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4 minute(s) of a 731 minute read
5-8-2017
April 2017:
Datalogging initiative didn't pay off. Yes, it works. I cleaned up the behind the dash wiring in the process. But it didn't lead me to a solution to my problem. I thought it was a long shot, but now I have the ability to log fuel pressure, MAP, and AFR with a single usb cable going forward.
The most (yet also least) likely scenario to my power issue is timing being off. When checking with a timing light, base timing seems to be 10* or so retarded, but I don't have a high tension lead so I'm using the ground wire from the PTU which gives less than perfectly consistent results. Two weekends ago I pulled the front end apart to reset timing. Before I removed the belt I set everything to TDC, removed the belt, and re-wrapped it using the reference lines on the timing belt. Right bank cams were both off by 1 tooth. Interesting. Put everything back together took it for a test drive and STILL low power
For those that are following along...yes, this is incredibly disheartening and at times it makes me question continuing to own a car like this. More on this later.
Verify timing again with timing light and still shows 10* retarded. This doesn't make any sense. My last resort is to adjust the CAS to set base timing manually. I've never had to adjust this in the 8 years I've owned the car. I dialed it forward and like magic the power is back and timing is reading 15* at hot idle. Perfect! But why? I am 100% certain I set timing correctly, I've done it a half dozen or so times now on this car and I've never done it incorrectly. It makes me a little nervous, but after a weekend of driving the car without any hiccups I'm pretty confident I got the right fix. Friday I was fortunate enough to have a half day off work with beautiful weather so I got the car buttoned up (interior was torn apart chasing a heater core hose leak) and went on a few test drives. Power was back to where it should be and no more coolant weeping under the dash. Don't hit two home runs very often, gotta enjoy it while I can.
Used the Z for all automotive related trips this weekend thanks to the beautiful weather. Sunday was the first Cars & Coffee of the year in Lake Mills and it was by far the biggest event in the 3-4 years I've been attending. Lots of fun and an unbelievable variety of cars. When things aren't going right, its really hard to find the willpower to stay motivated with the Z. BUT, when there are no (serious) issues and its a sunny Friday afternoon on the way home from work or a weekend on the way to disc golf with the wife its pretty much perfection. So, yes, in the end it is all worth it. After 9 years of ownership it still makes a 32 year old man-boy giggle like a schoolgirl.
To be fair. I'm not documenting the fun things I do with the car, unless they happen right after an issue. I've only been stranded twice in 8 years of ownership of a 27 year old turbocharged car with 156k miles on it. Plus if it was easy, everyone would have one and it wouldn't be nearly as special.
Crappy mandatory pic:
