What did you do to your BG(part 8)

[worldhazard]

That blown up wire looks like the two terminal alternator plug.

Could have been the one. I don't know if i took/shared the pic of the alternator wires all plugged in, but they are TOAST.. So, makes sense


Disconnected misc wires/cables/lines going to the trans, hoping to be able to just yank it straight up with no problems. Also removed from fender liner crap as it's just in the way right now too.

Was starring at the axles.. Seeing as I don't have air tools, and the car is already on jackstands... Is there an 'easy' way to get the axles out? I tracked down the socket for the axle nut (little victories) but can't keep the wheels from turning.

On a similar note, recommendation for breaking the crank bolt loose as well, or should I just wait until the motor is out, and take it somewhere with air tools?

[atomicEGT]

have someone stand on the brakes, use a breaker bar with a big-ass pole slipped over it for leverage. also if the shift linkage is hooked up put the car in 5th.

good luck.

[jay]

With some help (codriver holds the drift so I can swing the sledge with both hands), we managed to get the pax side upper trans mount perfectly back in place to as to have the drivetrain sit right where it's supposed to. Fortified the mount, bolted it up, and got a little closer to getting the rallycar running again.

[worldhazard]

Going to DF this weekend, Jay?

[jay]

Was hoping to. I don't think we're gonna get the thing running in time, and the street protege, while having things like hotbits struts, needs things like hotbits struts rebuilt.
i kinda wanna at least come out and spectate, we'll see what my socalled schedule throws my way.

[FE3-323]

Changed out the rear wheel cylinders/shoes & spring hardware on the re-acquired BP swapped 323 i sold to a friend years back. It'll get boosted in the spring

[FamiliaGT]

Put the test pipe back on and metal under trays. Trans is not leaking, WooHoo!!! Next will be install the wideband, Canadian belts, then power folding mirrors. Did anyone do a write up on these mirrors as so far as wiring, or have a wiring chart?

[atomicEGT]

trying to diagnose my low load/rpm misfire, ****ty gas mileage, and weird lack of power (anything less than 3/4 throttle or so and below 3k and it's like the hamsters are asleep)

initial diagnosis: "could just be old lol"

figured I'd use my sweet HKS vacuum gauge to see if that would help and noticed (after thinking everything was fine) that there's actually a slight fluctuation at idle while still in the normal range (-70kpa/~21inhg). according to the internet, that usually indicates an ignition problem (the misfire mentioned earlier is so light I figured it could be a combination of Ferdi's subframe bushings, ES motor mount inserts, stiffened-up K-Sports, and the natural tendency of the Zetec to have the NVH of a broken tractor motor). just ordered new plugs, wires, and a coil (even though TeamZX2 says the coils never go bad, this thing is 14 years old and has 190K on it so it's not like it could hurt anything. I've read that these things are pretty sensitive to plug/wire choice, and although I bought parts that presumably were quality (Denso wires, Denso iridiums / two sets of NGK platinums / Denso platinums after the store ran out of the NGKs) I went with all OEM ****. gonna hope for the best. it would be nice to have my gas mileage back at the very least, 24 mpg is terrible.

[Wildfire0310]

trying to diagnose my low load/rpm misfire, ****ty gas mileage, and weird lack of power (anything less than 3/4 throttle or so and below 3k and it's like the hamsters are asleep)

initial diagnosis: "could just be old lol"

figured I'd use my sweet HKS vacuum gauge to see if that would help and noticed (after thinking everything was fine) that there's actually a slight fluctuation at idle while still in the normal range (-70kpa/~21inhg). according to the internet, that usually indicates an ignition problem (the misfire mentioned earlier is so light I figured it could be a combination of Ferdi's subframe bushings, ES motor mount inserts, stiffened-up K-Sports, and the natural tendency of the Zetec to have the NVH of a broken tractor motor). just ordered new plugs, wires, and a coil (even though TeamZX2 says the coils never go bad, this thing is 14 years old and has 190K on it so it's not like it could hurt anything. I've read that these things are pretty sensitive to plug/wire choice, and although I bought parts that presumably were quality (Denso wires, Denso iridiums / two sets of NGK platinums / Denso platinums after the store ran out of the NGKs) I went with all OEM ****. gonna hope for the best. it would be nice to have my gas mileage back at the very least, 24 mpg is terrible.

For almost any car that is older, I just use NGK base level plugs. I have found that any other plug just seem to run like ****. This doesn't apply to cars that come from the factory with iridiums. Any of the "fancy" plugs just seem to be full of ****.

[atomicEGT]

factory plugs are double-platinum, so... sort of fancy? I initially bought the iridiums because they were on clearance and they worked great in my old turbo EGT, but after two of them cracked I went with the NGKs, which are the same plugs I used in my wagon and in the S13. although now that I think about it the S13 has regular-ass NGK copper plugs in it because it's the third engine and I just can't be bothered anymore.

[therieldeal]

Matt the ford EDIS coils are usually pretty indestuctible, however, i did have one crap out on me before on my very first escort. After running not-great for a while, one side of it just stopped putting out voltage altogether one day. I was broke and ~17 years old so i drove around for a few days on 2 cylinders before I could make it to the junkyard for a replacement lol. Let me tell ya... 1/2 of whatever a high mileage 1.9 puts out is not very much torque.

[atomicEGT]

so like...35 ft-lb?

I've never had or seen one go bad (my three wagons, two each from my sisters, my mom's Focus) but it was also only $42 for a Motorcraft one and there isn't a whole lot of diagnosis I can do here with my $20 Walmart tool set.

[KAinjection]

Well if its anything like when I had the 1.9L the plug wires were usually the culprits. One way to test an ignition misfire is to drive around 30mph and put it in 5th gear and floor it, if its an ignition problem this high load situation will cause it to become worse, if nothing changes then it could be isolated to a single cylinder (bad plug) or the wires/coil/EDIS module are likely not the problem and its time to look elsewhere.

Also a TIP for the bad fuel mileage: replace the O2 sensor if its got a lot of miles on it or check to see if its lazy or stuck with a scan tool.

[atomicEGT]

wouldn't that throw a code though?

[KAinjection]

It should throw one but not necessarily since some cars seem less sensitive than others.