Dammit, burnt coils again!
06-14-2004, 02:16 PM
#27
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Originally posted by Genom
Unfortunetly with my current money situation, what with my wedding getting closer every day, I doubt I'll have the funds for this anytime soon. We shall have to see.
Unfortunetly with my current money situation, what with my wedding getting closer every day, I doubt I'll have the funds for this anytime soon. We shall have to see.
06-14-2004, 02:21 PM
#28
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Originally posted by MazdaManiac
It would work in the same fashion as the MSD system I had installed for a while, only without the hassle of building a trigger circuit because the AEM understands the pulses from the RX-8 ECU and/or CZ/E-Manage.
The problem with the MSD was that it fired on the down side of the ignition pulse which caused the spark to be late and also it would miss a cycle every time the E-Manage advanced the ignition timing because the advanced pulse would overlap the trailing end of the proceeding pulse.
The AEM doesn't have this shortcoming.
Additionally, the AEM has two capacitors, so it can run the leading AND trailing plugs - the MSD couldn't do this and was only useful for the leading plugs.
The advantages would be:
1) no possibility of frying the coils
2) considerably more spark energy - potentially more power
3) longer spark at low RPMS - potentially more power and better fuel economy and possibly a better idle
The gains might be fairly small, but since 2 coils from Mazda are $130 or so, it would pay for itself in the medium term and it would allow you to continue to use your CZ box.
Greddy has issued an update for the E-Manage that includes some of the profile information for the RX-8's AFM. I suspect there might be some additional ignition capability there as well, but I wouldn't bet on it being any safer for your coils or that it would allow individual control over the timing split.
Wiring would not be plug-n-play, but it would be fairly basic - you would remove the stock coils and mount DIS coils in their place with little aluminum L-brackets.
Then, the coil plugs would be spliced to a connector that would plug into the AEM harness.
You would also have to make a set of plug wires using one of those universal plug wire kits.
I'm using a custom set of plug wires right now and it took about 30 minutes to make the set. I have another set that matches the DIS coil profile as well once I go back the the AEM myself.
It would work in the same fashion as the MSD system I had installed for a while, only without the hassle of building a trigger circuit because the AEM understands the pulses from the RX-8 ECU and/or CZ/E-Manage.
The problem with the MSD was that it fired on the down side of the ignition pulse which caused the spark to be late and also it would miss a cycle every time the E-Manage advanced the ignition timing because the advanced pulse would overlap the trailing end of the proceeding pulse.
The AEM doesn't have this shortcoming.
Additionally, the AEM has two capacitors, so it can run the leading AND trailing plugs - the MSD couldn't do this and was only useful for the leading plugs.
The advantages would be:
1) no possibility of frying the coils
2) considerably more spark energy - potentially more power
3) longer spark at low RPMS - potentially more power and better fuel economy and possibly a better idle
The gains might be fairly small, but since 2 coils from Mazda are $130 or so, it would pay for itself in the medium term and it would allow you to continue to use your CZ box.
Greddy has issued an update for the E-Manage that includes some of the profile information for the RX-8's AFM. I suspect there might be some additional ignition capability there as well, but I wouldn't bet on it being any safer for your coils or that it would allow individual control over the timing split.
Wiring would not be plug-n-play, but it would be fairly basic - you would remove the stock coils and mount DIS coils in their place with little aluminum L-brackets.
Then, the coil plugs would be spliced to a connector that would plug into the AEM harness.
You would also have to make a set of plug wires using one of those universal plug wire kits.
I'm using a custom set of plug wires right now and it took about 30 minutes to make the set. I have another set that matches the DIS coil profile as well once I go back the the AEM myself.
This sounds wonderful except that (a) it's most likely a warranty-buster, and (b) it sounds like Greddy is coming out with a new base firmware on the eManage that may just resolve the voltage diff problem that's frying the coil packs. At least, that's my hope.
Still, awfully tempting! :D
06-15-2004, 08:14 AM
#32
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Originally posted by MazdaManiac
Get a second job.
Get a second job.
Dont want it THAT bad :D
06-15-2004, 11:25 AM
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Originally posted by MazdaManiac
What ever happened to the old fashioned ways like selling your blood or kidneys! Maybe prostitution!
What ever happened to the old fashioned ways like selling your blood or kidneys! Maybe prostitution!
rx8cited
06-15-2004, 11:32 AM
#35
I was talking about prostituting yourself, not your spouse!
Good idea though....
Fortunately, I do all my own work so I haven't needed much anesthesia lately.
Unfortunately, I've run out of available kidneys and, apparently, they don't take **** and bile at the local clinic.
Good idea though....
Fortunately, I do all my own work so I haven't needed much anesthesia lately.
Unfortunately, I've run out of available kidneys and, apparently, they don't take **** and bile at the local clinic.
06-22-2004, 02:29 PM
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Are any of you guys using the AEM C2DI ignition and DIS coils yet? Is it difficult to install? Do you suppose it's something the techs will catch when the car is serviced?
06-22-2004, 02:34 PM
#37
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I think they would notice a red box under your hood
Originally posted by DrEvil
Are any of you guys using the AEM C2DI ignition and DIS coils yet? Is it difficult to install? Do you suppose it's something the techs will catch when the car is serviced?
