[Razor7]

Other option is to replace the center diff with something not-shitty.

Anyone have experience with aftermarket center diffs? I've never driven anything with an upgraded diff that's AWD. Presumably, if I can set it to 35:65 front:rear then I'll be a happy camper.

-TC

 

[Razor7]

The latest is that the motor will randomly run super rich at idle - down below 11.25. I don't know how much more below as that's where my O2 sensor stops reading, but below it nonetheless.

Figure it could be one of 3 things:
- vacuum leak
- stuck/sticking injector
- dying coil

I tried pulling logs but apparently my injector duty cycle isn't included? I don't know what I'm doing anymore, I'm bad at cars.

I'll be doing a smoke test on the vacuum lines / intake this weekend to see what I uncover and go from there. Since it's intermittent, it could be any of those three.

In June I'll be riding a motorcycle through the Swiss alps and spending a week in Austria - pretty excited for it, but it's taking all of my attention to plan and prep for. Doesn't help that it's crunch time at work.

Once I'm back, I'll be buying parts for a 6-speed swap - I figure the 3.90 JDM box with DCCD is a good fit. It seems straightforward enough, but I will need to cut a hole in the floorboard to fix one of the transmission mounts - the nut broke free and won't allow me to unthread the bolt. Nothing a plasma torch and a welder can't fix.

-TC

 

[Razor7]

I have been doing some stuff though:
- power washed the garage floor
- fixed up my girlfriend's 2004 BMW 530i
- replaced my roommate's girlfriend's front pads, rotors and fluid. She's... super broke.
- replaced the mid pipe on the Subaru since the old one had a nasty leak
- bought and am now prepping some new seats to throw into the 135 (hello bolstering)

In typical BMW fashion, the seats are missing the harness for power, so I've had to buy a special harness from ECS to run a new 30amp circuit to them for movement and heating. And, of course, I need two so I can do the passenger seat. And, of course, one shipped in but the other is on back order till August 21st...

-TC

 

[onefasazn]

So FYI, I finally got my car back, and left a bunch of stuff at the old shop. Including the stock RS seats. See if you can get them.

On the rich issue at idle, check your fuel pressure regulator. If its a stock one, its probably bad. Hopefully its a removable 2-bolt one, and not the one thats integrated to the fuel rail.

 

[Razor7]

So FYI, I finally got my car back, and left a bunch of stuff at the old shop. Including the stock RS seats. See if you can get them.

On the rich issue at idle, check your fuel pressure regulator. If its a stock one, its probably bad. Hopefully its a removable 2-bolt one, and not the one thats integrated to the fuel rail.

Sure - I'll shoot them an email and see.

It is a stock FPR, and it's a 2 bolt guy, but I replaced it the same time I did the swap (<2 years ago). It's an OEM part, I wouldn't assume it'd crap out that quickly :-/

I smoked the intake and vacuum lines today as a test - not a single leak could be found. It's got to be an issue with fuel or spark.

I'm tempted to send out the ID 725s to Dr. Injector for a cleaning, they were used when I bought them (3 months used, supposedly). I'm also running some hodgepodge of coils off like 3 different motors, so I'm tempted to replace those too for peace of mind.

I'll be checking the plugs tomorrow to see if there's anything suspect, otherwise I'm pricing out all of the small things I've wanted to do but have been too lazy to do so, perhaps this is a good jumping off point.

-TC

 

[Razor7]

Resistance is 0.7-1.1ohm on the heater of the front O2. I'm guessing it's bad.


-TC

 

[Razor7]

A brand new Bosch O2 sensor read 0.9-1.4ohms.

I replaced the front O2 sensor and gas tank vent valve. The O2 has (so far) shown to fix the idle issue. The tank vent didn't fix my issue, unfortunately.

When filling the tank, once I hit 10gal it shuts off the pump unless you add a trickle at a time. I'm guessing it's a crimped or blocked line somewhere.

-TC

 

[Razor7]

I did a thing...

You can read about it here: https://www.mr2oc.com/6-mkii-90-99-na-turbo/680294-mint-1993-mr2-turbo-build.html#/topics/680294?page=1

I also bought a 2004/5 USDM STI 6 speed. Once the MR2 is CA legal and plated, work begins on the Subaru.

Also bought some Quick Jacks. Man, what a difference. I’m excited to put them to use!

-TC

 

[Razor7]

-TC

 

[gc8ra]

Nice car man, I love the gray

 

[Razor7]

Nice car man, I love the gray

Thanks. I hate it.

-TC

 

[Razor7]

Ok, it's been a moment. This will be long.

First off, this redesign sucks. I really prefer the old version of the site.

