DFW Engine Woes
 

So a bit of back story for those of you not in the know...

So way back during christmas break/vacation my car got left outside during our big snow/freeze while I was on vacation. When I got back I had problems with starting/engine noises. I had the coils/wires replaced and that fixed the engine noise issue (spark plugs were relatively new at about 6 months old). However, the poor starting issue persisted.

I recently took the car in for an oil change/new tires and told my service consultant about the persistant poor starting issue. He didnt think it was the starter despite there being a TSB out on it because he's replaced so few of them. On a hunch, he instead entered "customer reports lack of power" and had the techs run the lack of power tsb which basically got me a free decarb and a compression test.

The compression test numbers were a bit low, but within spec, 6.2, 6.5, 6.7. He submitted the results to MazTech and was told an engine would be shipped within a week in a half (this was as of Monday). As most of you know the state meet is on the 30th so you can start to the see the delima I am in. I was told by the dealership that there wasnt a break in peroid. After reading Wayne's thread and showing it to the dealer and being told I should trust you guys more than them, I no longer have confidence in that answer.

Tuesday while under heavy accleration the clutch started to vibrate strongly until I shifted. The check engine light came on afterward, but did not experiance any further issues. Talking to my consultant today he said it sounds like a rotor missfire.

So now I have the following options:
1. Get the engine replaced a day before the state meet and do a 400mile break in down to SA and hope thats good enough
2. Keep the current engine/problems and run the meet on it
3. Not drive the car at all

What sayest the forum?

When my motor went bad, it became undriveable. I wouldn't wish that upon you when you are far from home.

Agree on replacing it. One thing to keep in mind (not sure if you read all of the break-in) is you'll need to vary your speed instead of cruise controlling it down.

Just make sure they can get it done in time for the meet. Maybe you can get a few extra miles on it before then.

i would say get the engine replaced, but can you be sure they will have it ready on time?

most of the locals that have had their engines replaced have had to wait a couple of weeks

Wow it is cutting it close to make it to the meet. We had the motor replaced in the LY and the week and a half for the replacement to arrive at the dealer was about the same time it took. Then the service consultant said 2 days to actually replace it. He said most dealerships have done enough replacements to get it down to a day and a half. So seems like timing will be the issue. I would not drive it as is to the meet. If it is ready in time then bring it. If not ride with one of your DFW peeps.

Well my consultant said he could do it in a day. They've been pretty professional and speedy in everything else I've used them for, so I have no reason to believe otherwise.

If its not done in time then I get to ride with the A+ group and get some amazaing footage (I hope) of the meet.

They did mention a rental but I highly doubt it would be an 8 :(

The crappy thing about this is that its looking less and less likely that I will be driving the meet either way, and that has me considerably depressed. I put this thing on as much as for myself as for the rest of you... :(

let them replace the motor and hope that they have it finished by the time for the state meet. also hope they dont drag it out to 6 and a half weeks like mine.

What dealership did you go to?

saw before you were using Classic in Denton.
...for what it's worth, when I had my earlier problems TNM did take about a week fo get the new engine, but once here they did have it in the next day.

...of course that didn't solve my starting issues either....

Yeah, but your starting issues where ALOT worse than mine. I've never been stranded and never had the car not start....

when classic replaced mine, the biggest wait was for MNA to ship em the motor, which was three days I think. Once they had it, the install was done in a day or two at the max.

And I think the entire A+ group is running without copilots so far, lol.

Wait, are you not going, or is your wife not going?!

That break in will be fine man. Drive the 400 miles, come by the house, we will change your oil (double change), and you will be good to go. Just premix 1oz/gallon. Break in is not exact science and many manufactures do not have break in periods anymore. Both of my previous motors were broken in properly and it didn't help them last any longer than normal.

Hell order the SOHN adapter and we will slap that MF on too. This is a good thing, you will start the meet with a fresh engine, fresh coolant, and fresh oil :)

i brought it to hiley in arlington (biggest mistake ever) i dont recommend anyone ever let them touch your car. they have crappy service advisors that dont return phone calls or call to ask you questions.

then theres the fact that they broke almost as much as they fixed. since i got my car back i have replaced the cracked radiator, replaced the coolant reservoir, put gaskets through the entire exhaust system(they forgot to install them when putting the manifold on and the midpipe back in), and replace missing nuts from my front sway bar endlinks.

Get your engine replaced and ride with Creto...

we can change your oil before or after dinner...... we have the tools.....

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/...388e71ef_b.jpg

i love the shop lights

don't let the techs be lazy on u... i held the shop record when i was at mazda... from the first bolt i touched when i pulled it in with the bad motor to the first start on the new motor....... 4 hrs 13 mins and 23 secs..... it can be done......

Damn.... That's crazy... Lol hell just buy a new engine and let Brian install it :)

yeah .. ha ha...but remember i had a lift to work on.... it changes things when u do it on the ground

i can get you a lift brian

why would he buy a motor out of his own pocket and then pay me to put it in when he can get a free one.... dont sweat the lift to much there jew boy if that purple frog paid any attention at all while he was in that crappy school he can (i hope) figure that one out.....

Ok there are some things I think I need to clear up.

1. I didnt need to go to TCU. College is a waste of time and resources for what I currently do. However, that being said going to TCU DOES open up doors for me that going somewhere else, or not going at all would not have. Marketability is important in today's competitive job market.
2. I would never pay for something I could get for free.
3. Only I get to bash the crapoiness of TCU. Think of it like family, you give your brother/sister hell but if someone else starts shit its game on.

Hey Nick... u were right... he does get butt hurt really easy....

Meh, thats why I've got a lot of those medicated wipes...

You never said anything about if you thought it was a missfire or not when my clutch started vibrating like crazy...