Differences of opinions on How to Fix the MSP Hesitation

[oh3speed]

Hey guys i have checked this site high and far and i have seen many different opinions from different people as to how to get rid of the MSP hesitation. When i give my car more than half throttle it feels as if I'm hitting a brick wall and its very frustrating.

Now I have heard many times over that getting the Unichip will help eliminate the hesitation completely. But since it does cost $900 I am kind of hesitant to just go out and buy it because i want to see what other Options there are.

One guy told me that the EGR Valves are what causes the problem because our car runs so rich they get clogged. He said it was a factory fix that is covered under warranty. Has anyone else had this done to correct it?

I just want to fix this problem once and for all and see the best way to rid my car of my worries of pushing down the throttle more than half way.

Thank you and Reply away (attn)

[MSP Kirk]

Move your MAF to the pressure side.. that helps a bit.

[oh3speed]

Move your MAF to the pressure side.. that helps a bit.

Im trying to completely get rid of it tho... I already have the Joep FPR and that helped but only in the first 2 gears when launching.

[Earful]

Is your PCM flashed?

[oh3speed]

Is your PCM flashed?

No i hear bad things about the flash and would much rather try and fix it without the flash.

[yashart_mp3]

Unichip EMS and 626 intake manifold = no hesitation

[oh3speed]

Unichip EMS and 626 intake manifold = no hesitation

I have a cold air intake... but is there any other way to fix it without spending $900 on a unichip? Like does anyone know anything about the EGR Valves bein replaced fixing it?

[sic77]

i just got mine flashed today at the mazda dealership and so good so far. as soon as they got through we took it down the road and zero hesitation all i have done to mine so far is the cai and joeP bc.

[RenzoMSP]

Check the boards for sale section. Plenty of unichips. I bought mine for 650 new.

[MSpeed2397]

You could also get bigger injectors and a different EMS than unichip such as the AFC from DSMConvert. That would run you around $500 total seeing as there are used injectors for sale in the FS forum.

[Earful]

Lots o folks still running JoeP stuff.....Awesome!

[BOOSTR]

Yea, the flash sucks ass. I would much rather prefer to drive the car, mash the accelerator and not go anywhere. Especially when merging into oncoming traffic on the interstate. I wanted to choke my salesman after experiencing the flash for the first time and then the service manager after he said, "Mazda is aware of the problem but has no fix".

Its a simple choice to me, either man up and drop up to $1000 on ems and other parts needed to attempt to cure hesitation or drive into to Mazda for a FREE flash.

[Velocifero]

Do you know anything about circuitry? Megasquirt can be full stand alone or fuel controlling piggy back and you can do that for $250, but you have to put it together yourself, for more money they can assemble it for you. You won't regret it. I had my car flashed when I first got it and it did make it smoother to drive, I wouldn't say I regret it.

[msp35]

Megasquirt, DSM's AFC, MPI, Unichip, Emanage, Haltech.
Any of the above will cure mazda's shitty tuning. It just depends on how much you want to pay and what your goals are.

[Chiguy_2002]

When I had my MSP, I got it flashed, and it ran much much smoother without hesitation for a while. I few months later, it started hesistating again. I don't think the weather changed so much to cause that. I am not sure what happened.

[loserkidwac]

Well my experience is only post-reflash since i bought the car used and it was already done...the only thing I did was clean the EGR, which i don't think had anything to do with hesitation, i don't remeber but there was a write up on here about it, i believe it was to prevent hard starts or choking out...and then i went with some 2 step hotter Denso iridium plugs which run about $11 each, they made a huge difference but there was still a slight hesitation and now I think they may have fouled out and for the price I wouldn't get them again...I think after doing research a standalone or piggy back EMS is the only real solution, I have talked with DSM about his AFC and honestly it seems to be a good product and well worth the price and you just need to get the AFC and you should be able to clean up the the pig rich fuel map and make the car run properly...

[oh3speed]

Yea, the flash sucks ass. I would much rather prefer to drive the car, mash the accelerator and not go anywhere. Especially when merging into oncoming traffic on the interstate. I wanted to choke my salesman after experiencing the flash for the first time and then the service manager after he said, "Mazda is aware of the problem but has no fix".

Its a simple choice to me, either man up and drop up to $1000 on ems and other parts needed to attempt to cure hesitation or drive into to Mazda for a FREE flash.

Wait you wanted to choke them after experiencing the flash? The flash is supposed to be the fix for the problem. Why would they tell you mazda is aware of the problem but has no fix, if the flash is the supposed sollution to the problem?

And obviously the Flash seems like a better choice just because it's free but i have heard different opinions on if the flash really is worth doing it or not.

