the guy with the problem with the cone intake filter

wepeo · Post by **wepeo** » February 17th, 2006, 3:49 pm

hey guys!! Thanks for having these forums. Lots of good info here. I have a 92 mx-3 v6. to the best of my knowledge, its all stock. I mentioned in a different thread that I had a problem with installing a cone style filter and my car idled weired and when i accelerated, i noticed an increase in the amount of pull but it was intermittant at best. So i reinstalled the factory air box and things went back to normal. I tried looking for a leak like one guy said but I couldnt find one. I disconnected the battery (while the cone air filterwas installed) to reset the computer and no difference. One of you guys said that i shouldnt have to do that but i did anyway. Was I suppose to change the MAF or do a rain dance? I dunno. I'm just getting started on trying to upgrade my car a little at a time. Anyhow, does anyone have any info for me?

wepeo · Post by **wepeo** » February 17th, 2006, 4:34 pm

btw, I tried the wd-40 method to check for leaks and visual inspection.

wepeo · Post by **wepeo** » February 17th, 2006, 6:20 pm

ok..ok..damit...My problem is still there. This is the situation for me as far as my car goes. I recently did a tune up (more or less) for my car. I bought bosch platnium plugs and installed them. The owners manual say that the gap should be .043 +- .004 . They were pre gapped to .038. So i left them. I cracked the car up and ran it after I did that. The car ran fine (with a noticable power increase). then I changed the oil. nothing went wrong there either. Then I installed the air filter tight onto the MAF. At first, I noticed a really nice throttle response increase, then as I was driving it the next day, I started noticing the sparatic throttle decrease and increase. So I drove it for the next couple of days trying to figure out the problem and I though I did when I reinstalled the factory air box, but again, the problem is still there... Im guessing that the MAF has been damaged and for me. thats an expensive upgrade cuz I hate to just get a factory replacment. then need an upgrade shortly down the road. Any suggestions?

den · Post by **den** » February 17th, 2006, 10:05 pm

What do you mean by weird idle? Is it too high or too low?

wepeo · Post by **wepeo** » February 18th, 2006, 9:49 am

well, its not just the idle. What i mean is that it it bounces between 500 and 750 rpm. when im driving it, there is a fluctuation in power gain and loss. intermittant at best. happens thru all gears, and all or any point thru the power band.

wepeo · Post by **wepeo** » February 18th, 2006, 9:51 am

2day, im going to regap my plugs to see if thats the problem. the more i think about it, the more it sounds like an ingnition problem.

MOSES · Post by **MOSES** » February 18th, 2006, 10:29 am

I dont believe gapping your plugs will fix you Intermitting power loss, but would be a good idea to check the condition of them if it hasnt been done in awhile.
MANY MANY people have the same idle problems on this site, try searching. Use the word "idle" or "fluctuating" as a key.
Youll find alot of info on things to check and things to fix, good luck.

wepeo · Post by **wepeo** » February 19th, 2006, 2:15 pm

Thanks, you were right. It wasnt the plugs. but in checking them out, I understood my symptom better. Seems the power loss thing happens only after the engine reaches operating temp. I'll seach the forums for answers.

max kl · Post by **max kl** » February 19th, 2006, 3:35 pm

i have to wonder if the filter clamp or filter body is hindering vaf plunger movement . or a cracked vaf body being warped by ur filter clamp squeezing the vaf out of shape

MOSES · Post by **MOSES** » February 19th, 2006, 5:16 pm

I do believe there is a senser that would cause these symptoms.
You try pulling codes?

water temp senser or,
thermosenser.
try searching these!

Can anyone back me up on this?

jschrauwen · Post by **jschrauwen** » February 19th, 2006, 8:29 pm

Are you still running the original oem plug wires? Verify that the wires and the plastic insulators that slip into the VC's are not shorting anywhere. A spray misting water bottle can help there as well as testing each and every plug wire with the spark plug still attached and setting the plastic insulator and plug on top of a flay grounded surface in the engine bay. Look for any arcing through the wire or plastic insulator and that there is adequate spark jumping from the electrode.
CAI - Not a good practice to attach a cone filter right onto the end of the VAF. First off you may have cracked the plastic casing on the VAF, OR as max kl mentioned you may have distorted the free movement of the plunger reostat inside the VAF, which may necessitate a replacement VAF (from the buy and sell or junkyard). Doa search on "CAI". There's tons of posts with pics to clearly illustrate a more effective method of installing an after market filter. It must be routed to an area of cool dead air and not permitted to just sit exposed to the heat of the engine bay. If it were me, I'd return to the oem airbox with a clean filter in it and start whittling away and other potential problem areas. The oem airbox fitted with a K&N replacement filter will give you sufficiant breathing and linear power/throttle response too. FWIW.

MOSES · Post by **MOSES** » February 19th, 2006, 9:09 pm

wepeo wrote: Seems the power loss thing happens only after the engine reaches operating temp.

so this is not a senser problem? my bad dog...

wepeo · Post by **wepeo** » February 20th, 2006, 9:48 am

I was thinking of getting nology wires. I know they have a lifetime warranty, but other than that, do you guys think this is a nice functional upgrade?
http://www.nopionline.com/nopistore/dsp ... X-3%201992

jschrauwen · Post by **jschrauwen** » February 20th, 2006, 11:25 am

Is shopping for new wires an indication that you have found the source of your idle issues?
A search will indicate what are the more popular, most efficient, most economical brand names and types of plug wires.

wepeo · Post by **wepeo** » February 20th, 2006, 11:41 am

lol no. At this point, im part swapping. Though, I pulled individual plug wires loose with the engine running and noticed huge differences in idle with the exception of one with only a slight difference in idle. As I looked to see if spark was getting thru the end of the wire and it was. I bought new plugs so at this point im assuming (dont worry i no the whole
a-- u m e thing) the plugs are good. I have swapped positions with the plugs and cylinder and didnt find anything there. B4 i buy plug wires, I'll do the check like u said previously.