Question: I am getting a P0076 CEL and I was wondering if during the video this was one of the items removed...If not do you all know what this is?

CEL Details:

P0076 - Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Low (Bank 1)

Note: Car drives fine...Factory rebuilt with 8k miles

 

No

VDI Solenoid

 

I think I saw another thread where you talked about this but in that thread it mentioned throwing a different CEL...I think it started with a 2 which is completely different code than the P0076 code I recieved. Not saying your wrong I just wanted to be certain it's the VDI like you stated.

 

Not being at your car to troubleshoot to the component level, I can only go by what you say and what the code is.
If your only code is 0076 than I see no reason to focus on anything else right now.
You are more than welcome to check the SSV if you like, I'm not going to stop you.
Service Manual states P0076 = VDI solenoid valve control circuit low

 

yes, and it also said "See DTC P0076"

if you waqnt to troubleshoot your car correctly then owning a proper Service Manual is a good start. The internet versions are early editions that have mistakes and omissions, so you need a paper version

 

Moral of the story get a service manual...thanks

 

Service manual is a great thing to have for any car.
Now the manual will give you a list of possibilities, but you still need to troubleshoot it down yourself.
I've already told you where to focus based on what you've told me thus far.

HINT: Even though this thread is for the SSV, you might find some useful information in the 1st post of this thread to get you started with your VDI solenoid troubleshooting.

 

This is exactly why I posted my question here to begin with. I had a feeling it was in the general vacinity. Thanks for the help!

 

P2070 code today, Car has 87k miles on it. here is what i found. Took about 3 hours to do start to finish, well knowledgeable in the mechanic field.

 

Crazy right! I did mine and I couldn't believe how much build up was there.

 

Has anyone ran into a P0661 fault? I have one now and this is no fun, I have the manual and there is no real clear place to start did the plugs reset them, clean them with electrical cleaner, but it just keeps coming and going this morning was good no fault and now it's back the only thing I can think of now is the PCM or some faulty wiring according to the manual anyone have any ideas.?

 

Since that code is for the solenoid, did you actually troubleshoot that to verify it isn't sticking/bad?

 

can't even search, verification would require a much greater ambition, thought process, and tools that aren't already provided for free

 

I have removed the SSV and cleaned it according to this thread.

When I hold it in my hands, I can operate it just fine, I push the lever and it springs right back into place.

When I bolt it into the LIM, the SSV completely jams and I can't budge the lever one bit. Does anyone lubricate the SSV itself? I see the service manual only mentions applying grease at the valve end of the VDI but nothing about lubricating the SSV..

I'm starting to wonder if I bent it a little bit when I removed it and if that's whats causing it to jam when I bolt it in. Really hoping I don't need to replace it.

Any tips are appreciated.

 

Did you check for burrs or nicks on the valve?
How does the housing/port look (where the valve goes)?
Is the bushing area clear of debris (in the rear of the port)?
Was the valve difficult to install/push in?
When you attempt to turn/move the valve, does it bind right away or does it turn a little before stopping?

 

Did you check for burrs or nicks on the valve? There are two small nicks but they don't seem big enough to stop it from moving

How does the housing/port look (where the valve goes)? Much cleaner than when I took it out. I sprayed it with carb cleaner after you recommended picking some up.
Is the bushing area clear of debris (in the rear of the port)? Yes.

Was the valve difficult to install/push in? Yes.

When you attempt to turn/move the valve, does it bind right away or does it turn a little before stopping? When it's all the way in, it binds right away. When it's halfway in or so, I can turn it a little bit.

When I was trying to get it out, before I picked up the carb cleaner, I gave it a couple taps with a hammer when it was about 1 inch out but it wouldn't budge any further. My only thought is that I must have bent it then.

 

Hard do say for sure what's going on without seeing the valve.
May not be ideal for you, but you can send the valve to me and I'll try it on my spare manifold and see if I can tell where its binding.

 

I greatly appreciate that offer and I just might have to end up doing that.

Just to confirm: it is NOT appropriate to lubricate the valve with anything, correct?

 

OK so I basically just did a dance around my house and my garage. I'll explain.

I easily spent 3 hours last night trying to get this thing to operate correctly. My conclusion is that I bent the SSV by hitting with a hammer trying to remove it when it was completely jammed with carbon/gunk. I did this by hitting toward me on the part that sticks out over the lip (close to the shorter bolt).

I was afraid to try and "bend it back" in fear of doing further damage to it. This morning I basically conceded that I might have to buy a new one (called some salvage yards, etc) and took the risk of hitting it with a hammer in the opposite direction in the same spot. Voila! Bolted in it behaves normally.

No need for any lubrication.

Thanks for all your help Jon. I think the LIM is easily the most difficult part of the engine to work on IMHO.

 

Jon316,

when car is neutral, can you rev the motor and watch the visible valves opening and closing? SSV and VDI?

Reason, i was watching as my GF was reving, and i did see the SSV opening and closing, but the VDI was not. (not sure if its a load that needs to be performed) but the valve moves freely by hand, and used a vac pump and it opens as well.

No CEL,
Very boggy under 4k Rpms,

 

is that actuator on the SSV supposed to spring back to where it was? in your videos where you were checking it seemed like it should and mine sure isn't, it's not very smooth to move either. took out the ssv to clean it (thought that was the problem) but while it was very dirty it didn't fix the problem. Right now the car is finally able to start again but it is still getting the P2070 and also now getting c0700 error codes. Is there somewhere I can find all the OBD2 error codes?

 

Yes... the actuator has a return spring.

Did you also clean inside the housing port?

Hard to say what is causing it over the internet.
Could be a worn return spring in the actuator, burrs on the valve, rough bearing/bushing.
When you had the valve out, could you hold the actuator and spin the valve without feeling roughness/binding?
How about removing the one bolt holding the actuator and spin the valve by hand to see if it still feels rough.
I can inspect the valve and actuator if I had it in my hands... otherwise, you'll have to narrow it down.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/rx-8-technical-info-cel-codes-pcm-pin-list-collision-guide-26291/

 

BTW...Slightly off topic...

Wanted to say thanks...I replaced all three solenoids and check engine light is gone. It appears when I got my new engine from Mazda the techs shoved everything back together and broke one of the solenoid tips (it broke off in the hose attached).

 

Well, was just trying to disassemble the whole thing again when I noticed it was moving freely again...so I find the actuator is working normally, and not sure how loose the SSV is supposed to be but it's not that bad when it's free from the actuator. So I tried to put it back together after seeing they are individually moving freely but once I get them in position with the bolts same thing again, wont spring to where it's supposed to...it's as if the angle of the actuator is screwing up the SSV or something.

Oh, and yes I tried to clean the inside housing as best as I could but I'm starting to think more crap is in there that is getting it stuck.

 

Its possible something got bent... like the connecting rod from the actuator to the valve.
r-enzyme posted above that he thought he bent something using a hammer (which I don't recommend), so its hard to tell.
I would inspect the valve and file down any burrs that might be present.
Make sure you got most of the build-up from within the port.
Worst comes to worse, you can always send me your valve & actuator and I can test it on my spare manifold to help narrow it down.