AutoEuphoria
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- '08 CPW Mazdaspeed 3
I bought my MS3 new in late '08. I loved the car at first...handled really good, power was nice, looked really good, and was still very practical.
However, once I started down the "modding" path (as I always do with cars...can't leave anything stock for long) the magic slowly started to fade. I soon found that these cars are nearly impossible to modify, at least in my experience. I don't know...maybe I'm the only one, but it just seems like no matter what I do I can't find a combination that works.
I originally just had a boost controller and tried setting it for just under the normal boost cut/fuel cut/whatever range. This worked ok, but I could never get any consistency from day to day. On my turbo Hondas I would set the controller for 15 psi and it would stay there no matter what. For some reason I could never get the same luck with the MS3. I'd set it for 16.5 or 17 and I'd run that for an afternoon, then it would go up to 19 at night (hitting fuel cut/KR/etc), then back to 13 the next day, etc.
So I added a Boost Cut Defender, but didn't have much luck with that. Saw AFRs that were just way too rich (like 9 or less). Safe, but all that extra gas was just choking out any extra power that could be made by running more boost.
Then I ditched that plan and went back to stock. I then added a downpipe and midpipe (both catless) BPV, and an intake. Then I started seeing the boost go above safe levels even on the stock tune (spiking past 20). I also noticed my fuel pressures were dangerously low, and was constantly getting KR.
I forked over the $600 for a Cobb AP, and had zero luck with that. I was using the OTS maps (v 1.02 and later 1.03 when they were released), but was still getting way more KR and boost than I felt was safe. Spiking and holding past 19-20 when the target was 17-18, still getting fuel/boost cut...still seeing low fuel pressures.
So I upgraded the fuel pump (that worked just fine...fixed the low pressures) and sold the AP. Back to the stock boost/tune. Got bored really fast. I switched back to the MBC route and went with a MAP clamp this time. That actually worked for a while, but still was seeing loads of KR in the higher gears, low AFRs (expected), stuttering, inconsistent boost, and generally running like s***.
I just recently took the MAP clamp, BPV and MBC off and am back to stock again. I'm having issues with the boost going all over the place, but I'm pretty sure that is just the ECU trying to recalibrate itself. If it doesn't, I'm just going to take the intake and exhaust off and go back to 100% stock
At this point I just don't know what to do. (sadbanana)
I'm not willing to spend $1k+ for a tuning solution when I don't even know of any tuners in my state, and I still don't know if that would even fix the problem.
And that's just the tuning issues. I've also had the constant creaks from the windshield area, the dash, the suspension, and the seatbelt. The seatbelt got so bad that I had to spray it with WD40 just to keep from going insane.
So anyway, long story...but anyone else disappointed in how difficult it is to modify this car and have it run right? What is up with all the overboosting, Knock Retard, low fuel pressures, gear-limited boost, throttle body that won't open all the way, etc?
Also, one final question...does anyone have any suggestions? I would hate to give up one of my only hobbies because the car I own doesn't respond well to mods, especially considering I'm basically stuck with it for a couple more years (due to the massive instant depreciation). I'm just not in the position to spend $1000 or more to attempt to fix the problem. Now, if I knew 100% that it would take care of everything then I would consider it, but every single product out there has both positive and negative reviews. Seems like with everything people either love it or hate it. I have not seen anything that has worked for 100% of the people who have tried it without causing any other issues.
However, once I started down the "modding" path (as I always do with cars...can't leave anything stock for long) the magic slowly started to fade. I soon found that these cars are nearly impossible to modify, at least in my experience. I don't know...maybe I'm the only one, but it just seems like no matter what I do I can't find a combination that works.
I originally just had a boost controller and tried setting it for just under the normal boost cut/fuel cut/whatever range. This worked ok, but I could never get any consistency from day to day. On my turbo Hondas I would set the controller for 15 psi and it would stay there no matter what. For some reason I could never get the same luck with the MS3. I'd set it for 16.5 or 17 and I'd run that for an afternoon, then it would go up to 19 at night (hitting fuel cut/KR/etc), then back to 13 the next day, etc.
So I added a Boost Cut Defender, but didn't have much luck with that. Saw AFRs that were just way too rich (like 9 or less). Safe, but all that extra gas was just choking out any extra power that could be made by running more boost.
Then I ditched that plan and went back to stock. I then added a downpipe and midpipe (both catless) BPV, and an intake. Then I started seeing the boost go above safe levels even on the stock tune (spiking past 20). I also noticed my fuel pressures were dangerously low, and was constantly getting KR.
I forked over the $600 for a Cobb AP, and had zero luck with that. I was using the OTS maps (v 1.02 and later 1.03 when they were released), but was still getting way more KR and boost than I felt was safe. Spiking and holding past 19-20 when the target was 17-18, still getting fuel/boost cut...still seeing low fuel pressures.
So I upgraded the fuel pump (that worked just fine...fixed the low pressures) and sold the AP. Back to the stock boost/tune. Got bored really fast. I switched back to the MBC route and went with a MAP clamp this time. That actually worked for a while, but still was seeing loads of KR in the higher gears, low AFRs (expected), stuttering, inconsistent boost, and generally running like s***.
I just recently took the MAP clamp, BPV and MBC off and am back to stock again. I'm having issues with the boost going all over the place, but I'm pretty sure that is just the ECU trying to recalibrate itself. If it doesn't, I'm just going to take the intake and exhaust off and go back to 100% stock
At this point I just don't know what to do. (sadbanana)
I'm not willing to spend $1k+ for a tuning solution when I don't even know of any tuners in my state, and I still don't know if that would even fix the problem.
And that's just the tuning issues. I've also had the constant creaks from the windshield area, the dash, the suspension, and the seatbelt. The seatbelt got so bad that I had to spray it with WD40 just to keep from going insane.
So anyway, long story...but anyone else disappointed in how difficult it is to modify this car and have it run right? What is up with all the overboosting, Knock Retard, low fuel pressures, gear-limited boost, throttle body that won't open all the way, etc?
Also, one final question...does anyone have any suggestions? I would hate to give up one of my only hobbies because the car I own doesn't respond well to mods, especially considering I'm basically stuck with it for a couple more years (due to the massive instant depreciation). I'm just not in the position to spend $1000 or more to attempt to fix the problem. Now, if I knew 100% that it would take care of everything then I would consider it, but every single product out there has both positive and negative reviews. Seems like with everything people either love it or hate it. I have not seen anything that has worked for 100% of the people who have tried it without causing any other issues.
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