Back in December I started executing a 6-speed swap. Since I knew the car would be down for a while, I decided to add in some other small mods that I had been sitting on. Full list below :

• 2004 USDM STI Transmission (for the suretrac front diff)
• 2004 USDM STI Exedy OEM Clutch Kit
• 2004 USDM STI Slave Cylinder
• 2003 USDM WRX Rear Diff (for ring and pinion) combined with 1999 JDM 4.44 Rear Diff (for suretrac rear diff)
• Driveshaft Shop Aluminum 1-piece Driveshaft
• Primitive Racing Skid Plate
• RS25 Cabin Air Filter Plate (forget the user name)
• Alpine W650 Carplay Head Unit
• 2000 USDM 2.5RS Spare Tire Cover
• 110mm SuperPro End Links

I also found other things I wanted to fix or adjust :

• Driver side A pillar trim was replaced with one not drilled (previous owner... from pre-2010)
• Drill out transmission cross member mounts (2 were stripped)
• Dry out and fix leaking trunk (gutter drain popped out and filled the trunk)
• Remove "sound deadening" (old yoga mats and duct insulation from when I was a broke college kid)
• Fix projector headlights (the aiming side broke on both headlights at the track. Too many Gs... )
• Replace JDM STI rear end links with custom SuperPro units. They were clunking and not strong enough
• Convert 2004 STI transmission to nubbed for 5x100 JDM front end
• Clean up cabin wiring (speakers, power, etc.)

So I got to work. Around Christmas 2019 I dug in. I pulled the transmission/driveshaft/diff, pulled the sound deadening, installed the radio, fixed the headlights, cleaned the trunk and fixed the leak, changed the endlinks, etc. I spent a good chunk of time working away till everything was buttoned up and dropped on the ground.

 

[Razor7]

Then I found that the clutch wouldn't disengage.

So I pulled the trans and found that the pressure plate in the Exedy clutch kit I bought had a broken finger, keeping the friction disk held down at all times.

Exedy sent me a replacement and I installed it. Then when I took it out for a drive I found that, after it warmed up, it would make a grinding sound in the transmission. I ruled out incorrect final drive as it would drive fine at low speeds when cold, only making noise once it warmed up.

So I pulled the transmission again and took it to a shop to have the front diff preload put back to stock. The theory was that I messed it up when installing the nubs and new axle seals (I did, but I apparently got it close to stock when reassembling...) Then I re-installed and tested it again.

Now the grinding is still there. The car moves, I've gotten it up to 50 mph without issue, but the grinding starts after it's warm.

So, probably a center diff. Great. I'll just buy another trans and fix the other later since, at this point, it's March.

Then the MR2's 3rd gear went.

Then the BMW blew a line and spewed oil everywhere.

Then COVID hit.

Well this obviously screwed up my plans. But, while COVID was just about to begin, I bought a house. This whole time I was gearing up to buy and wound up making 6 offers (sometimes being outbid by 40 people) until finally landing a house on St. Patrick's Day. Unfortunately the offer required a 30 day close and 45 day rent-back as the seller wasn't ready to move just yet...

So we moved into my parent's house (convenient as they're selling it and weren't occupying it anyways). Here I decided that I needed to have more going on in my life and proposed.

She said yes!

Thus began one of the longest months of my life. The engagement is awesome - she's amazing and we've been dating for 5 years - I'm excited for our future. But we had to wait in my childhood house while the seller of the house I bought got his act together and moved out. He took the full 45 days. The whole 75 days the Subaru just sat there, waiting. I couldn't drive it since the transmission was broken, and I couldn't fix it because all of my stuff was in the garage and I couldn't buy another transmission due to covid/not having a set address.

Fast-forward to now and we're finally moved in and starting to settle. We had a week in between getting keys and the moving company coming, so I decided to get the garage floor epoxy coated while we spend 137 hours painting the interior of the house I bought. The epoxy was a fantastic idea, the painting not so much (only due to time, it looks awesome).

So, finally, I'm left with a garage where I can get back to work on getting this car to run again. It breaks my heart seeing it sit there, idle, not being driven. That was never its purpose. I don't know when it'll be fixed, but I look forward to the day.

-TC

 

[99GC4]

Man, what a read. I admire your dedication, my car has been waiting to even idle correctly for 4 years. This gives motivation, congrats on the engagement and new home.

 

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Congrats on everything mang!! No pain no gain, and with all the hits you've taken - you got some gains in your future I hope. Floors definitely look great and compliment the rs' color. Can't drive now, but at least she's pretty to look at eh? Can't wait to see how the build pans out after all the dust settles and life can get back on track

 

[Razor7]

Thanks guys!

Plans are basically - install a working 6 speed, prep for paint, paint, redo interior.

Then... it's basically done. 10+ years of work, just... wrapped up. Sure there are silly things like twinscrolls, 5x114.3 swaps, roof swaps, etc. (I'm jelly of all these things) but ultimately I'll have a GC bodied STI that's setup for any on-road stuff, and is more capable than my driving skills by a wide margin.

I can't wait. Too bad it'll be like 2025 when I "finish" the interior, based off my current pace.

-TC