I have an 88 rx with 82,000 miles, stock except for air filter and msd coil.

I changed my thermostat today to a 180 degree unit and now my car will not idle at all. If I'm driving the car I can hear the turbo spool up and release pressure when I let off the gas but the car acts like it is not getting any boost at all. I checked all of the vacuum lines because it felt like I was losing boost pressure, but everything is as it is supposed to be. I made sure no water was down around the spark plug that was nearby. It feels to me like one of the hoses from the turbo to the intake is off, but they are all put on correct. There is some sort of sensor on top of the thermostat, it is the only thing that is close to what I am working on so I was thinking it might be bad? My car ran perfect before I changed the thermostat, I will try putting the old one back in and see if it runs right, but I don't see how this could cause the problem that I am having. Any suggestions would be awesome.

I´m not Pretty Sure... but maybe an Electrical connection nearby... Are you Sure you put them all back in its Place? ´cos I don´t think changin´ back the Thermostat is the Answer... I think that maybe another thing in that area is failing, like a Sensor or wrong connected plugs...

So I suggest to check ´em back Again...

Good Luck!

You didn't re gap your spark plugs while you were at it did you? To wide causes the same thing you're describing.

Also as loyale 2.7 turbo says, recheck the connections of the sensors, mainly the MAF and thermo sensor i think.

did you make sure the hose between the 4wd plenum and the aav/iacv (the doohicky on top of the thermostat) is good and tight w/ no leaks?

I had a hose that I pulled loose when I was changing the thermostat. It was underneath a plastic cover directly to the right of the thermostat. Didn't see it until I removed the turbo pipe

Sounds like the AAV was disturbed. It resides ontop of the thermostat housing.

 

-Brian