92 MX-3 not running Updated with good news

Bucking Bronco · Post by **Bucking Bronco** » March 31st, 2006, 8:27 pm

Hello everyone

I just bought my first MX-3 for $200. not running

but I knew what it was and jumped on it

So its a 92 V6 5spd all stock as far as I can tell. It's been sitting since Jan 1 05 I think with a 1/4 tank maybe. Talking to the owner he told me that 2 days before it came off the road it started to tick and 2 days later it wouldn't even start. I would like to verify the problem without pulling the motor if at all possible.

I'v drained the tank and have 1/4 tank of good gas and tested for

1. Spark - yes
2. Fuel - yes - verified by pulling all 3 front plugs and can hear pump
3. Dist - Rotor is spinning
4. Intake boot - ok

Can't pull codes because it was stored without the battery.

So what's next? I'm still searching threw this site

there tons of info but I'm kind of lost - brain overload -

I do all my own work and am willing to learn

I want this car on the road so be warned your not waisting your time

Thanks for the help

Derek

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » March 31st, 2006, 9:16 pm

first off.. Welcome to the board and congrats on a sweet deal

Now to the problem at hand.. you dont mention how many miles are on the car.. but if you have fuel and if you have spark.. then its likely going to be timing.. possible that your timing belt has stretched and jumped time. You can put the car in diagnostic mode by jumping pins TEN and GND on your diagnostic box located near the master cylinder close to the firewall on the drivers side. A paperclip will work just fine.. then hook up a timing light and verify that your ignition on #1 cylinder is firing at 10 degrees BTC.

That should get you started.. if your timing is good.. we start looking at other possibilities.. but this is a good place to start. Cheers

Tunes67

Bucking Bronco · Post by **Bucking Bronco** » March 31st, 2006, 10:02 pm

Out of all the tools I own I dont have a timing light

and I dont have the money for one

I'll look in to borrowing one. Is there anything else maybe if I can adjust the distributor while cranking? 248042 km's

I pulled the air filter box and hoses and noticed the throttle body and intake are covered in oil. I cleaned out what I could reach, but dont know what caused this? I asked the owner if it sounded like rod knock he said yes but who know what he knows about motors. I am going to do a compression test Saturday if possible. Is it possible to use a push on compression tester?

Thanks Tunes I'v read alot of your posts

I'll post some pics up tonight but I'm dial up so It'll be a while

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » March 31st, 2006, 10:08 pm

A compression test is a excellent idea as well. If you have oil in the intake and TB... Thats usually a fair indicator that the engine is fairly worn. As for the Compression tester.. most of the push on type testers I have seen wont work due to the depth of the spark plug wells on our V6's. You might be able to find one.. but a screw in type will work best and give you the most accurate results. They are cheap too.. a friend just bought one for $13 at his local auto parts store. Post back and let us know what you find out this weekend.. and if you find that the engine is toast.. dont despair... it might end up being more work.. but you can likely source a replacement engine easily for under $400.. under $1000 could get you a KLZE (though there are additional parts you would need besides the engine to get this running well)

Cheers

Tunes67

Bucking Bronco · Post by **Bucking Bronco** » March 31st, 2006, 10:28 pm

I'll see what I can do this weekend & hope I can get it to fire up

I'v been reading in to the engine swap stuff and would be all over it if I didn't have other projects like 302 in my Bronco II.

A friend has/had an MX-3 he never let me drive it but he showed me what it capable of

we lost contact now I live 900km away

I will be trying to find him here

Thanks again Tunes I look forward to hearing from you and the rest of the wise ones I'v been reading up on.

Derek

fowljesse · Post by **fowljesse** » March 31st, 2006, 11:34 pm

The TB oil is common and can be taken care of by putting a gas filter in the PCV line.

Bucking Bronco · Post by **Bucking Bronco** » April 1st, 2006, 12:37 am

Pictures

How much if any of the online shop manual might help with my ride?
I'll take a look in to that fowljesse

Thanks

RacerX · Post by **RacerX** » April 1st, 2006, 1:18 am

car is in rough shape but good luck with the repairs.

!vetc-this! · Post by **!vetc-this!** » April 1st, 2006, 1:52 am

good luck my friend.

relisys_3200 · Post by **relisys_3200** » April 1st, 2006, 1:59 am

bah...just makes it more fun

Bucking Bronco · Post by **Bucking Bronco** » April 1st, 2006, 12:02 pm

This isnt bad at all by my standards. Most of the interior is there in the back seat, PO had a Stereo and subs and was a little lazy when it came time to remove it

About 7 years ago I bought a 79 Rabbit GTi shell with rolling suspension and thats it, no windows, wiring, motor, doors & fenders completely stripped

1 year later & alot of work I had a sweet GTi with a high comp motor and close ratio tranny, lowered, poly bushings and some other goodies

I could go on but this isnt a VW site

Time to get back to work on the car

Derek

Bucking Bronco · Post by **Bucking Bronco** » April 8th, 2006, 10:39 am

I pulled it apart to do the timing belt & went to find all the marks. Guess what ? Nothing lines up I rotated it like 6 time just to be sure

I'm so happy
and the knocking had to be the tensioner.

So once I pickup the rest of the parts I'll try and fire it up

Also after hours of searching, I found a link with all the timing picture. I think this should go with the faq

http://home.comcast.net/~mmunoz70/z/leskatimingbelt.doc

Thanks for reading and will update when I know more

RacerX · Post by **RacerX** » April 8th, 2006, 11:43 am

Eh..crappy so basically the timing is off..do these motors have interference heads ? meaning : if the timing belt slips, breaks or whtever, the pistons will smack the valves ?

I was thinking of changing my timing belt and tensioner once I hit 70,000 miles and i called the dealer, stupid tensioner is like 200 dollars..so look to spend a bit of money and good luck on the restore

XxantwawnxX · Post by **XxantwawnxX** » April 8th, 2006, 1:31 pm

they are NON interference heads, lucky us : )

Bucking Bronco · Post by **Bucking Bronco** » April 9th, 2006, 9:20 pm

Well with nothing to do but wait for call backs on parts costs I threw in the tensioner and retimed it. I figured the worst thing that could happen is that the timing jumps again.... It started without hesitation, without smoke, without me even having a chance to let go of the key

It was like my first virgin

Thank you Mazda

On the parts note I called Lordco for the timing kit they wanted $410. cad
for the tensioner and 2 idlers I dont even know if it included the timing belt

I asked about the probe stuff same price

So monday I'll call Bowwow and see what they can do.

Thanks for the help Everyone

Should I start a work log so I dont bore you all? I dont know if I should post this here

MX-3.com

92 MX-3 not running Updated with good news

92 MX-3 not running Updated with good news

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A little update

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