2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

Any way to see if ECU is good?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-09-11, 05:15 PM
  #1  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Any way to see if ECU is good?

Swapped my dead alternator for a good used one and accidentally shorted the output wire to the alternator case. It blew the main fuse and once I fixed that the car wouldn't start.
I can tell I wasn't getting any fuel, as with my fuel pump disconnected the fuel pressure did not drop while cranking. I am also not getting any spark.

Ordered a new Rtek chip as it was probably damaged. Still nothing.

Is there a way to check the ECU to see if it is good? I fear I may have damaged the ECU.

Next question, if it is bad, anyone know of an N370 ECU for sale?


Thanks, Ben
Old 12-09-11, 05:32 PM
  #2  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
satch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: tulsa,ok.
Posts: 11,738
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Does the Main Relay click w/key to on? If not then check the 15 amp Engine fuse.

If the Black/Yellow wire at either of the coils has power w/key to on and the Black/White wire at the three wire Green check connector (other two wires are Yellow based) located near the leading coil has voltage w/key to on then the relay and its associated Engine fuse is good.
Old 12-09-11, 05:50 PM
  #3  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lol. Does now. Had been checking all the fuses and dropped one. just so happened to be that one. Looked up the fuse box diagram, relay works now. Gonna have a friend jump it because my jumper box is dead and we'll see what happens.
Old 12-09-11, 06:23 PM
  #4  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Satch. Got it running.
Old 12-10-11, 01:48 PM
  #5  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So it runs, but it has issues. Didn't notice this at first but when you turn the key to on, you can hear the injectors clicking away non stop. Not sure if it's primary or secondary or both.
And before I noticed that I went for a short ride and if you put your foot down at all, it's hesitate and just sit there and choke out.
So my original question stands, any way to check the ecu? Or could this be a sensor issue?
Old 12-10-11, 01:53 PM
  #6  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
satch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: tulsa,ok.
Posts: 11,738
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Remove the 40 amp EGI INJ fuse and turn key to on and see if the clicking continues or not.
Old 12-10-11, 01:57 PM
  #7  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's coming from injectors as well as the resistor relay up by the headlight. Gonna pull the intake and check to see which injectors it is.
Old 12-11-11, 11:57 AM
  #8  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No with the fuse removed the clicking stops. Pulled the intake. The clicking is from the primary injectors and the variable resistor up front by the headlight.

Tried to start it this morning, it started so I'm sure it was just flooded like crazy. But like i said when I'm driving if I go past about 1/4 throttle it chokes out. So I guess maybe my primary's aren't kicking in.

But that doesn't explain the injectors firing with the ignition on.
Old 12-11-11, 12:13 PM
  #9  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
satch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: tulsa,ok.
Posts: 11,738
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Originally Posted by Bjeralds
No with the fuse removed the clicking stops. Pulled the intake. The clicking is from the primary injectors and the variable resistor up front by the headlight.

Tried to start it this morning, it started so I'm sure it was just flooded like crazy. But like i said when I'm driving if I go past about 1/4 throttle it chokes out. So I guess maybe my primary's aren't kicking in.

But that doesn't explain the injectors firing with the ignition on.

And your primary injectors are probably working overtime thus causing the bogging from too much fuel. And are you staying under 3800 rpm when the choking out occurs or higher than 3800 rpm?

EDIT: Since HAILERS pointed out your car is an S5, the clicking cannot possibly come from the Variable Resistor or Resistor Box, so as he suggests, the clicking must be coming from other source(s).

If the Fuel Pump Relay is the item clicking it could be bypassed by jumpering the Blue/Red wires in the plug to the Blue/Green wires. And you could just unplug the unit to isolate where this clicking is coming from. So if unplugged and key to on stops the clicking in that area then you know the source for at least some of the clicking.
Old 12-11-11, 12:19 PM
  #10  
Rotary Freak
 
HAILERS2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: FORT WORTH TEXAS
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Probably hearing the pulsation damper pulsing, not the fuel injectors.

There's nothing mechanical about the variable resistor to make a noise.

Series five don't have a variable reistor.

Fuel pump reistor relay is up front and that does have a relay that might be heard clicking.
Old 12-11-11, 12:35 PM
  #11  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Honestly I'm not sure as to the RPM at which I was having an issue. It was relatively low. Say under 5k. And, yeah that's what I meant the fuel pump resistor relay up front. It is both that as well as the primary injectors clicking.
Old 12-11-11, 12:37 PM
  #12  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And on my post, #8, meant the secondaries probably aren't kicking in.
Old 12-11-11, 12:44 PM
  #13  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
satch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: tulsa,ok.
Posts: 11,738
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Originally Posted by Bjeralds
Honestly I'm not sure as to the RPM at which I was having an issue. It was relatively low. Say under 5k. And, yeah that's what I meant the fuel pump resistor relay up front. It is both that as well as the primary injectors clicking.
Well then gain access to the relay up front and measure the voltage w/key to on on the Blue/Red wire as there should not be voltage, but it appears that there is or it should not click. You can also measure this voltage at the Circuit Opening Relay just under the dash and to the right of the steering wheel column. In this Yellow and Black relay there should be a Blue/Red wire on the top row far right position. And measure for voltage w/key to on.
Old 12-11-11, 01:13 PM
  #14  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
They are both getting about .03 volts. However after unpluging and repluging the relay up front, neither the relay or the injectors are clicking in the on position.
Old 12-11-11, 01:25 PM
  #15  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
satch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: tulsa,ok.
Posts: 11,738
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Originally Posted by Bjeralds
They are both getting about .03 volts. However after unpluging and repluging the relay up front, neither the relay or the injectors are clicking in the on position.
That's a bit odd, but who's to complain. In the event that it occurs again you might want to bypass it.
Old 12-11-11, 01:49 PM
  #16  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm such a dumbass. RAWR. Forgot to put the EGI fuse back in before i tested the voltage. I'm just so stressed because it's my DD and I have to get back and forth to work that I keep overlooking minor details and causing more problems. About to go test the voltage again.
Old 12-11-11, 02:00 PM
  #17  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There are three wires on the fuel pump resistor relay plug that are blue/red. All three have 12 volts with the ignition to on.
Also the rack of relays in front of the radiator, the one farthest towards the drivers side is also clicking. Not sure what that relay is for. So that's that relay, the fuel pump resistor relay, and the primarys are all clicking.
Old 12-11-11, 02:22 PM
  #18  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
satch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: tulsa,ok.
Posts: 11,738
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Okay, so go the Circuit Opening Relay and check for voltage w/key to on on the Brown wire (far right bottom row). There should be 12 volts on this wire. If you find you have ground voltage then check the fuel check connector and make sure it is not jumpered. And also make sure the door flap to the AFM is closed and not open when the engine is off.
Old 12-11-11, 02:50 PM
  #19  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There is about 2 volts on the brown wire. Fuel check connector is not jumpered and AFM is closed.
Old 12-11-11, 02:57 PM
  #20  
Sharp Claws

