I have a 87 gxl with a
rebuilt motor
haltech e8
550cc/720cc
s5 manifolds(vdi 5th + 6th wired open)

Before I drove the car I had good compression.
Then I got my haltech e8 tuned(by FFT Engineering at ESP) and I drove it for 3 weeks.

It didn't have that much power but I never ran it hard because it was a newly rebuilt engine. All of a sudden by the end of the 3rd week I was loosing power like crazy, I couldn't even do 50 on the highway. My timing sounded crazy but everything was set perfect mechanically. When I messed with the tune I couldn't get the car started again. I am waiting for a email back from my tuner with the map he used to see if it will start again.

Before I messed with it it sounded horrible, everyone that heard it told me they think they heard metal grinding.

When I was connected to my ecu it kept flashing online and offline. I think maybe a ground came loose but I haven't been able to see the car because it's at my school and I have no car to drive with.

Something that also makes me think that is the idiot lights came on for the first time ever that day.

 

Did you check compression to find out if the engine was still good?

 

If this is a newly rebuilt motor, the compression is coming up, and the Haltech needs to be retuned.
This is a PITA for any new motor, since the Haltech is MAP based.
Engine VE is rising, but with the MAP sensor, it doesn't know this.
Now your engine is running so rich that it doesn't want to run.
I'd suggest leaning the maps (especially the COOLANT map) to see if it'll help.
This is why I don't recommend tuning a Haltech on a new engine...


-Ted

 

^^^
weeee!!!!
ill be in this boat soon
freshly rebuilt motor with E6K sounds like its gonna be fun!!

 

well I have another problem that I am not sure if it's a problem. I am using my friends laptop to connect because mine won't connect for whatever reason. It takes a long time (like 30 mins to connect) and then the indicator that you are online with the haltech changes like a ****, It says haltech online then haltech disconnected (it will do it all day).

does it take a long time because I don't have the base map saved on the laptop?

I checked all the power and ground feeds and I didn't find anything funky. Could this be my serial to usb connector?

 

What laptop model?
What OS?
If we're talking W2K, I wouldn't be surprised.


-Ted

 

I used some random gateway that has windows vista on it.(it works but really really slow with intermittent connection with the ecu)
I tried using my newer ibm that has xp on it, every time I get the ports connected the laptop restarts and shows error message(to quick to read). I think I am just gonna pickup another serial to usb connector.

 

personally it sounds like a battery voltage or grounding issue, low voltage will cause low power since spark and fuel are reduced so you could have weak spark and lean fuel mixtures. have you checked the grounds and charging system?

 

Good points, as well, where is the Haltech main power and switched power sourced from? I found its best to feed them directly from the battery (and in the case of the switched power, the ignition coil power is a good spot) to prevent voltage drop.