Latest progress on the Gooster - Page 23

GreatOldOne · #**441** 4th September 2012, 21:57

for the longest time, i've been chasing down a high idle problem on Vikki - pretty much from the moment she's been road legal.

I've looked at all the intake and vac hoses, repeatedly checked the throttle position switch and the idle control valve.

I recently undertook a full electrical check on all the lines from the ECU to the various sensors, which where fine... But then I stumbled across what is more than likely the issue - the ECU is not sending the correct voltages to the idle control valve! :/

I'm just managed to get a new one off the sale boards on E30Zone, so I should be able to see if my hypothesis is correct.

Whilst I was at it buyingg stuff from the zone, I also managed to get a whole motronic 1.3 conversion 'kit' comprising of sensors, ancillaries, ECU, injectors & wiring harness. So once I've cleaned it all up, I'll have an early high compression engine with late engine control - NICE.

GreatOldOne · #**442** 7th September 2012, 15:29

Some of you may have noticed that some funny flaws have developed in the paintwork on vikkis driver side wings - I popped them of and took the to Normandale for a diagnosis, as the paint seems ok.

According to them, it's the gel coat under the paint that has cracked. The fiberglass is fine, but the gel is so brittle.

They're sorting it out for me, but it might be worth anyone who has had their car painted yet having the gel off where the bodywork can flex, and have it replaced with filler. That's what they're going to do with the wings.

I can only assume that the other wings haven't gone like it as they must either not flex as much, or the gel is a better quality on that side.

In other news, the replacement ECU arrived, and bugger me its doing exactly the same thing with this one as the original ECU. sits at 1000 rpm regardless of temp.

I've swapped out the blue temp sensor, checked for continuity on all the relevant cables running back to the ECU and checked all the hoses for leaks. Everything is ok, and in spec. So I'm stumped now... :/

jeremy · #**443** 7th September 2012, 21:39

After a long saga, I found my incorrect/low voltage fault from ecu was due to alternator contact being intermittent...and thus icv and tps were reading low voltagefrom ecu fault...have you checked the charging status from this?

GreatOldOne · #**444** 8th September 2012, 07:09

Well, it certainly appears to be charging... When the engine is running, my voltmeter on the dash shows 13 to 14v, and when off (with ign on) its a solid 12v from the battery. I'll check it out today though.

MartinClan · #**445** 8th September 2012, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatOldOne

In other news, the replacement ECU arrived, and bugger me its doing exactly the same thing with this one as the original ECU. sits at 1000 rpm regardless of temp.

Stupid question I know - but have you checked the accuracy of the rev counter?

Robin

GreatOldOne · #**446** 8th September 2012, 20:53

Yes - it agrees with my multimeter that has a rev counter setting.

GreatOldOne · #**447** 11th September 2012, 17:48

Woe is me:

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?n...topic&t=225851

Should have left he bloody thing idling at 1000rpm - now it's up and down like a lady of negotiable affection's under clothes...

oaktree11 · #**448** 11th September 2012, 19:39

Jason,
have engine bits coming out of my ears (well in a box anyway). I have one engine in bits and one runner in my second donor. I know I am a way from you but if you want to borrow anything feel free...
John

MartinClan · #**449** 11th September 2012, 20:03

Jason - did you replace the idle valve somewhere along the line? I have a spare one if you want to try it.

Robin

GreatOldOne · #**450** 11th September 2012, 20:35

No, I haven't - if you don't mind sending it over I'll give it a go, as the one I have is definitely dead. If it wasn't stuck on the intake boot, it'd be pushing up the daisies...

GreatOldOne · #**451** 23rd September 2012, 15:32

Well, there's the problem...

Same issue on both ECUs - traces not so much damaged as completely burnt away. So that's both of those for the bin.

Guess I'll have to clean up and splice in the motronic 1.3 gear I have. Joy.

peterux · #**452** 23rd September 2012, 16:27

Ooooh, that looks nasty.
Have you been able to locate the short causing that?

GreatOldOne · #**453** 23rd September 2012, 16:39

I have a funny feeling that the short was self inflicted, as I was following a procedure for tuning motronic 1.0 that I found on E30Zone.

It calls for shorting all three pins of the ICV plug together to tell the ECU not to mess with the mixture setting whilst the various bypass screws are being adjusted. I don't think that this does what the original author of the article believed it does - I believe that in doing this it causes an overload, causing this lovely mess. This area must carry the ICV signals, as both ICVs I have work - but not when plugged in.

The moral of the story is, don't short these pins together!

denniswpearce · #**454** 24th September 2012, 08:40

Hmm, surely if you short anything together with power still applied then the result will be a failure of that component. The bigger the voltage the bigger the explosion.

I know its easy to say that after the event.

I have admiration for you boys with the things you will tackle.

peterux · #**455** 24th September 2012, 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatOldOne

It calls for shorting all three pins of the ICV plug together to tell the ECU not to mess with the mixture setting whilst the various bypass screws are being adjusted. I don't think that this does what the original author of the article believed it does - I believe that in doing this it causes an overload, causing this lovely mess. This area must carry the ICV signals, as both ICVs I have work - but not when plugged in.

The moral of the story is, don't short these pins together!

Well at least it's good to know the root cause. Searching for an intermittent short or open circuit in a wiring loom can be a nightmare.

I think swapping to the Motronic 1.3 may solve all your problems in one go and I imagine the ECU's are more plentiful for this version.

...peter

GreatOldOne · #**456** 24th September 2012, 12:34

Yes - I may need some reminders on what is needed and what isn't in the engine loom. I've already noticed that 1.3 has a permenant live to the ecu. 1.0 doesn't.

GreatOldOne · #**457** 12th November 2012, 20:26

http://greatoldone.squarespace.com/b...here-fast.html

More work, no play....

JG · #**458** 12th November 2012, 23:04

Fantastic work going on there.

I don't think I would cope with all this modern stuff, looks like you need a degree in absolutely everything.

Great to see what can be achieved though

John

GreatOldOne · #**459** 28th November 2012, 10:17

Thanks John.

And in the words of Professor M - "Oh no, it's happened again"

http://greatoldone.squarespace.com/s...dertank3_1.jpg

I'm getting the fabricator who made my washer bottle to make that up for me so it should look like as good as it did:

It's my design, so If anyone likes the look of it and wants to get their own made up, feel free. It's the same size as a standard BMW header tank.

Shiny Shiny Shiny!!!

oaktree11 · #**460** 28th November 2012, 14:01

Jason,

Did I miss something? What happened again?

John