EO2K contemplates the universe, his rotrex, and why they both fail
11-28-2012, 08:33 PM
#165
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I'd have to get some actual native califonians to bless it for me, but Father Junipero Serra killed all of them most of them off decades ago with his AIDS blankets.
Girlfriend has declared she is 1/16th Cherokee and can therefore decursed 1/16th of the car. The problem now is... what 1/16th?
Girlfriend has declared she is 1/16th Cherokee and can therefore decursed 1/16th of the car. The problem now is... what 1/16th?
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11-29-2012, 01:25 PM
#167
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So I got the car running again last night within about 20 minutes of getting it home. Turns out it was the ENGINE 15a fuse. When that thing goes, everything dies. Replace the fuse, go on with life, right?
I was heading into work this morning and the car died AGAIN. Once more, ENGINE fuse. I stole one of the headlight fuses and got to the office, but now I'm freaking out.
What do? Step 1: Search NOOB!
https://www.miataturbo.net/general-m...ne-fuse-36695/
and I see this:
This appears to be the WORST POSSIBLE FUSE EVER to troubleshoot. Literally EVERYTHING engine related runs off this fuse. I'll save you some reading, turns out jeff_man was grounding out a rear O2 sensor. I'm back to 99% stock right now and when I did my 01+ header install, I had to relocate my rear O2 sensor to behind the cat. I reinstalled the factory midpipe this last weekend and I've never liked how close the end of the O2 sensor and wiring ended up is to the tunnel so I may look into this tonight if its not raining.
The only commonality I can see on this is that both times the fuse popped I was throttling up after/through a turn. One was a left, one was a right. Something is loose, I just need to find it.
/sigh
I was heading into work this morning and the car died AGAIN. Once more, ENGINE fuse. I stole one of the headlight fuses and got to the office, but now I'm freaking out.
What do? Step 1: Search NOOB!
https://www.miataturbo.net/general-m...ne-fuse-36695/
and I see this:
The engine fuse feeds the triggers for stuff like the fuel pump relay and main relay. The page that's labeled "power distribution" will point you in the right direction - trace the wiring from the key to the Engine fuse, and then trace it on to the stuff it powers. I know it does the cooling fans as well, but I'm not sure about anything else (because my car doesn't have anything else).
The only commonality I can see on this is that both times the fuse popped I was throttling up after/through a turn. One was a left, one was a right. Something is loose, I just need to find it.
/sigh
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11-29-2012, 06:13 PM
#168
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Madracki only goes through 2000, but it will get you started.
http://www.madracki.com/miata/images/wiring/00sys.pdf
http://www.madracki.com/miata/images/wiring/00sys.pdf
- Power for switch side of Main Relay
- Power for ignition coils
- Power for front O2 sensor heater
- Power for rear O2 sensor heater
Andrew mentioned in his post that the "Power Distribution" page included a bunch of other stuff. That page notes:
- Cooling Fans
- Air Conditioning
- Engine Controls
- Computer Data Lines
- Supplemental Restraints
Cooling Fans is the switching side of both the Main Fan and Condenser Fan relays, so very little load. I'm doubting its either of these relays unless they are somehow internally grounded, but I'll reserve judgement until I check them.
Air Conditioning shows the same as the Cooling Fans
Engine Controls is I believe the above listed O2 sensor heaters, coils and switching side of the Main Relay. The sensors and coils would be significant loads, the Main Relay not so much.
Computer Data Lines shows a direct link from the fuse to the "DATA LINK CONNECTOR +B" located under the hood. Bleh. I need to dig through this more and figure out what is on the other side of that connector.
Supplemental Restraints control module source is definitely on the ENGINE fuse, but I can't find an internal diagram for the module so I can't say what direct loads it sees.
I hate wiring.
I realized that from a cold start, I made it a total of 3 and 3.5 miles (2 miles of which was highway each time) before the fuse went and the car died. Each time I came off the highway, stopped at a stop sign or light, and then took off and throttled up before it crapped out. Maybe it is a cooling fan relay?
I'm going to check that O2 sensor tonight, then move to the cooling fan circuits, then reevaluate.
Last edited by EO2K; 11-29-2012 at 07:25 PM.
