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Assistance sought in diagnosing 'stumbling off boost'

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:36 am
by Uncle Arthur
Hi all,

Just after some general ideas/thoughts.....

The car has developed a stumble off boost - at around 2500-3000 at cruise - be it in 3rd/4th/5th, the car will stumble - like it's coughing.

Watching the stoichmeter this morning, it looks as though it's running way rich when it happens. On boost - all is good and it goes like a rocket - but then again when I'm on boost the O2 signal is intercepted and the fueling held at rich.

Anyone got any ideas what it might be?

My first thought is the O2 sensor, but after that, I'm also thinking it could be the mixture screw setting on the (RX7) AFM.

What about fuel filter? I don't know when it was last changed.....

Injectors?

Any assistance will be most welcomed, before I take it it Mazda (because it really doesn't seem to be a boost issue)

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 5:14 pm
by Fatty
so you already have an o2 clamp intercepting the o2 sensor? is that what you're saying?

coz all i was gonna suggest is to get an o2 clamp :?


when my car was \"stumbling\" as you've described, it was the leads. from memory it was at similar rpms as well, about 2500 - 3000.

of course it could be the short nose crank, get boagsy to check it for ya.

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:13 pm
by NMX516
:shock: :shock: Jules broke it!!!

UA I used to have that sort of problem in my turbo'd Pulsar. It was caused by the wire/plug from the airflow meter being bumped loose at the computer. I would start by checking that everything is connected properly, both at the sensor end and the ECU end.

Re:

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:18 pm
by Uncle Arthur
Fatty wrote:so you already have an o2 clamp intercepting the o2 sensor? is that what you're saying?

coz all i was gonna suggest is to get an o2 clamp :?


when my car was "stumbling" as you've described, it was the leads. from memory it was at similar rpms as well, about 2500 - 3000.

of course it could be the short nose crank, get boagsy to check it for ya.


I don't have a short nose crank ;) - but I do have fuel :D

I'm also now thinking it might be leads - it happens under light application of throttle under load, and goes away as the revs increase - and I replaced the damn leads not that long ago..... :evil:

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:25 pm
by AJ
try OEM this time mikey, instead of them thar fancy coloured ones :P :lol:

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:43 pm
by Woo
What sort of boost do you run UA and what/if any BOV do you have?

Re:

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:39 pm
by Uncle Arthur
AJ wrote:try OEM this time mikey, instead of them thar fancy coloured ones :P :lol:


But I'm using plain black Top Gear leads from Repco..... :(

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:15 pm
by Boags
Does it stumble under light excelleration, or when you are cruising at those revs?

If you plant foot to get the boost up before 2500rpm do you get the stumble?

It does sound a bit like leads, that sucks seeing as they are new. :frown:

Boags

Re:

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:35 pm
by Uncle Arthur
Boags'MX5 wrote:Does it stumble under light excelleration, or when you are cruising at those revs?

If you plant foot to get the boost up before 2500rpm do you get the stumble?

It does sound a bit like leads, that sucks seeing as they are new. :frown:

Boags


Light acceleration - and no - planting it means no (or not noticeable) stumble - hence why I think it is the leads. It's the thing that makes the most sense, and would also account for it reading rich when stumbling - lots of fuel and uneven spark.....

Re:

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:52 pm
by Boags
Uncle Arthur wrote:Light acceleration - and no - planting it means no (or not noticeable) stumble - hence why I think it is the leads. It's the thing that makes the most sense, and would also account for it reading rich when stumbling - lots of fuel and uneven spark.....


Yeah, agreed. How many Ks have they done?

Re:

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:41 am
by Uncle Arthur
Boags'MX5 wrote:
Uncle Arthur wrote:Light acceleration - and no - planting it means no (or not noticeable) stumble - hence why I think it is the leads. It's the thing that makes the most sense, and would also account for it reading rich when stumbling - lots of fuel and uneven spark.....


Yeah, agreed. How many Ks have they done?


Not enough - with the mileage I'm doing these days less than 7500

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:41 am
by JBT
Jules broke it I think UA.

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:40 pm
by jules
Oh stop it you heathens! Max enjoyed her stay with me. I was like a priest at a boys school. Very well behaved :lol: :lol:

My thoughts when it did it was leads, loose wiring ('cause it does it over bumps), or fueling.

It would do this on constant throttle often as well Mikey, ie: cruising with throttle 1/3rd of the way down in that rev range. It is not a boost issue :mrgreen:
A bit like a supermodel with a zit.

Jules

Re:

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 2:00 pm
by Uncle Arthur
jules wrote:Oh stop it you heathens! Max enjoyed her stay with me. I was like a priest at a boys school. Very well behaved :lol: :lol:


Rest assured Jules - I didn't for a moment think you broke her.....

jules wrote: My thoughts when it did it was leads, loose wiring ('cause it does it over bumps), or fueling.

It would do this on constant throttle often as well Mikey, ie: cruising with throttle 1/3rd of the way down in that rev range. It is not a boost issue :mrgreen:
A bit like a supermodel with a zit.

Jules


Can you tell me when you first noticed it happening? There'd often been a slight stumble over bumps (which I thought might be due to my having not enough slack in the throttle cable), but this is something completely new.....

I've thought TPS position, I'll look at all the connections and make sure they're firm, but any other suggestions are welcomed.......

I'm not keen on buying brand new leads just for the sake of it, so is there a key thing to look for as a sign of failure? There is no visible sign of external arcing under idle.

Re:

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:02 pm
by JBT
Uncle Arthur wrote:....There'd often been a slight stumble over bumps....

Sounds like a loose connection or an intermittent short circuit. But where? Start at the battery end, check all connections and no loose cables there.