MSMiata
Greenie N00B Member
Well, I'm back. I have almost gotten my son's 2006 MS6 finished, so I am going to turn my attention to my 2005 MS Miata project. I do have some questions, but I'll first bore you with a little of the history of the car (at least since I've owned it).
I had originally bought a first gen miata for a project car and went to buy something from my part-out guy. While I was there, I saw he had a hella-nice 2005 Mazdaspeed Miata. We worked out a deal where he hauled off my project car and I got the speed for a little additional money. It is a sweet little car and has a pretty good bit of power for the size. It is fun to drive (when it runs).
I drove it for a bit, as did my son (who actually had a wreck and I had to get the whole thing re-painted, - story for another time). Anyway, I drove it several hundred (or thousand) miles, but never get the emissions test so I can register it. The car always threw some code. I tried a new gas cap (which it said at one point), new plugs and coils, etc. but it never cleared up.
One night, while driving it home, it cut off on me -- just died in the middle of third gear. I coasted to a parking lot and tried to start it again. I did the thing where you bypass a solenoid or switch or something to reset the fuel pump, but that wasn't the problem. I was able to get the car to start, but it would only run if I kept feathering the throttle. After a little time in this session of trying to start the car, the center hump (behind the gear shift) got really hot and started smoking (probably steaming, more accurately, because the carpets had gotten wet from rain the night before). So, I had the car towed home.
After scratching my head a bit, I decided that the catalytic converter must be clogged, and that is why the car died. I'm not sure how I reached that conclusion, but I did. I ordered a new turbo-back exhaust (complete with cat) and prepared to install it. In the meantime, I went back to my part-out guy, and he happened to have another speed miata that he was parting out. It had been upgraded with a JS Turbo (I don't know much about turbos but this one is so much bigger than the one currently on the car - it is 3" diameter where the intake attaches), intercooler, complete exhaust, etc. I had only gone to get some new seats and door cards, which I also got, but I came home with all of that stuff - and a mega-squirt ECU.
I returned the exhaust I had ordered, and am now preparing to start the job of replacing the parts. (By the way, when I removed the exhaust from the car, it does run. I think maybe I was right about the catalytic converter being clogged.) Now that I have given you that incredibly boring and long ass introduction, I need to say that I am really writing to ask for help with the following challenges;
Anyway, thank you for any help you can give me with my questions, and I would appreciate any other tips, tricks, or ideas you can throw my way.
Thanks.
I had originally bought a first gen miata for a project car and went to buy something from my part-out guy. While I was there, I saw he had a hella-nice 2005 Mazdaspeed Miata. We worked out a deal where he hauled off my project car and I got the speed for a little additional money. It is a sweet little car and has a pretty good bit of power for the size. It is fun to drive (when it runs).
I drove it for a bit, as did my son (who actually had a wreck and I had to get the whole thing re-painted, - story for another time). Anyway, I drove it several hundred (or thousand) miles, but never get the emissions test so I can register it. The car always threw some code. I tried a new gas cap (which it said at one point), new plugs and coils, etc. but it never cleared up.
One night, while driving it home, it cut off on me -- just died in the middle of third gear. I coasted to a parking lot and tried to start it again. I did the thing where you bypass a solenoid or switch or something to reset the fuel pump, but that wasn't the problem. I was able to get the car to start, but it would only run if I kept feathering the throttle. After a little time in this session of trying to start the car, the center hump (behind the gear shift) got really hot and started smoking (probably steaming, more accurately, because the carpets had gotten wet from rain the night before). So, I had the car towed home.
After scratching my head a bit, I decided that the catalytic converter must be clogged, and that is why the car died. I'm not sure how I reached that conclusion, but I did. I ordered a new turbo-back exhaust (complete with cat) and prepared to install it. In the meantime, I went back to my part-out guy, and he happened to have another speed miata that he was parting out. It had been upgraded with a JS Turbo (I don't know much about turbos but this one is so much bigger than the one currently on the car - it is 3" diameter where the intake attaches), intercooler, complete exhaust, etc. I had only gone to get some new seats and door cards, which I also got, but I came home with all of that stuff - and a mega-squirt ECU.
I returned the exhaust I had ordered, and am now preparing to start the job of replacing the parts. (By the way, when I removed the exhaust from the car, it does run. I think maybe I was right about the catalytic converter being clogged.) Now that I have given you that incredibly boring and long ass introduction, I need to say that I am really writing to ask for help with the following challenges;
- Intake & Airflow Sensor - I know I will need to get some sort of air intake system to go on the new turbo, but how do I manage the air flow sensor that was on the original intake? Do I really need an airflow sensor? Can I make my own intake and just have a threaded bung for the airflow sensor?
- Tune - Can I get a tune on this thing such that it can pass state emissions? I think I'd like to run with the mega squirt, but do so, I think you attach the megasquirt to the same connections that you would use to connect the computer at the emissions control inspection station.
Anyway, thank you for any help you can give me with my questions, and I would appreciate any other tips, tricks, or ideas you can throw my way.
Thanks.
