URGENT! Help needed!!

[firstmazda]

Hey Guys,

I purchased my KWD 5K HID kit from Devin (great guy)
and I decided i'd build up some confidence and install it myself.

So I followed Devin's instructions found here (http://torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=11629).
(essentially the same kit)
I disabled DRLs by tapping into the signal wire.

Then I followed the indy fog mod found here (http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=88805.0).
The one where you don't have to run wires through the firewall, everything is done in the fusebox behind the glove box.

GREAT! Everything went fine and dandy, the lighting works the way it's supposed to BUT

As soon as I took it for a drive, i noticed my RPMs are dropping like crazy.
Each time it shifts gears (automatic), the RPMs drop right down to 1k where it used to drop to say about 1.8K RPM.

When i'm stopped at a red light, the RPMs now idle even BELOW 500 RPM. I'm i'm stopped for a long time, it drops even lower, the car starts to shudder, then it stalls.

Or if i'm slowing down, and it goes down to 1st gear, then I have to brake suddenly (like say the car in front of me suddenly stopped) The car starts to shudder again and I can feel it about to stall.
My only resolve so far is to give it a little gas.

I also find when I'm idling at a stop, i can hear the engine is having a lot of trouble. It's a very rough idle, and the car vibrates more than usual.

Also, when I give it gas, the RPMs shoot up like crazy, as if the car was more responsive.

HELP!! what's goin on!??! I checked my connections, everything is tight. Loose ends are taped off with electrical tape.

Am I getting a short or something somewhere where it's draining power from the engine?

HELP! I've only got about an hour or two left to fix this as I have to pick the wife up from work and it's an hours drive away, and we've got an important appointment to get to.

TIA
Ray

[Skarbro]

Wow that's a weird one.

[firstmazda]

No kidding!

go figure, the first time i try to do any electrical work on my car, it fuggs up!

I haven't heard of anything like this happening in any of the other threads.
Man, i'm screwed!

[cwp_sedan]

I'm sure you followed the instructions for the ind fogs but I think that is probably your issue. I would put it back to the way it was. I highly doubt the HIDs are your issue. One incorrect wire or whatever and who knows what could be affected.

[bluntman]

Just a shot in the dark here, but disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes, recheck all of the connections to make sure they are tight and then reconnect the battery.

[firstmazda]

I tried, thanks.
Took it for another test run, same thing.

But i'm more than willing to try again.
Disconnecting it resets the computer right?

If anything, i'll try to revert back to the original set-up without indy fogs.

Thanks for the help CWP and Blunty

[cwp_sedan]

Just a shot in the dark here, but disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes, recheck all of the connections to make sure they are tight and then reconnect the battery.

+1

Worth a shot. Maybe a reset will help it.

[firstmazda]

In regards to reversing what I did for the indy fog mod....
Is it save enough just to tape the wires back together with electrical tape?
I'm all out of butt connectors.

or what else should I use to reconnect the original wires?
Something i can pick up at "The Source" 'cause it's nearby

[firstmazda]

Ok, so i unhooked the negative terminal for a good 20 mins,
then I took it out for a drive again.
Everything seemed fine at first, but again,when I come to a quick full stop,
the RPMs drop like crazy.
and if I stay stopped for longer than a minute, the car is REALLY struggling to keep the RPMs at 500. it keeps dipping below to near stalling.

Does it help to mention the first time it nearly stalled on my first test-drive the powersteering light came on for a second?
I also hear a "whining" sound when I open the hood after the shut the car off.

I'm goin crazy here!

[cwp_sedan]

Ok, so i unhooked the negative terminal for a good 20 mins,
then I took it out for a drive again.
Everything seemed fine at first, but again,when I come to a quick full stop,
the RPMs drop like crazy.
and if I stay stopped for longer than a minute, the car is REALLY struggling to keep the RPMs at 500. it keeps dipping below to near stalling.

Does it help to mention the first time it nearly stalled on my first test-drive the powersteering light came on for a second?
I also hear a "whining" sound when I open the hood after the shut the car off.

I'm goin crazy here!

Weird...and no check engine light or anything?

I think the whining noise you are hearing might just be the throttle body...?

[firstmazda]

I did get a CEL when it stalled the first time.

I was at a red light, car shuddered, powersteering warning came on, tapped the gas, it came off.
Then it stalled and the CEL came on.

When I restarted, it disappeared.


*UPDATE*
I unhooked the battery again, re-checked the connections, a fourth time, then went for a drive.

Started out okay, the issue had improved a LITTLE.
was stopped at a red light again, started to buckle, lost power steering for a second. So I gave it gas and it came back.

Drove to Radio Shack, then on the drive home, everything seemed a little more better.
RPMs were still low at idle, but nearing the 1k mark.
so sofar the issue has seemed to resolved itself.

I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed!!!

This is driving me crazy!

[firstmazda]

I just found something on the site I got the instructions on:
HERE (http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=88805.msg1714546#msg1714546)

Someone had the EXACT same issue!! Wierd. BUt no one else on that site had that problem, or knew what caused it.


Anyone who's done it having engine problems?
It may be coincidental, but I just drove several miles today and My car is idling very very low.
I have an 04i Manual. I would come up to a stop sign, and take shifter off the gear and I would see my tachometer go all the way to 0 and my engine stall.

Or if I'm coming up to a stop or whatever, I would be going about 30mph, and take it out of gear and my tachometers drops to almost 0 and my Power Steering light turns on for a fraction of a second.

Only difference is mine's an automatic.

[firstmazda]

BTW Thanks again for all the help guys.

I gotta pick up the wifey. Hope I make it all the way.

I'll keep you guys updated.

Ray

[garboui]

well i can explain the power steering issue. if the voltage drops low enough (ie when the rpms are really low so the alt is hardly spinning) there is probably a low voltage drop out on the power steering causing it to shut off.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

looking at the How-to, it looks like it had you remove the PJB (Passenger Junction Box) connections. i would check them again to make sure they are secure (removing and seating them back again if you have to).

The PJB is not something to mess with your first time out as, next to the ECU, it is the major "brain" as it controls a myriad of functions in the car.

Going the other way of running a wire through the firewall by interfacing with the fog light switch wire would've been safer.

The PJB method is what got a lot of warranties voided on the PJB itself and a new PJB was in the range of 1200-1500$ (just ask Blunty how much he almost had to pay).

long story short, recheck the connections to the PJB. pull them out and reseat them securely if you have to.

[b]

I had a loose wire from my computer once that caused the same symptoms. Had to take it into the dealership to have the wire re-connected. I had to keep my foot on the gas & rev it at lights so it wouldn't stall on my way into mazda.

Hope you find out what is wrong!

[TurboEight]

You sure you didn't knock off a vacume line while doing the install?

Make sure you check all of them...

Good luck!

[firstmazda]

Thanks guys.

I rechecked and resecured all the connections and everything seems to be running fine now.

THanks for all the tips.

Thanks Neil,
I had no idea I was working on the PJB. I kept seeing that on threads and all i could think of was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Who knew thats what I was messing around with!
If i knew how important that "nervous system" was, i wouldn't have gone near it! hahaha