rica question

**brett craig** · Wednesday 16th July 2008, 20:20

just bought a rica 304 of john850t5r, ( many thanks nice deal ), all fitted and seems to drive nice.

how do your rica'd 850s deliver the power ?

mine seems slower in 1st and 2nd than when i had my mbc fitted but cleaner, quicker and without boost cut in the higher gears.

i think i have a small air leak as its holding around 14psi and the needle fluctuates as the power is brought in.

does the ecu need time to settle in ? and could the fact ive got bp 97ron super unleaded left in the tank cause problems ?

**Tomcat** · Wednesday 16th July 2008, 21:02

You won't get the full potential of the remap without running something like optimax, how far over does the needle go on the standard boost gauge?.

**nobananas** · Wednesday 16th July 2008, 21:03

The power delivery on mine seemed far more 'vicious' when I had an MBC fitted even though I only had it set to a little over stock boost but apart from that the power delivery does seem more controlled with my Rica 304. I think however you will probably find that power delivery will vary greatly from car to car depending on engine/turbo wear, wastegate settings etc.

**brett craig** · Wednesday 16th July 2008, 21:11

i'm not running the standard gauge just my pillar gauge, bear in mind ive only run the car around the block so not had time to fully test it out.
it did seem to get better as i went along but just seemed a little lacking from what i expected

**Alan M** · Wednesday 16th July 2008, 21:11

Looks like I'll stick with my MBC setup and adjustable fuel regulator if all I'm looking at is a fluctuating 14psi from a RICA map. Mines running a healthy almost 14 psi as is. It does sound like you have a problem though as I have been in a few Rica'd cars and they were producing 18psi on 97ron fuel from a 304 map.

**Mrsmopp** · Wednesday 16th July 2008, 21:13

You'll need to run it in for a few miles before it sorts itself out and you can get a true idea of what its like

x

**brett craig** · Wednesday 16th July 2008, 21:20

had a feeling that it may have been a time and / or fuel problem, think its that kid and xmas feeling i had lol

**brett craig** · Wednesday 16th July 2008, 21:23

Originally Posted by Alan M

Looks like I'll stick with my MBC setup and adjustable fuel regulator if all I'm looking at is a fluctuating 14psi from a RICA map. Mines running a healthy almost 14 psi as is. It does sound like you have a problem though as I have been in a few Rica'd cars and they were producing 18psi on 97ron fuel from a 304 map.

i'm certainly happier with the rica as its sorted all my cut problems, from the comments ive recieved i think that the power will increase and any fluctuating will steady with a few miles under its belt

**john850t5r** · Wednesday 16th July 2008, 21:50

Hey glad you like it, could always try a stage zero service. My actuator was also adjusted, but not sure how much! the rica made a huge difference in my car!

**brett craig** · Wednesday 16th July 2008, 22:04

only question is how to adjust the actuator ?, i dont have a gauge or pump so would have to be a set amount of turns, also done a stage zero but not the cap, arm and leads

**brett craig** · Thursday 17th July 2008, 20:10

ok update for you, did a 40 mile trip today so its now had time to settle and this is what i found......

1st gear, smooth power 12psi
2nd gear smooth power ( no wheelspin ) 12psi
3rd gear smooth power 14psi
4th gear surging power between 10psi and 15psi
5th gear surging power between 10psi and 15psi

its almost like its trying to feed the power in higher gears, but after reading peaples comments about 80mph wheelspin, and like a rocket up its arse i expected more.

does this sound about right for a 304 ? or is it still sounding a little lacking ?

**Mrsmopp** · Thursday 17th July 2008, 20:19

Doesn't sound like the Rica'd cars I have owned. How old are your plugs? Have you checked your hoses for an airleak?

x

**AndysR** · Thursday 17th July 2008, 20:23

I had mine done by RT's and it was like a completely different car afterwards! The boost gauge goes off the white section and doesn't lean boost at all throughout the rev range I run it on nothing apart from V Power and the boost control is all still factory i.e. no mbc. From what I have heard they are supposed to run approx. 1.2 bar of boost?? So your 14 p.s.i is slightly off that. Before I had the Rica fitted I had a full stage zero tune done to the car and since the Rica was fitted I have also had a replacement wastegate actuator so probably helps the boost level to remain constant throughout the rev range.

**brett craig** · Thursday 17th July 2008, 20:53

plugs were changed 2 weeks ago, have not done the leads or dizzy/rotor though.

changed all the bcs pipes for 4mm silicone hose

have got a knackered rubber elbow on the left side of the inlet manifold though

thats about the only faults i can find

**RT MECHANICS** · Thursday 17th July 2008, 21:04

Originally Posted by brett craig

plugs were changed 2 weeks ago, have not done the leads or dizzy/rotor though.

changed all the bcs pipes for 4mm silicone hose

have got a knackered rubber elbow on the left side of the inlet manifold though

thats about the only faults i can find

Hi Brett

Just thought i would say for your engine's safety get some one that knows there volvos to properly set up the car checking fuel pressure/boost/Afr and the rest of the car before you do any damage,the car needs to be A1 before its tuned

By the way what plugs did you use ???

Russ

**brett craig** · Thursday 17th July 2008, 21:10

hello thanks for the reply, the plugs i used were bosch YTTRIUM, but question if that was the right move. maybe genuine would be better ?
have now ordered dizzy cap, rotor arm and leads, and intend to take it off the road until the problem is solved. certainly dont want the car to self destruct

**RT MECHANICS** · Thursday 17th July 2008, 21:13

Originally Posted by brett craig

hello thanks for the reply, the plugs i used were bosch YTTRIUM, but question if that was the right move. maybe genuine would be better ?
have now ordered dizzy cap, rotor arm and leads, and intend to take it off the road until the problem is solved. certainly dont want the car to self destruct

Hi Brett

No problem use proper volvo ones only i do in my car and run 2.3 bar

use volvo leads and cap/rotor do you have a decent tuner in your part of the country ???

Russ

**brett craig** · Thursday 17th July 2008, 21:18

tuners are in short supply around here lol, i did order genuine leads,cap and rotor and will go to volvo myself tommorow and get proper plugs.
when i removed the last set it seemed to be running spot on, and cant say ive noticed any change, but in hindsight if the problem was already there then i wouldnt see a change !

will also get some soapy water around the engine and search for any hidden leaks

**brett craig** · Monday 21st July 2008, 18:43

well the new leads arrived today so rushed out to fit them, took car for a few miles to warm up and then found some open ( private ) road. put her in 2nd and got the following results

2nd gear 15psi and nowt but wheelspin
3rd gear 15psi and head slammed into headrest, then had to lift off through fear of the approaching hedge.
4th gear 15psi and repeat of the above minus the hedge
5th gear 15psi and a motorbike gave up and moved out of my way

all without surging !!! cant wait for the plugs/ cap / rotor arm to arrive now

is 15psi about right for a 304 ?

either way i'm one very happy bloke