HELP! Only firing on one rotor

[PERKINT]

Hi folks,

Not happy - wait for 4 months for my car to turn up (\'93 Type R). Picked it up last thing Friday night, did about 10 miles bringing it home in the fog, didn\'t drive it yesterday (too busy celebrating the rugby!) and today, the damn thing is running sick as a pig! Back firing, stalling, real slow to rev up and lack of power. Plus there\'s a warning light on the dash (the "HEAT" one by the ABS light).

From the way it\'s running, I think it\'s only running on one rotor, but I know so little about them, I\'m not sure. And I\'m not sure what is overheating and why. It does mean, however, that I can\'t use my new toy!

The car\'s not standard (induction kit, exhaust and apparently non standard ECU), but it was all done in Japan before I bought it, so don\'t know the specifics yet.

Any help or suggestions will be appreciated. I\'ll be bouncing it back to the bloke I bought it off on Monday, but since it\'s the first one he\'s brought in, any help in advance would be much appreciated.

Regards.
Tim

[Carl]

Hi Tim,
have you done much mileage today?
The car may need a good run and tuning up,often a plug change is needed.
Who did you buy the car from?
Make sure all the plug leads are on firmly.
If it is running on one rotor sometimes it will start up on the second if you drive it carefully for a few miles.It could be a stuck seal or two.
It could also be more ominous though.Sometimes starting on one rotor could be coolent getting into the internals of the engine which needs a rebuild.Lastly it could have a broken seal in it which will never run right until rebuild is done.
As to the heat light it shows that unburnt fuel is being lit up in the exhaust from the rotor that is not running properly.It may go away if you can get the engine running right.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards
Carl

[PERKINT]

Hi,
I have done less than a mile in it today. I didn\'t want to run it, not knowing what the warning light was.
I bought it from a chap who I have dealt with before for motorbikes (UMD at Alfreton). He is changing into cars and, apart from my RX, he has only brought a few other sorts of car across.

I have checked the plug leads and they are all on. I was going to whip one out and check they looked OK (ie not covered in soot, etc) but gave up as it was a little difficult (I am still recovering from trashing my CBR600 a month or so back...).

From what you\'re saying, it sounds as though it may be worth taking it for a run along the bypass. A few miles at about 4,000 rpm may help. It was running fine on Friday, but as it was foggy, I only ran it at low revs, and it has been run just on the drive for a few minutes today without actually going anywhere. It has been running fine up till I tried to go out in it today. Certainly not as rough as it is now. Maybe just needs to clear it\'s thoat.

Thanks for your help.

Tim

[Carl]

Hi Tim,
No problem,you may find that a run along the bypass will help.These engines do not like short journeys or brief startups.It is allways good to give them a few miles run rather than start them up for a minute or 2 and then switch it off,it sometimes floods on the next startup.
Let us know how you get on.

BTW welcome to the club!

Kind regards
Carl

[maximtaylor]

Easy way to rule out if a tip (or two) has gone, is to look at your boost gauge.

On a steady light throttle, watch the gauge, if it flutters rather than being smooth, then tip(s) have gone....

At least it would rule out one rebuild problem and reduce the worry a little  - although it could still be water seal as Carl says

I would check plugs next.

Regards

Max

[PERKINT]

Hi,

Not sure (hey, I\'ve only driven it three times!), but I don\'t think mine has a boost gauge! Has oil pressure, but not boost.

Took it for a run yesterday, and it started running on the second rotor OK.

Unfortunately, has now developed a massive flat spot! It\'s OK on an even throttle, and not too bad on a light throttle, but as soon as you put your foot down, it just bogs down and dies. I gave it a run of 5 or ten miles, and even tried to get the revs up, but it still wouldn\'t cooperate.

The bloke I bought it from is going to drop a standard ECU in - although he says I can keep the tuned one and then get it serviced. Hopefully will sort it out.

Being a member is going to be useful, I can see Bound to end up spending loads of money on it, even if it doesn\'t go wrong...

Tim

[g11ary]

you friend may not be doing you any favours, if you have an after market ecu its  because your car has had some mods, which may mean if you swap back to a standard ecu you may find your running lean, in which case when you blow the engine you may need to keep hold of carl\'s address, to rebuild her for you, please dont bolt  on the standard ecu unless your car is stock, if modded, stay with ecu and get it to a rotary boff.

[PERKINT]

I think the only mods on it are the exhaust and induction kit, apart from the ECU.

Thing is, a fair chunk of its mileage is going to be rolling along at 20/30 mph (if I\'m lucky) in traffic. I am not sure how well the car would put up with this with the race ECU on.

Surely the standard ECU should be able to cope with the induction kit and exhaust??? I\'m not sure where the nearest place to take it to be checked out is. I could take it to Mazda, but do they have the faintest idea?

Any suggestions for decent places, preferably East Mids?

[scooby_si]

Nearest is probably Hurley engineering in Cov at a guess :confused: From wot i\'ve read standard ECU\'s are OK with backbox & induction but any more than that & ECU should be next on list
Si

[scooby_si]

NB my knowledge is pretty limited at the minute thou yer location is noted & i will be tormenting you in the new year to join in with a midlands type meet
Si

[iaint]

If it\'s a full exhaust (no cats) then you\'ll need the ECU, add induction on top of that and a replacement (or piggy-back) ecu is a must.

Hurley are probably closest to you and PIP @ WGT are in cheshire so not too far off.

Iain

[scooby_si]

FYI Hurleys site
Si

[PERKINT]

Originally posted by scooby_si
FYI Hurleys site
Si

Yeah - cheers. I am just looking the sites

Think it may be a case of just taking it to one of them for a look Don\'t wanna take it for work - wanna take it out and play!!!

[scooby_si]

If you get lost say the word i work down the road from \'em & always looking for excuse to go there & perve/torment lol
Si

[g11ary]

I know you dont wat tohere this, but Iwould haveit trailered to pip @ wgt and get him to sort he car and poss emap the ecu. Today I trailered my balck rx7 to haywardand scott about 1 hr drive in a lorry ad it cost me approx £150 , better than stuffing her up.