3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Stock ecu, rich idle

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-08-19, 11:35 AM
  #1  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
redheddude222's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 261
Received 8 Likes on 5 Posts
Stock ecu, rich idle

I have a bone stock 93 touring, aside from a 3” downpipe, Magnaflow cat, 3” cat back, and a modded airbox. I’ve had an issue with low idle since I bought the car three years ago. I installed a wideband recently and it shows 11:1 at idle. Cruising is stoic, and it holds steady at 10:1 under WOT. All emissions equipment is still intact, and the sequential system seems to be working just fine. Plugs are new and compression checks out ok. I have a Walbro 255 pump with the resistor bypassed, and I deleted the FPD. Where else should I be looking? Poor O2 sensor readings? Vacuum leak? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Last edited by redheddude222; 08-08-19 at 01:29 PM.
Old 08-08-19, 12:27 PM
  #2  
Martin S.

iTrader: (2)
 
evo_koa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Huntsville, Al
Posts: 1,402
Received 79 Likes on 57 Posts
Check the idle bleed screw under the throttle body.
Old 08-08-19, 01:27 PM
  #3  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
redheddude222's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 261
Received 8 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by evo_koa
Check the idle bleed screw under the throttle body.
I raised the idle to ~750 RPM with this screw, but the rich condition hasn’t changed.
Old 08-08-19, 01:31 PM
  #4  
RX-7 Bad Ass

iTrader: (55)
 
DaleClark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 15,399
Received 2,438 Likes on 1,509 Posts
I assume no check engine light?

Could be weak/dead O2 sensor or non-functioning air pump. Make sure the air pump's magnetic pulley is engaged and it's spinning at idle. Should disengage when you rev up then re-engage at idle.

Also, hate to say it, have you done a compression test?

Dale
Old 08-08-19, 01:42 PM
  #5  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
redheddude222's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 261
Received 8 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by DaleClark
I assume no check engine light?

Could be weak/dead O2 sensor or non-functioning air pump. Make sure the air pump's magnetic pulley is engaged and it's spinning at idle. Should disengage when you rev up then re-engage at idle.

Also, hate to say it, have you done a compression test?

Dale
No CEL, compression is ~100 on all six faces, and O2 sensor is brand new (I have my AEM wideband outputting the narrowband nerst signal to the ecu). I’ll check my air pump.
Old 08-08-19, 02:18 PM
  #6  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (32)
 
jza80's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: South Orange County, CA
Posts: 750
Received 83 Likes on 67 Posts
Regarding the rich idle, with the resistor bypassed, idle fuel pressure will be higher than normal and higher than what the ECU is expecting. I have read that some users reported 1-2 points lower AFR at idle afterwards and before any re tuning. So what you are experiencing could be normal considering that the fuel pump is outputting substantially more pressure than it otherwise would be doing and the ECU (I am assuming you are running the stock ECU) is calibrated on the lower fuel pressure.

Last edited by jza80; 08-08-19 at 02:35 PM.
Old 08-08-19, 08:37 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
newtgomez's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 323
Received 37 Likes on 29 Posts
11AFR is perfectly normal for the stock ecu to idle at if your air pump is doing nothing. With the simplified sequential set up on my car, it would do the exact same thing your car is doing with the stock ecu. There's nothing to worry about.
Old 08-09-19, 04:52 AM
  #8  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
redheddude222's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 261
Received 8 Likes on 5 Posts
The air pump is NOT spinning at idle.
Old 08-09-19, 07:18 AM
  #9  
RX-7 Bad Ass

iTrader: (55)
 
DaleClark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 15,399
Received 2,438 Likes on 1,509 Posts
If the air pump isn't running, that's the first place to look. It's common to blow the fuse for the air pump since the wiring to the pump gets pretty crispy over time. Start with that.

Also, with the air pump running, the AFR won't be 100% correct. The extra air being injected into the exhaust manifold skews the numbers. The stock ECU knows this and compensates accordingly, though.

Dale
The following users liked this post:
j a r o d (08-11-19)
Old 08-09-19, 06:28 PM
  #10  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
redheddude222's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 261
Received 8 Likes on 5 Posts
The wires were broken at the air pump connector, and the plug exploded when I touched it. I soldered on a new pigtail and everything functions normally again. Still rich at idle, but nowhere near as rich as it was.
The following users liked this post:
j a r o d (08-11-19)
Old 08-13-19, 06:22 PM
  #11  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (32)
 
jza80's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: South Orange County, CA
Posts: 750
Received 83 Likes on 67 Posts
As a data point, my FD with stock fuel pump control and a good working airpump has something like 17:1 AFR at idle IIRC.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
supak111
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
48
03-29-10 02:18 PM
turnski
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
12
09-21-09 08:39 AM
jjcobm
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
7
07-13-09 07:48 PM
dwb87
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
18
08-10-08 09:29 PM
RooBoy
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
13
07-28-07 08:38 AM



Quick Reply: Stock ecu, rich idle



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:42 AM.