Daox's 1997 Paseo Build Thread

[Daox]

Andy, I moved your post to my main build thread for the car. If you want to see the progression of the car I would suggest reading this thread as it better explains my modifications.

I only ever enter fuel logs from actual fill up data at the pump. The scangauge and mpguino can get quite close, but I like using the raw data to be 100% sure.

Yes, the diameter of the tires are the same. I have not done gps or any other form of calibration. The Paseo and Tercel are very similar. The Paseo just comes with wider tires, but they have the same tire diameter. The 155s are off of my Tercel, so I know I'm very close to stock diameter (plus or minus tire wear).

[Daox]

For the first time since about mid November, I was actually able to use the alternator disable. This is mainly due to not running headlights on my trip home. The trip in still required the alternator. I am looking forward to getting the solar panel done so I can at least start reducing the amount of alternator use again.

[Dave's Civic Duty]

I always liked the nice lines of a Paseo. My wife, years back, was looking to get a new one but the only thing left on the lot was an automatic. I had no idea of the mileage they are capable off. WOW! She ended up getting the Prelude, used.

Great job,
Dave

[hackish]

Sorry I didn't have time to read everything on your engine... Did you ever think of getting some offset keys for the timing belt? That way you could correct the cam timing and they're usually quite cheap. In the past I've machined offset keys for "cheater" race engines where an adjustment in cam timing was verboten in the rules. By undersizing the key itself you can sometimes use that to offset the pulley and re-tighten it in the offset location. Since the key is still there if it does slip you're still protected against hitting a valve on an interference engine. Just a thought.

-Michael

[Daox]

No worries there, its a non-interference engine. But, funny you should mention this. Last year in October, the Tercel/Paseo guys put together a group buy on adjustable cam timing gears. I should have mine in late January.

[hackish]

That will do what you want. Depending on where the idler is (normally on the trailing side of the belt) you will need to advance or retard the cam timing. Certainly it should give you more adjustibility than a fixed key. Finally, don't forget to check your ignition timing after you adjust it. I don't know that engine but on some (honda for example) they take the timing off the cam so you MUST set the timing after every cam adjustment.

Hope that helps.

-Michael

[Daox]

Well thats actually something I hadn't thought of. There is a camshaft position sensor and also a crankshaft position sensor. I'm not sure which one is used for ignition timing, or if they both are. We'll have to see how that works out. I do know that the camshaft position sensor is not adjustable, it just slips into a hole.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Daox

Well thats actually something I hadn't thought of. There is a camshaft position sensor and also a crankshaft position sensor. I'm not sure which one is used for ignition timing, or if they both are. We'll have to see how that works out. I do know that the camshaft position sensor is not adjustable, it just slips into a hole.

I don't know for sure, but I've been told that one is for ignition timing, the other controls injector timing. AFAIK, the injector timing is usually controlled by the crank sensor, as most engines won't run without that sensor plugged in (ECU stops pulsing the injectors w/o the signal), but most engines will run without a cam sensor, except they run poorly on a basemap, I suppose.

Once again, I haven't verified it, it's just what I was told.

[hackish]

The real function of a cam pickup is to provide the ECU with engine phase information. Since the complete engine cycle of a 4 stroke is 720 crank degrees any pattern found on the crank will be repeated twice. Without this synchronization it wouldn't know where to fire your fuel injectors - is it the intake stroke or the exhaust stroke? It wouldn't know without the cam sync.

Cam signals are not the best for accurate engine timing so carmakers tend to rely more on the crank. It is definitely necessary for more advanced functions like misfire detection as the slop in a timing belt or timing chain would soak up the variations in crank speed that the ECU needs to detect.

Hope that helps.

-Michael

[Christ]

That makes a little more sense, the crank sensor has a higher resolution so it's the "main", and the cam sensor is used as a reference to "keep it in check", basically, is what I got from that?