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11-29-2012, 07:11 PM
#169
I realized that from a cold start, I made it a total of 3 and 3.5 miles (2 miles of which was highway each time) before the fuse went and the car died. Each time I came off the highway, stopped at a stop sign or light, and then took off and throttled up before it crapped out. Maybe it is a cooling fan relay?
I'm going to check that O2 sensor tonight, then move to the cooling fan circuits, then reevaluate.
I'm going to check that O2 sensor tonight, then move to the cooling fan circuits, then reevaluate.
Exhaust gets hot, melts wire. You pull on things trying to find problem and pull the O2 harness off the exhaust. Replace fuse, things work but new part of O2 harness is on exhaust. Repeat.
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11-29-2012, 07:14 PM
#170
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Lol, I just need to make it home tonight! The only other 15A fuse I can steal is for the other headlight, that ain't gonna work 
Actually, I may unplug the rear O2 sensor on the way home to get fuses tonight and see what happens, other than a CEL.
But your right, we had the midpipe out twice and I complained/expressed concern about the rear O2 sensor wiring both times. There is very little clearance around where that rear sensor lives. I need to look around for a NB2 midpipe so I can check placement/angle of the bung. I'd hate to think this is my fault
Actually, I may unplug the rear O2 sensor on the way But your right, we had the midpipe out twice and I complained/expressed concern about the rear O2 sensor wiring both times. There is very little clearance around where that rear sensor lives. I need to look around for a NB2 midpipe so I can check placement/angle of the bung. I'd hate to think this is my fault
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11-30-2012, 08:48 PM
#171
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This felt appropriate today 
Car seems to be working fine now that I've unplugged the rear O2 sensor, other than the CEL. I just need to wait for it to stop raining so I can get motivated enough to crawl under the car and fix it.
Car seems to be working fine now that I've unplugged the rear O2 sensor, other than the CEL. I just need to wait for it to stop raining so I can get motivated enough to crawl under the car and fix it.
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12-17-2012, 01:13 PM
#172
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My car is completely back to stock, yet the crazy old Asian dude who has smogged my vehicles for YEARS refused to hook up my car because of the 2 plugged oil lines for the Rotrex that are hanging out on the drivers side of the engine compartment.
Him: What this? (points at oil lines)
Me: They are oil lines, I'm not using them any more, just ignore them.
Him: No smog. I do not know what this is.
Me: They are just old oil lines for a power steering cooler, they aren't even hooked up.
Him: No, I do not know what this is.
Me: Check them out, they aren't even hooked up to the engine.
Him: No, I do not know what this is.
Me: So, you aren't going to smog my car?
Him: No, I do not know what this is. Please go, thank you.
Me: If I remove them and come back can we get this done today?
Him: No. Please take somewhere else. Thank you.
Him: What this? (points at oil lines)
Me: They are oil lines, I'm not using them any more, just ignore them.
Him: No smog. I do not know what this is.
Me: They are just old oil lines for a power steering cooler, they aren't even hooked up.
Him: No, I do not know what this is.
Me: Check them out, they aren't even hooked up to the engine.
Him: No, I do not know what this is.
Me: So, you aren't going to smog my car?
Him: No, I do not know what this is. Please go, thank you.
Me: If I remove them and come back can we get this done today?
Him: No. Please take somewhere else. Thank you.
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12-19-2012, 12:24 PM
#177
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I'd take a safety inspection every 6 months over what I deal with now.
I ripped the nose off the car last night in 40° drizzle (mah nizzle) and returned everything on the front of the car to stock. All the oil system parts are off the car, except the heat exchanger itself. I looped the lines on it because I was cold and tired. Trying to decide if I want to tackle the exhaust tonight and put the cast iron boat anchor back on.
I'll try to get pics of my intercooler setup posted eventually.
I ripped the nose off the car last night in 40° drizzle (mah nizzle) and returned everything on the front of the car to stock. All the oil system parts are off the car, except the heat exchanger itself. I looped the lines on it because I was cold and tired. Trying to decide if I want to tackle the exhaust tonight and put the cast iron boat anchor back on.
I'll try to get pics of my intercooler setup posted eventually.
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