xviper,
Just heard from the shop - they have the car running and their laptop scan shows things are within acceptable parameters - the problem appears to be fouled spark plugs which they replaced for free given a pre-existing recall for the plugs... I'm picking up the car tomorrow and will see how it runs - I'm still a little apprehensive so I will have to watch the fuel pressure and plugs for awhile just in case...

Thanks,
Bob

 

BTW - I was aware of the spark plug recall given other threads in the forums, but I became fixated on the ESM and ECU given they were the last items I touched before it stopped running -- oh well, live and learn...

Thanks again for your replies and for posting information about your Vortech installation...

 

What kind of plugs are you using? And at what gap?
I used the OEM plugs for a year and they never fouled. I've been experimenting with NGK copper plugs of late and after a couple months, they are still fine. You must gap plugs for F.I. down to 0.034" or less. Could this be why they are fouling?

 

The local Honda shop replaced the plugs today - when I get the car back tomorrow I will check to see if they used OEM plugs and gap settings. I'll post the answer sometime tomorrow...

I've read quite a few of the posts on spark plugs and FI; if I experience further problems, I may try the NGK R5672A-8 copper "V-Power" plugs gapped at .034".

BTW there was another S2000 owner here in Albuquerque who had similar problems with his Comptech S/C car last year - his user name was NMs2000 and he posted similar problems in the forums. The same local shop I am using worked on his car and they told me he continued to have problems until he sold the car...

Any thoughts on fuel mixture or spark plugs given the altitude and climate here in ABQ New Mexico?

Altitude = 5000 ft
Average Temp Ranges (Farenheit):
winter = 20 - 57
fall/spring = 30 - 70
summer = 40 - 92

 

My altitude is about 3500 ft but I've driven the car as high as nearly 10,000 feet in the mountain passes and the car performs fine. Winter temps are far more extreme than yours and summer, not quite as hot as you.
I don't have a number for you for my A/F. All I can tell you is that my narrow band gauge says I'm just into rich at WOT.
I don't think it's your brand or type of plugs. Perhaps you have been running OEM gap and that may be part of the problem.

 

I'm inclined to agree - the OEM gap is probably at fault, so I will check tomorrow and adjust the new plugs if the gap is too large. Over the next few weeks I'll also watch the A/F to make sure it's not running too rich...

Thanks - my apologies for turning your original post into a Q & A session...

 

No problem. That's kinda what's these threads are for - to deal with related issues. However, it's just too bad that it wasn't a Comptech kit. I might have been able to be more specific with my replies.

 

OK, picked up the car this morning - running well with new OEM plugs. I will monitor the plugs and air/fuel ratio over the next few weeks to see how everything is holding up as the car is running a little rich (when I check the plugs I will adjust the gap if necessary)...

Was it worth it? Absolutely - the car pulls much better with the supercharger and I definitely learned a lot from the installation...

Outta here,
Bob

 

bob, you might want to upgrade to iridium plugs, the stock plugs might run a little too warm which can cause some problems in the long run. Make sure you go with denso's not ngk's. The ngk are good plugs but the s2000 uses denso's stock, using the idea that stock the car is perfect, and when you upgrade you want to use stuff that is at least or better than perfect for the car.

 

You might be interested to know that Honda used both Denso AND NGK as stock plugs in the S2000.