Project XXX AWD WHP Or Bust!

[Halon]

If your car actually just shut off, that sounds like more than just a Laptop to Link comm issue. Sounds like it's something actually affecting the cars functionality. Might be worth just sending in the whole ECU to the Link guys to have it checked out.

[goodhart]

Yea, this definitely seems more like an electrical problem than a mechanical problem. The pushing coolant sounds like a head gasket issue, but probably unrelated to the shutting off.

[JET]

Time to toss a volt meter on it and throw it in the passenger seat. Then you can see if the ECU is losing power or not.

[Alpha D]

Thermostat in pieces, how i missed that i have no IDEA! Either way replaced it and it ran study temp...ill have to replace all the water in the system with a proper coolant mix. Jet when you say voltmeter you mean check power to the main power wire/s going to the ECU?

The issue is really odd, I mean to describe what happend a little better and the exact circumstances. I was traveling down the road coming to a stop rather quickly and needed to step on the brakes slightly hard...the idle rpm's drop'd to low ...car kills...and cranks cranks cranks starts bogs down and dies...Yesterday it was really really bad...however when it happened today, after two times of trying she fired up again. I might just take the computer out...the Check engine light self diagnostic seems to work fine, however im puzzled why my wide band is stuck at 10.3 sometimes 10.2 as well....The issues could all be tied together somehow, I not sure if the ecu has designated ground wires at all? Could that perhaps be an issue grounding issue...a check engine light does comes on while cruising but i havent been able to check to see what it is ! Since link wont connect! The normal reasons for the CEL have always been ECT...which now shouldnt be the case any more...illl have to check and see.

With the little bit of simple diagnosing ECM says the lap top program initially sends a signal to the ecu and waits for a response and if it doesnt get one ...itll keep trying similar to anything else computer on a vehicle..inputs outputs....Perhaps my ecu is damaged and sending it out might just be the way to go.

[LingLing]

Crack your ECU open. Your capacitors might be leaking just enough to start messing with the board.

[Alpha D]

Yeah the above is about the only common check one can do, without in depth knowledge so ill do that and see whats going on...I read a thread on tuners that was forever long ..he had the exact same problem as me after weeks and weeks of diagnosing it turned out his chip was never even installed in his ECU....needless to say he felt bad, but he ran all the tests and well im sure i have my chip but ill check if its maybe damaged?

[4seasons69]

Yeah I agree pop your ecu open and see what it looks like in there. Check your powers and fronds to the ecu. And as jet said maybe try driving it with a volt meter connected. Or if you don't have anyone to ride along and have a power probe you could use that with the sound on so if it loses power you will hear it.

As for not connecting to link do you always us the same usb port in your computer? If you do try a different one. check your usb ports. In my old talon with link the strain from the laptop riding on the seat started messing with my usb ports. I still have troubles connecting to my computer with some things

[Alpha D]

Hmmm yeah usually I do...however on the day it stop'd working i tried switching ports ...because the one to the right of the lap top was way more conveniant vs the on the left hand side. Neither of them seem to want to work any longer.

I just read up on the com port set up procedure so ill make sure they are all set up correctly pull the ecu ...(Pulled already laying on the passenger floor) and check that.

Question if the ECU was loosing power intermittently wouldn't it shut of completely though while cruising or doing anything....gauges ..instrument panel everything?

[JET]

Actually just sounds like you might be flooding it on decel and might not be a power issue at all.

[4seasons69]

Yeah it would most likely happen while cruising and what not too. Also it would probably just cut out and die and wouldn't sputter or anything like that

Also yeah it eventually happened with all my usb ports and was a pita to get my laptop to connect sometimes. But when I switched from the main one i used and started using a different one it would connect fine until that one got messed up

[Alpha D]

Originally Posted by 4seasons69

Yeah it would most likely happen while cruising and what not too. Also it would probably just cut out and die and wouldn't sputter or anything like that

Also yeah it eventually happened with all my usb ports and was a pita to get my laptop to connect sometimes. But when I switched from the main one i used and started using a different one it would connect fine until that one got messed up

I will try a different computer today, mommyz lap top hehe!

and as far as the flooding goes...i wonder wether my wideband isnt acting up and the afr's really are stuck at 10.3....because the last thing i was messing with before it stopp'd connecting was my injector deadtime....and i cant remember wether it was set to like 405 or 350 or something ....I was trying to get it to idle at 14.5ish and then the afr's were at 13.6 and called it good, but i forgot what the dead time was set at...FAIL!

I really need to get it to connect so i can double check that....I guess its better to be stuck rich then lean? My gas mileage also feelcrappy..granted its on E85 but it was burning of rather quickly...

Also i do not have a idle motor so that makes it sometimes hard to get the car to idle solidly, im trying to source one as we seek and hook it all back up to oem...because its really annoying and i dont see the point why some even delete such a nice feature? But yeah the rpm's rise and drop between 1200 and 700 and sometimes kill so im usually feathering the throttle....but once its really warmed up and i have enough time to slowly come to a stop it wont kill...

[Alpha D]

Well, i open'd up my ECU and it looks just fine. I disconnected the battery over night and when i first started the car my wideband cycled for just a little bit but then sat back at 10.2 Funny thing is the innovative lc1 are suppose to have a warm up cycle and well it jumps straight to 10.2 (Suppose to flash at 7.4) so i know something isnt right. I tried a different computer for ECM LINK...no go

[Pushit2.0]

New wideband sensor. The lc1's do not have that good of a heater control and burn out sensors.