iTrader: (30)
 
RotaryEvolution's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 0
Received 41 Likes on 40 Posts
and double check that your battery connections are tight.

sounds like a ground issue throughout the car. there is no signal for the injectors to pulse so whatever is causing it is a cyclic ground issue due to a bad ground or lack of voltage to the relays through the ignition.
Old 12-11-11, 03:02 PM
  #21  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
satch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: tulsa,ok.
Posts: 11,738
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
There are two possibilties for there to be ground voltage on the Brown wire. Either the wire is grounded out somewhere or the ECU is fudged and unfortunately the latter seems more likely. You can try doing a resistance check on the Brown wire either from the check connector to the Brown wire at the Circuit Opening Relay. Or from pin 3K at the ECU to the Brown wire at the relay and this is to be done with no key in the ignition on both resistance checks. And not to rub it in but the lesson learned here is when messing w/the electrical system disconnecting the negative battery cable removes any chance of damaging things!

EDIT: Remove the plug from the Circuit Opening Relay and check for voltage once again on the Brown wire w/key to on. If it still has low voltage,which it should not, then the relay cannot possibly be causing the wire to be grounding out when it should not.
Old 12-11-11, 03:09 PM
  #22  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
satch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: tulsa,ok.
Posts: 11,738
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Originally Posted by Karack
and double check that your battery connections are tight.

sounds like a ground issue throughout the car. there is no signal for the injectors to pulse so whatever is causing it is a cyclic ground issue due to a bad ground or lack of voltage to the relays through the ignition.
Since there is a ground on the Brown wire coming from pin 3k at the ECU when it should have 12 volts w/key to on it "appears" that the ECU is putting the ground on this wire when it should only be doing so w/the car running and not just key to on, engine not running. If the AFM flapper were open that would trick the S5 ECU into thinking the car was running and therefor place a ground on the Brown wire. The fuel check connector being grounded would be a possibility, as well as the Brown wire being grounded out by accident due to the wire casing being damaged and the wire contacting metal. The only other cause is the ECU is damaged.
Old 12-11-11, 03:13 PM
  #23  
Sharp Claws

iTrader: (30)
 
RotaryEvolution's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 0
Received 41 Likes on 40 Posts
i'd lean more towards the ECU fried.

but why would it still start and run? just seems to me that circuit is lacking solid amperage through either ground or power. even though resistance and volatage measurement may seem sufficient it doesn't mean that there is actually enough flowing to keep the circuit operational.

but why would it occur only after grounding the wire? that is where my thinking that something in the main system got jarred loose or burned up contact.

you can sometimes see the same effects when voltage gets extremely low and relays begin to click repetatively.
Old 12-11-11, 03:17 PM
  #24  
Full Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Bjeralds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yeah I kinda figured the ecu was bad. But thanks for helping me troubleshoot guys. And I did disconnect the negative. It's just sometimes I rush into things and don't really think it through. The alternator I got was missing the plastic spacer for the ouput wire and without thinkinng I was like oh this nut will work. Bad idea. Didn't think about the fact it would ground to the alternator housing. That's where all my troubles came from.
Old 12-11-11, 03:23 PM
  #25  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
satch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: tulsa,ok.
Posts: 11,738
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Originally Posted by Karack
i'd lean more towards the ECU fried.

but why would it still start and run? just seems to me that circuit is lacking solid amperage through either ground or power. even though resistance and volatage measurement may seem sufficient it doesn't mean that there is actually enough flowing to keep the circuit operational.

but why would it occur only after grounding the wire? that is where my thinking that something in the main system got jarred loose or burned up contact.

you can sometimes see the same effects when voltage gets extremely low and relays begin to click repetatively.
It's a bit of a head scratcher but the ECU appears to think the car is running when the key is just to on. If the ECU is tricked into thinking the engine is running when it actually isn't then the Light Green wires that pulse a ground to the primary injectors would be doing just that which would explain why the primaries are clicking w/just key to on. I would also bet that if the TPS were disconnected and the Boost sensor vacuum hose disconnected and capped, thus producing a load affect, that the secondaries would also click.


Quick Reply: Any way to see if ECU is good?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:35 PM.