack to get the car high enough off the ground to get a decent floor jack under to raise it up the rest of the way.

If not, you'll either have to drive up onto some 2x4's, make some ramp extensions, or purchase a high priced low profile floor jack.

<< Since you just got the car, I would recommend getting a few maintenance items taken care of:

- Change spark plugs (check plug wires to see if they need to be changed)
- Change O2 sensor
- Oil & filter change
- Air filter change
- Flush coolant >>

Just some advice bout the coolant flush... careful who you get to do it, cuz the stock AST is a weak point in the car, and it's not unusual that ppl inexperienced w/ FDs like jiffy lube and wut not can put enough pressure causin the AST to crack...

I thought it was just a coincidence that it happened the same day I got the coolant flushed, but when I was talkin to Ryan @ PFS bout it cuz I needed to come in to get a AST, he asked me "did ya get your coolant flushed?" i was like yep...he's like THAT'S WHY.

You should have the fuel filter changed too...chances are, it hasn't been done yet.

Fuel smell - you know how to get to the injectors? If so, I'd take some time and check to make sure the injector o-rings are there, and that they are not cracked.

mine pops and backfires the same way and its done it forever and its been in many shops like that and noone has ever mentioned it so i think its ok.

my car does the same, smell like gas too.

I think it is from my petittit computer that was remapped to run rich.

its a rotary.....its best described as being unstable compared to a piston car....the putt putt back firre sound is normal.....thats the sound of that type of car...but not if it happens tooo much.i have a 93 also and wen it was stock it did the same shit.......congratz

-tom

Thanks everyone who replied to the thread. I guess I wasn't specific enough regarding the "strong fuel smell". It was coming only from the exhaust and not from the inside the car or under the hood. I will definately get those maintenance issues taken care of.

Ryan

Take good care of it or you will regret it. Do a search on this forum to see what mods need to be done to make the car more reliable. They are worth their weight in gold.

Is the exhaust stock or has it been modified?

The car will seem to be a little richer than a normal piston engine car. Until the catalytic converter warms up, quite of bit of the "exhaust smell" will be coming out. However, if you are still getting fumes after the car has been driven for a while then the stock cat may be failing.