[Alpha D]

Yeah, i guess that might just be it. Makes me wonder if they go out that quick maybe it would be smarter to invest in a aem or something else. Problem is it acts as my o2 sensor input to the ecu as well. With that sensor being broken or giving false readings it could be the reason why it seems to cut out under acceleration. Feels really like its ignition related, makes sense though. If only DSM LINK would hook up then atleast i can log and figure out whats going on. Figuring that out is key.

Question: If the ECU Self check feature on the dashboard works, as in the CEL comes on then turns of after 5 seconds. Can your on board computer still be acting abnormal/BUSTED!?

[4seasons69]

I don't know as much about older obd1 ECUs but I would say that it could. Individual drivers and different things can burn it inside of a computer and quit working. All the pcm I've replaced at work the check engine light has always come on when you turn the key on


I would email Thomas at ecmlink and ask him abut the not connecting issue. He was always really helpful when I had link. Also hop on the link forums and do some searching

[Halon]

This is why it's hard to diagnose anything over the internet, we don't know the details until you tell us. To me now it sounds like the Link comms and the "car shuttiing off" are two separate things. If you're car is reading AFR's in the 10's, that's going to have a negative effect on how it runs/idles. If it sputters and dies when you're coming to a stop, that's different than an ECU just shutting down and the car turning off. So really it sounds like you're in dire need of a tune, as well as ensure you are mechanically set such as no vacuum/boost leaks, base timing and idle controls (BISS) set correctly.

So then the 2nd problem is you can't tune if you can't communicate to the ECU. So that may be a separate issue. Try a friends laptop, try a friends ECU, etc to figure out where the fault lies. Or if you don't have the means to do that, just send the ECU in to the Link guys, have them check it over and if they say it's good, then you know it's something specific with your car (maybe the access port).

[4seasons69]

^ this. I agree seems like two separate issues. I would try and figure out the link communication problem first. If you know anyone else that has link and can connect to their car. try your computer and cable on their car and see if it will connect. If it doesn't try their cable and your computer

Also if you know their computer and cable connect to their car try it out on yours. If still a no go probably an issue with the diag port, wiring, or ecu

[Alpha D]

I agree it really is hard to describe the events accurately. At this point my plan of attack is new sensor, and get link to connect. I just deem it very un-plausible for it to connect one minute and then completely crap out...the next....just dosnt seem right. & It isnt i know...the exact same thing with the wideband. Ill try a new sensor calibrate it and all. Ill see if i can check the DLC connector again. I got my lap top to recognize link and got the com ports to work.

According to the forums online, (i dont have acces to the actual ECM link forums), but from the trouble shooting page the trouble code im getting says that the program has send a signal to the ECU...however it is not receiving a signal back. Now this leads me to want to check the DLC ecu communication pin. It says to check and make sure it pulses...what in the world is pulses...between 1-5V between system voltage and ground voltage some body define Pulse..or just up and down basically? Problem with that is a bad connection could result in the same pattern though...

http://www.ecmtuning.com/wiki/diagport-12pin

Question: When checking continuty between pins 1 and 10 back to the ecu, i assue i can unplug the connector and just back probe both the harness and connector to check for continuity. If i not wrong this test checks for open's between the connector and ecu plug....thats all fine and dandy, but it will be nearly impossible to find an open without a wiring diagram. I have absolutely no idea where the wires run and if any other components are on that circuit that could be open shorted...ect does that make any sense? I guess start with obvious things that could ove gotten messed up...

[4seasons69]

Have you tried a different cable to connect the laptop to the car?

Right now I would just focus on one thing at a time. Before you spend a bunch of time checking connectors and wiring harness rule out the easy stuff. Laptop and cable.

I can get wiring diagrams from my work if you need them.

If I'm not working on my car this weekend I might be able to help you a little bit

[Alpha D]

Zomby Bump...Bring the Talon back from the dead! Looks like its been a while since i have updated my project thread. Not much has changed but a few things have changed like...

I have a mildly build short block in comparison to the GREAT :P ! Now forged rod's forged pistons....my head has springs and retainers and 280 camms...rocking 1450cc injectors....Got my PTE ported...FP Race manifold ported...and a couple other things here and there....Just some random improvements.

Future Plans,Goals & Dreams:

-Brake in the new Assembled engine sometime tonight when the streets are empty.
-Put a few successful miles on the car get it ready for a tune
-Wire tuck my harness ( ITS A DISASTER)
-Put it away into storage untill temps warm up and occasionally work on it here and there
-Make it to the Race Track and run some decent times mid 11's with the ideal goal of 10.9
-Find a shell worth the new engine tranny combo
-Upgrade ECM Link V3 To full
-HX40 TURBO UPGRADE OR A 62 SERIES
*A lot of things as usually are pending funds

I want to give a big big BIGGGGGGGG SHOUT OUT TO ONE OF OUR BEST MEMBERS JOHN PUSH IT 2.0 FOR SPEER HEADING THE RESURRECTION OF MY CAR THANKS MAN! TAKES A HUMBLE INDIVIDUAL TO ANSWER ALL MY QUESTIONS RESPOND AT ALL TIMES OF THE NIGHT HAHA!

*@John for sure get that Moon Taxi for some laughs and giggle cruises through DOWNTOWN, YES SIR!

*Sorry for the terrible pictures, ill get better ones as time goes lol!