[oh3speed]

Well my experience is only post-reflash since i bought the car used and it was already done...the only thing I did was clean the EGR, which i don't think had anything to do with hesitation, i don't remeber but there was a write up on here about it, i believe it was to prevent hard starts or choking out...and then i went with some 2 step hotter Denso iridium plugs which run about $11 each, they made a huge difference but there was still a slight hesitation and now I think they may have fouled out and for the price I wouldn't get them again...I think after doing research a standalone or piggy back EMS is the only real solution, I have talked with DSM about his AFC and honestly it seems to be a good product and well worth the price and you just need to get the AFC and you should be able to clean up the the pig rich fuel map and make the car run properly...

That sounds good but im not sure who DSM is. And what is the AFC?

[Boosted03MSP]

Why did you go 2 steps hotter? Did you mean colder plugs?

[kamon8404]

I am running the DSM AFC v1, and I won't ever go back! It cost me about 260 shipped to my door. Its only about 6 wires and one vac line. Installation took all of 20 mins. Go to www.airflowlogistics.com and get out the site. Or go the MSP marketplace where he is holding a BG as we speak. My favorite mod, and I refuse to run my car without it now. Plus you save on gas milage, win win all the way around if you ask me. If you have any other questions please feel free to PM me.

[oh3speed]

Has anyone else used the DSM AFC? bc it seems like a really good deal and seems like the best option without flashing our cars to cure hesitation for good.

[Fudgie]

Lots of people including myself. Its a great bang for the buck.

[BOOSTR]

I was being sarcastic about the flash. While not a perfect solution, it does seem to make the car more enjoyable to drive. At least that is my experience as it no longer seems to lose power like it did pre-flash.

[Earful]

Lots of people including myself. Its a great bang for the buck.

Ditto....+ Flash....= no hesitation.

[oh3speed]

Ditto....+ Flash....= no hesitation.

Does my car need the flash with the DSM AFC because it supposedly gets rid of it without the flash according to the site... I really dont want to flash my car (obviously)

[Earful]

I guess there is controversy surrounding the flash. I did it because Mazda recommends it, and before my EMS, it helped the hesitation.

[Knox Joe]

I just bought a DSM AFC today. Should be here soon.

My mods are K&N drop in, and TH SMIC. Oh, and un-flashed.

Will I need to get this tuned?

[atticus1398]

Why are you so anti flash?
Flash just moves the timing a little. Ive seen nothing wrong with it. I know one thing: I havent hesitated in 2 yrs since I got it flashed. Then I added a Unichip and have been boosting 12psi for almost 2 yrs on a stock block.

[oh3speed]

Why are you so anti flash?
Flash just moves the timing a little. Ive seen nothing wrong with it. I know one thing: I havent hesitated in 2 yrs since I got it flashed. Then I added a Unichip and have been boosting 12psi for almost 2 yrs on a stock block.

Idk i have just seen many people say they wish they hadn't gotten it done and its irreversible. So i don't want to have it done and regret it for watever reason. I guess its just a matter of opinion but i just think its something id rather avoid while ridding my car of hesitation.

[oh3speed]

I just bought a DSM AFC today. Should be here soon.

My mods are K&N drop in, and TH SMIC. Oh, and un-flashed.

Will I need to get this tuned?

If you look at the site where they sell it, it should just be able to be wired in and you should be set. Choose a map you want according to your boost and that should be it.

How much did you get it for, if you didnt get it from the site?

[JDM Sam]

Get a Unichip with my tune.

[Earful]

Get a Unichip with my tune.

Yep...that'll work too.....

[Blake]

I have a unichip that I would like to get rid of if your intrested. Im looking into going standalone. 650+Shipping (split)

[Knox Joe]

If you look at the site where they sell it, it should just be able to be wired in and you should be set. Choose a map you want according to your boost and that should be it.

How much did you get it for, if you didnt get it from the site?

I got it from a member for $218.80 shipped overnight.

Is there a switch or something to choose the maps?

[SHUEY33]

im gonna go to the dealership and get mine flashed asap!!
is this free?? or what should i tell them to make sure its under warranty or somethin??

[SHUEY33]

im gonna go to the dealership and get mine flashed asap!!
is this free?? or what should i tell them to make sure its under warranty or somethin??

[oh3speed]

im gonna go to the dealership and get mine flashed asap!!
is this free?? or what should i tell them to make sure its under warranty or somethin??

Yes its free and under warranty. Id assume you could just tell them your problem and that you want to get your ecu flashed, but i really dont know bc i havent had it done as you can tell from this thread lol

[Velocifero]

im gonna go to the dealership and get mine flashed asap!!
is this free?? or what should i tell them to make sure its under warranty or somethin??
it's free

[ChopstickHero]

pickup a used Unichip. i see them going for like $600 on this forum.

