winter project requires expert help!

[andywilson24]

Hi ppl. Great forum. Have had my head stuck in it now for about a week. Here's the issue.

Just bought 94 mx3 v6 not working. Where do i start?

Previous owners said it just kept cutting out and then eventually never started again. Garage "down the road" had it and never could solve the problem. There has been info given relating to a "possible" new distributor or ecu that may fix it.

I am not a mechanic but capable of this restoration. It has sat that long it requires complete new brake lines, pads and most likely disks. Am planning to do all the obvious like lower suspension, performance air filters, ignition lines, plugs, earthing kit, maybe wheels, respray and some body work. The car is completely standard. Really looking forward to this.

I do not want to start buying up the whole planet without knowing the most logical way forward in order to iliminate what could be wrong with the car. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

So where do i start?

Regards
Andy Wilson

Here's to us...not many like us....damn few left!

[Ryan]

Start with the distributor. Try a known working unit from a friend, or find a scrap yard with a return policy. Or, post a WTB, if you have the posts. If not, just ask in this thread, someone might find you.

Make sure you ask for the right code ex: T0T57171


Ths distributor is very often the cause of slow death, or not starting when warm....


Since she's a project, may as well do cap and rotor, plugs, wires, valvecover gaskets, and all the other baisic tuneup stuff.

[Ryan]

Shame on me.

[umcamara]

Or, post a WTB, if you have the posts.

No post requirement in WTB.

[umcamara]

How did your post go above mine? Greedy a-hole...

Or are you so intelligent that you posted a preemptive reply to a future post of mine?

[Ryan]

I honestly have NO idea. So weird.

[kiwimx3]

This might sound like cheating but go and buy the chiltons mannual for this car..

however on the distrubutor side, kicking around this site is how to wire in the later
model distrubutor that will run a external coil without modifing the distrubutor cap..

check the basics fuel,fire and air...

[andywilson24]

Guy's thanks for the input.

Have valve covers off and cleaning. Plug ports 3 & 5 half full of oil. Really getting to work on this baby. At present I am doing covers and gaskets, performance plugs and lines, grounding kit, water pump + engine flush, timing belt, new dissy, air induction kit, fuel filter, then trying to start the thing.

If it starts... then oil pump and filter. After that, brake lines, pads, calipers, discs, wheels, exhaust, maybe wee body kit and respray. Hows that sound?

Have i missed anything?

Look forward to hearing from you

Here's to us...not many like us...damn few left!

[Ryan]

IF you have plans to replace the oil pump, then do it when you're doing timing belt. Otherwise you need to strip it all down again.. and if you're going oil pump, you're going ot need to remove the oil pan(or at least you do in the I4's) and you'll need main and rear seals, make another oil pan gasket, and while you're down there you may as well do rings and bearings....


Haha.

Just don't replace the oil pump. They don't really go bad.

[pattheriault]

should buy a cheap DE to do all this work and then swap it in the car..

[andywilson24]

ok guys, so here it is.

Stripped the engine as far as the head. Polished the rocker covers and manifold. Replaced all the belts, serviced the pulleys, set the timing. Cleaned the engine bay, flushed out the system replaced the water pump, thermo, gasket and inlet pipe. resealed and new gaskets on valve covers and manifold. Put in NRG earthing kit. New dissy, peformance ht leads and performance plugs. Some dressing up of the engine bay, Universal cold air intake.

Turned the key on New Years Day and wow. Started first time!

I was jumping around the garage like a dog with 2 d**ks!

Onwards and upwards as they say. Now starting on the brakes, exhaust (wana split the twin to either side), springs and wheels.

Thanks for all your help guys thus far.
Andy

[fowljesse]

Congratulations!
Maybe you can meet up with Marcdh. He's in N. Ireland, too.
May the road rise to meet you, and such