From Mexie ... to MXSE ...

[fastfreddygassit]

Kev, thanks for inspiring me to do the eclipse vents.
I owe you a beer next time I'm in Adelaide!

[KevGoat]

...always in for free beer ...

[KevGoat]

Had a spare silver HVAC fascia panel in the shed, so I thought I'd see what it would look like painted satin black. I wanted to match it in better with the VDO instrument panel and the head unit. The silver surround looks fine with the stock radio in place, or with the matching silver console surround of the NB8B/C, but the darker look of the SE console surround makes it look out of place.

The dials and switch indicators that are backlit just peel out, which made painting it easier. The sticky stuff on their backing also allowed them to be easily re-fitted once the panel was painted.

Before ...



After ...

[speed]

Looks heaps better black. Good work!

[KevGoat]

Looks heaps better black. Good work!

Thanks. The manufacturer of the 3 gauge panel must use Supercheap's Export aerosol paints - the colour and texture match was perfect

[KevGoat]

With the celebrations of the past couple of weeks over ... btw Happy New Year!! everyone! ....




The car started throwing up this CEL. It would start and idle fine and run with no problem. Nothing strange showing up on any gauges or under the bonnet.

Research showed it's one of the common OBD codes across manufacturers and can have various causes. My first instinct was that it may be something to do with the larger injectors. Can also be dirty MAF or sensor wiring problem or even some blockage to the intake amongst others. But I also had a niggling feeling about the "bandaid" electrical mods I'd made recently - FM 02 signal modifier, TPS resistor mod and the ebc solenoid delete resistor mod.

Turned out to be the resistor I'd placed in the ebc solenoid connector. No idea what would cause it to burn out and I've never read of it happening elsewhere. But this, along with having just received a "friendly warning" about the mbc in a Christmas Blitz roadside check (along with a comment that the TRD front splitter should be removed due to "dangerous to pedestrians" ) and the niggling boost issues I'd been having, decided me to temporarily remove the mbc and restore the stock boost control and see how all this ran and felt. After using a combination of old and new hoses to fit the stock boost solenoid back in with the new CAI, I went for a drive. Immediately it felt smoother at low throttle, really nice actually, but as soon as I put my foot down it was noticeably down on power. A lot better than stock due to the CAI, but not the push in the back that extra little bit of boost renders. Revved out really smoothly though, no noticeable hesitations at all.




So far, no CEL, so I'm pretty sure it was just that blown resistor.

So for now it has:

321cc Denso Injectors
BEGi TBI
BEGi CAI
Turbosmart BOV

FM 02 signal modifier
TPS resistor mod

Mishimoto Baffled Catch can - return to intake

Stock boost
Stock downpipe/exhaust

Lying around to fit:
FMIC

What I also noticed during refitting the stock boost solenoid with the old hoses is the larger internal size of the hose from the TBI through to the last section of hose which reduces in size to connect to the wastegate. My hosing to the mbc was all 4mm (internal) turbosmart silicone hose from the TBI through to the wastegate and due to where I'd fitted it was also about 30% longer. I will at some stage try the mbc fitted into the current hoses and see if there's any difference to how it felt previously.

With so much happening for us this year, it will be quite a while before I can seriously consider going to the Haltec and all that entails, so time to slow down, step back and just get it to it's best in the interim ...

[cookie]

Odd about the resistor...

Didn't realise that boost controllers weren't legal. What did they say about it?

[Lokiel]

Not surprised the TRD splitter is illegal, it has edges that protrude from the car.

Regarding the solenoid resistor, did you use a 47ohm 0.25watt resistor or 47ohm 0.5watt resistor? I had a 0.5watt resistor that was in the car for at least 12 months before I installed the Adaptronic ECU. You could also try a 1 watt resistor.

[KevGoat]

They also mentioned that my aftermarket BOV - even though it was luckily in full recirculation mode - is technically not permitted, which I didn't know!!

This from the SA Gov website (which they advised I read ) :

Turbocharger boost controllers

Alteration to an engine's turbo boost pressure is not acceptable. This is specified and set by the vehicle manufacturer to ensure compliance to the Australian Design Rules.

Blow-off valves

Fitting an aftermarket blow-off valve can affect the vehicle's compliance with the exhaust emission requirements specified in the Australian Design Rules, and is therefore not acceptable.

External wastegates on turbocharged engines are not permitted.

Rather contradictory to the above, exhaust & catalytic changes can be made, including fitting extractors, as long as noise meets restrictions

They asked me a few questions about the CAI, but didn't seem too fussed about it. But although they were good hearted about everything, and weren't actually defecting anyone as far as I could tell, I drove away pretty cautiously so that the blow off noise didn't happen back through it

Not surprised the TRD splitter is illegal, it has edges that protrude from the car.

Regarding the solenoid resistor, did you use a 47ohm 0.25watt resistor or 47ohm 0.5watt resistor? I had a 0.5watt resistor that was in the car for at least 12 months before I installed the Adaptronic ECU. You could also try a 1 watt resistor.

Yeah that's what they said re the splitter. I mentioned that they are designed to "break away" but they didn't consider that as acceptable.

I had 0.5watt resistor - I wonder if external heat got to it, rather than it actually blowing.

[track_addict]

Seems you were lucky with them as other people were defected over the holidays. Stupid rules "BOV may affect emissions, but go ahead and change the exhaust system, so long as its below legal noise limit."

Didn't know about the BOV or boost control. Makes me nervous once my car is back up and running :S.

[Lokiel]

:
They asked me a few questions about the CAI, but didn't seem too fussed about it. But although they were good hearted about everything, and weren't actually defecting anyone as far as I could tell, I drove away pretty cautiously so that the blow off noise didn't happen back through it
:

... bet you're glad that the CAI is enclosed, most cops won't know more than it should be enclosed.

We're pretty lucky driving MX5s, as long as you don't drive like a dick and keep the external modz to a minimum, cops pretty much ignore us "hairdressers".

One of the guys I worked with, he's in his 30's, sold his Nissan S15 because he was sick of being pulled over for "random checks" and all he had was the ricer exhaust - he now drives an "invisible Golf".

[KevGoat]

Especially lucky considering the fines per defect these days! Still considering what I'll do about the splitter because I really like it, and I've never heard of any others having any problem. But like you say, it is the one externally visible magnet for them I suppose ...

I can only recall one other time I've ever had my car checked like that, and that was way back in the late 70's in my Mini Clubman! Got defected for a blown headlight, indicators flashing too fast, Huntmaster seats I'd imported and fitted, steering wheel too small, loud exhaust and number plates not legible enough ... couple days later I just fixed the headlight, then drove to the local police station. The officer behind the desk came out and took a look through the list, asked me what I'd done to piss them off, and just passed the car

[KevGoat]

Anyways ... let's throw in a couple of photos from a recent drive ...

[luzinit]

Looking tidy mate. Surprised they picked out all those mods, I find that cops in Sydney dont even look twice at mx5s.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

[speed]

Often the ease of extracting more power from a turbo charged car adds to the appeal of that car.

Winding up the boost is what it is all about.

Damm Choo Choo police.