Whats Up With Me Motor?

Whitebeam · December 12, 2003

Does the engine check light come on? (as Colin asked)

If it doesn't this rules out most of the engine sensors (as they are monitored).

Intermittant faults are the worst to find They never happen when you want them to

If you haven't done already try wriggling pipes / wires etc while the engine is running (careful not to get caught in belts etc!). Also try tapping components with the handle of a large screwdriver.

Any clues about when it happens :

going up/down hill

engine hot / cold

accelerating / slowing

been idling for a while

weather hot/cold, raining, foggy

Next time it happens (if you have time) try tapping fuse boxes, relays, engine components etc before disconnecting the Battery.

I'm sure you'll get it sorted - let us know how it goes

Zee007 · December 29, 2003

Well - just to let you all know, the Zee Machine is back on the road!

A HUGE thank you to Friedel at TTE who sent me a free TTE Piggyback to replace mine, and after I did this, the problem has vanished. Seemed like a dodgy ECU.

Fantatstic service from Friedel and the boys in Germany, and very happy to have resolved the issue!

Thanks to all who offered their advise on this thread and via PM.

Zee. :D

TonyGoose · December 29, 2003

Glad to hear it's sorted mate ... :zee:

And yes, Friedel and the crew are extremely helpful.

Some dealers over here would do well to learn from their example

TRD328 · December 30, 2003

Thanks for all your comments chaps - appreciate it.
Firstly, I would rule out fueling - the car runs absolutely fine when it's running, and when it cuts, the engine just dies - doesn't stutter, nothing - just cuts out.

Secondly, Dave - re: the tte piggy-back ecu, there are many of us with the old one, and i think the new one just managed the rev limiter better.

Thirdly, the sparkplug thingy. Could be this. Before JAE, when I was polishing my block, I removed all the plugs. I had an issue with re-fitting the second plug (counting from the front). Maybe a moisture issue? Colin - you say it should still run on 5 though? Your thoughts on this?

Finally - IS200MCD - I think we need to talk if you have exactly the same issue. Could you PM or email me please - I would love to discuss this further. Between us, we'll find the root cause...

Thanks again for your help fellas,

Zee. :)

I had the same problem when i turboed my IS... it's running fine, but when u stop at the traffic lights and go again it cuts off.

I put this down to 2 reasons.. the fuel pump and the way my aftermarket ECU works. At below 5% throttle, the standard ECU is in charge, after that the aftermarket ECU takes care of the fuel. Before i changed to aftermarket intank fuel pump the car kept on stalling. Maybe it was becoz the way the fuel lines were relayed and the pressure wasnt strong enough.

The problem went away after i spent some money on an intank fuel pump.

DaveEllen · December 30, 2003

do i get a prize..................

Scorpion · December 30, 2003

Yep you go on the list for a free ECU from TTE if yours develops the same symptoms(of course it wont)

tdiplc · December 30, 2003

Funilly enough one of our customers had a similar thing happen recently. I know Zee bought his kit second hand and had it fitted somewhere else, but we fitted this kit so were concerened even though it was outside warranty.

He couldn't bring the car here so we sent him a new one and haven't heard back yet so assume that it is ok now

Maybe TTE had a dodgy batch ?

Scorpion · December 30, 2003

Glad its sorted now,nothing worse than a sick motor.

Zee007 · December 30, 2003

Funilly enough one of our customers had a similar thing happen recently. I know Zee bought his kit second hand and had it fitted somewhere else, but we fitted this kit so were concerened even though it was outside warranty.
Maybe TTE had a dodgy batch ?

I heard you were helping another member who had the same problem - we had been talking about potential causes...

Ultimately, I think you are correct in that the issue is faulty ECUs - and maybe a faulty a batch....

ColinBarber · December 30, 2003

Glad it's all sorted Zee.

Sounds more like poor quality or poor design rather than a faulty batch. Haven't they redesigned it now?

tdiplc · December 30, 2003

Sounds more like poor quality or poor design rather than a faulty batch. Haven't they redesigned it now?

I'm sure someone knows the answer

My understanding is the later type was introduced to reduce the rev limit by a couple of hundred rpm top reduce EGT's to help prevent pre-cat failures.

Rob · December 30, 2003

new ecu ( silver) reduces the rpm from 6200 to 6000, so the engine never hits the rev limiter and as u said mark helps prevent pre cat failures

Maz · December 30, 2003

Great to hear the car is now back on the road Zee..... :) :) :) :) :)

Chris.S · December 30, 2003

Good news Zee, I'll let Mick know as he was the one who confirmed it was the ECU

He'll be pleased

Zee007 · December 30, 2003

Good news Zee, I'll let Mick know as he was the one who confirmed it was the ECU
He'll be pleased

Indeed he will - can you let me know what date in January he will be fitting my thingys please Chris..... ;)

Chris.S · December 30, 2003

Of course

DUNCAN · December 30, 2003

new ecu ( silver) reduces the rpm from 6200 to 6000, so the engine never hits the rev limiter and as u said mark helps prevent pre cat failures

If it reduces the rpm from 6200 to 6000, will it not hit the rev limiter sooner ?

Mine has the black ecu so it revs to 6200. the pre-cats have been removed anyway so it shouldn't cause any problems hopefully

Rob · December 30, 2003

no, the rev limiter is at 6200 at this point the engine cuts the ignition, the new silver ecu reduces the engine rpm to 6000 so it will never hit the rev limiter

DUNCAN · December 30, 2003

no, the rev limiter is at 6200 at this point the engine cuts the ignition, the new silver ecu reduces the engine rpm to 6000 so it will never hit the rev limiter

So what happens when you get to 6000 rpm ?

Rob · December 30, 2003

the engine just wont go past that point, so you dont reach the preset ignition cut off and thus prevent the unburnt fuel going into the exhaust and killing the pre cats