Are any of you guys using the AEM C2DI ignition and DIS coils yet? Is it difficult to install? Do you suppose it's something the techs will catch when the car is serviced?
06-24-2004, 11:24 PM
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Couple of comments:
The update to the e-manage was caused by us. You're welcome
.
The "off" voltage offset would require a -hardware- change to eliminate. Software will not change it.
Our "new" or "latest and greatest" circuit is the diode as before, but a 0.1uF cap to ground. We found the circuit was oscillating and that cap stopped that. It was sort of involved with poor idle. The oscillation -may- have stressed coils, but we can't be sure. It didn't hurt Maurice's coils as far as we know. I didn't want it doing that and as soon as I saw it I corrected that!
The update to the e-manage was caused by us. You're welcome
.The "off" voltage offset would require a -hardware- change to eliminate. Software will not change it.
Our "new" or "latest and greatest" circuit is the diode as before, but a 0.1uF cap to ground. We found the circuit was oscillating and that cap stopped that. It was sort of involved with poor idle. The oscillation -may- have stressed coils, but we can't be sure. It didn't hurt Maurice's coils as far as we know. I didn't want it doing that and as soon as I saw it I corrected that!
06-25-2004, 12:34 PM
#40
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OK, for us participants who function at a lower level, I don't quite see a consensus here on the following question:
If we have the M Flash, the middle-generation CZ unit (USB port, but switch on outside of box and toward the engine and the resistors still there), and no complaints about a rough idle:
(1) are we still advised to replace the resistors with caps,
(2) is there a readily available place to get the caps, e.g., RadioShack, without bothering David to send them to us, and
(3) is there anything to my suggestion (hope) that if we have a ground wire kit installed there may be less to worry about?
I've read David as saying there's no evidence it'll harm the coils, and Jeff suggesting they are nevertheless suffering. Maybe this is as far as we can get at this point without empirical evidence from the field, but exposing any product to a soldering iron (in my hands) does carry some risk also ....
And by the way I DO appreciate the discussion!
If we have the M Flash, the middle-generation CZ unit (USB port, but switch on outside of box and toward the engine and the resistors still there), and no complaints about a rough idle:
(1) are we still advised to replace the resistors with caps,
(2) is there a readily available place to get the caps, e.g., RadioShack, without bothering David to send them to us, and
(3) is there anything to my suggestion (hope) that if we have a ground wire kit installed there may be less to worry about?
I've read David as saying there's no evidence it'll harm the coils, and Jeff suggesting they are nevertheless suffering. Maybe this is as far as we can get at this point without empirical evidence from the field, but exposing any product to a soldering iron (in my hands) does carry some risk also ....
And by the way I DO appreciate the discussion!
06-25-2004, 12:47 PM
#41
Well, there are some differences between the way I employ the E-Manage and the way the CZ box works.
There is a difference in the RPM circuit and that changes the way the ignition pulses look on my end as opposed to the CZ end.
Therefore, I can't make any specific recommendations beyond what Maurice and his evil minions put forth.
I'm sure they have a lot more experience with the CZ version then I do.
There is a difference in the RPM circuit and that changes the way the ignition pulses look on my end as opposed to the CZ end.
Therefore, I can't make any specific recommendations beyond what Maurice and his evil minions put forth.
I'm sure they have a lot more experience with the CZ version then I do.
06-25-2004, 11:32 PM
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"(1) are we still advised to replace the resistors with caps,"
If you have no problems, don't bother. If you are comfortable doing it (experience with a soldering iron and the right tools), it could improve your coils resistance to failure. If you eventually return your unit for any reason, it will be brought up to current spec. no charge (new board and all).
"(2) is there a readily available place to get the caps, e.g., RadioShack, without bothering David to send them to us, and"
Some have pm'd me they got them at Radio Shack. 0.1 uF 50 V ceramic multiplate caps. Be careful when soldering them, as you can actually unsolder the cap leads from the ceramic if you don't hold the lead with a pliers close to the body.
"(3) is there anything to my suggestion (hope) that if we have a ground wire kit installed there may be less to worry about?"
The ground wire kit may help, but Maurice has it and I discovered the oscillation on his car, so it doesn't stop that.
See my comments in the Tech area on "burnt ignition coils" thread.
If you have no problems, don't bother. If you are comfortable doing it (experience with a soldering iron and the right tools), it could improve your coils resistance to failure. If you eventually return your unit for any reason, it will be brought up to current spec. no charge (new board and all).
"(2) is there a readily available place to get the caps, e.g., RadioShack, without bothering David to send them to us, and"
Some have pm'd me they got them at Radio Shack. 0.1 uF 50 V ceramic multiplate caps. Be careful when soldering them, as you can actually unsolder the cap leads from the ceramic if you don't hold the lead with a pliers close to the body.
"(3) is there anything to my suggestion (hope) that if we have a ground wire kit installed there may be less to worry about?"
The ground wire kit may help, but Maurice has it and I discovered the oscillation on his car, so it doesn't stop that.
See my comments in the Tech area on "burnt ignition coils" thread.
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