[SHUEY33]

and is the unichip installation easy?? or should i get it installed somewhere?

[JDM Sam]

It's easy. Just the metal plate covering it is sharp, so you should wear some gloves.

[jmv]

personally i hope to eventually get the unichip, and a JDM Sam tune. The DSM AFC is tempting simply because of the price, but i know that a Sam tune on the car can make it pretty damn fast.

[JDM Sam]

Timing control is the added benefit.

[oh3speed]

personally i hope to eventually get the unichip, and a JDM Sam tune. The DSM AFC is tempting simply because of the price, but i know that a Sam tune on the car can make it pretty damn fast.

What is a Sam Tune? I dont think i have ever heard of it.

[jmv]

haha, well that guy who posted right above you, JDM Sam, is an authorized unichip dealer, and will tune your unichip to make it substantially better than the stock map (which is substantially better than the stock ECU tune). When i say 'a sam tune', i just mean having him tweak the fuel and timing to make the most power out of it (the hesitation would be completely gone too). Obviously the AFC is a cheaper route if your single goal is to rid yourself of hesitation, but if you drop the money on a unichip and have sam hook you up, you'll have no hesitation, but be running faster.

Not to say you couldn't get an electronic boost controller paired with a well tuned AFC and be fast, but if it were coming down to that much money i'd rather go with something thats plug and play and controls timing.

[Blake]

I put down 220+, Im willing to let my Unichip go for 600 /w stock map.

[jmv]

any other mods besides the unichip??

btw, PM sent blake

[sandspeed]

I put down 220+ with a sam tune, Im willing to let my Unichip go for 600 /w stock map. With the sam tune it will be 700 + Split shipping.
Nice...I put down about the same myself. How much boost were you running on the dyno? 9psi or 10psi?

[Blake]

I was running 10 spike 12 with a AEM Tru-Boost Controller. Full Exhaust(No Cats No Res) Intake, HardPipes, Stock Sidemount.

[SHUEY33]

ok you all lost me with this unichip stuff... i dont even know where it is on the car...anyone got pics of it?

[jmv]

Well its an aftermarket part. It controls the Fuel delivery and the timing, as a piggyback computer, instead of just letting the ECU do it (mazda's tune is fairly crappy, so alot of power is to be had from getting a better tune of the fuel and timing). It also has a boost controller.

[SHUEY33]

alright i get it now... and the installation is easy??? any one have pics of where this is located to be able to switch it out... and also.. i heard that pushin to much boost through the MSP is bad because the Rods are bad.. i think i read that once you get over like 8 psi on your stock engine you can break the rods.....thats why i didnt get a BOV with boost control.. im lookin for just a regular BOV so i dont blow my rods

[jmv]

Well, its plug and play so installation is pretty simple. There are some switches to be able to switch the boost and the tuning map. It can be tuned for lower boost, or you can just leave the boost controller un-hooked up, although the general concensus is that 10 psi is okay so long as you have EMS (engine management system, thats what the unichip is).

[kamon8404]

damn this makes me want to buy a unichip with a jdm sam tune!

[oh3speed]

damn this makes me want to buy a unichip with a jdm sam tune!

Yea from wat i hear its def. a huge improvement esp considering it gets rid of hesitation. I plan on getting one as soon as im sure i have the money. The holidays are gonna kill my wallet

[StreetUnit]

this is a great thread

[Blake]

(ughdance)

[oh3speed]

this is a great thread

I just want to not only help myself but also help any other new MSP owners who are frustrated with finding a way to fix the Hesitation. (first)

[BOOSTR]

Hopefully you have a few directions to go in. :)

[oh3speed]

If anyone else is selling a Unichip send me a PM. Looking for a used one. Thanks

[ChopstickHero]

alright i get it now... and the installation is easy??? any one have pics of where this is located to be able to switch it out... and also.. i heard that pushin to much boost through the MSP is bad because the Rods are bad.. i think i read that once you get over like 8 psi on your stock engine you can break the rods.....thats why i didnt get a BOV with boost control.. im lookin for just a regular BOV so i dont blow my rods
http://images15.fotki.com/v234/photos/7/73230/2757908/IMG_8623-vi.jpg

http://images15.fotki.com/v168/photos/7/73230/2757908/IMG_8657-vi.jpg

http://images14.fotki.com/v220/photos/7/73230/2757908/IMG_8658-vi.jpg

it's fine to run higher boost on the unichip.... as the timing and a/f are adjusted/tuned. helps if you have some supporting mods too like fmic/smic and exhaust.

[SHUEY33]

thanks for those pics man ...so its behind the glovebox area or ... where is that area exactly at? sorry im just new to hookin up a car this way.. i was only used to graphics and systems and all that stuff.. thanks for all the help everyone