Soarer Central: Fuel pump problem turning into fuel ECU problem?

Soarer Central Electrical Fuel pump problem turning into fuel ECU problem?

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Mike James
Newbie
SA
JZZ30 TT

Posts: 1
Reg: 02-2017

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, February 09, 2017 - 04:56 pm, by: Mike James (Myk393)

Hey guys,

After reading close to 50 different threads relating to fuel ECU problems, I've decided I'll post a thread and see if anyone can shed a little more light on my very annoying situation. I'll try not to ramble.

A few months ago, I ran out of petrol in my 91 TT Soarer and a few days later, my fuel pump bit the dust (according to the Auto Electrician I took it to anyway) and I got it replaced. I chose not to go with a genuine part as they said the cheapest they could find was $500. Anyway, I got a Goss fuel pump and got them to install that.

For the last month or so since its been fixed, its been running fine except for it being a little noisy, but I've read that is common for the aftermarket ones.

Anyway, yesterday (a 41 degree day in Adelaide) I took the car up to the petrol station at the peak of the heat and put premium unleaded in, then when I went to start it, it would only crank it wouldn't fire up. Pretty much the exact same symptom as a month and a half earlier when it was the fuel pump problem. It felt like de ja vu.

I let it rest for a minute or so and started it again, and it managed to start and drive reasonably fine across the road to the car wash, where I needed to go for a few minutes. I decided to leave the car running while I washed off what I needed to because I was so afraid of it not being able to start again.

At the end of washing it, it stalled on me. I gave it a rest and tried to start it again, this time it came up with the japanese "Engine Electrical System" dash warning and it fired up but was idling terribly and when you put your foot on the accelerator, it would struggle to rev. It also blew black smoke when revved.

I managed to limp home, only going about 40km/h max, it was running terribly with no power.

I get it home and spend the night reading threads on here... and I'm thinking it may be the fuel ECU. My question is, could this be related to replacing the fuel pump recently or is it just a coincidence? Could it have been due to the extreme 42 degree day?

I attempted the fuel ecu bypass with the paperclip this morning but the only paperclip I could find turned out to be too thick, so I was unable to try it out.

The car is currently sitting back at the auto electrician shop (after getting it towed) and I've let them know that I think it may be the fuel ecu.

And just as I'm typing this, they've called me and told me they didn't find any faults when they plugged their computer in and they think it may be because my battery is on its way out and my terminal connectors aren't very good and need replacing too. They said it's running now, but running rich and that it may just need a good solid drive. I asked them if they tried the fuel ecu bypass check and they were pretty vague. I'm picking it up in half an hour so will have a good chat with them about my options.

Any thoughts you guys have would be appreciated. Cheers. Mike.

Blake Gloyn
Goo Roo
manawatu
soarer JZZ30 TT

Posts: 1337
Reg: 02-2006

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Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, February 09, 2017 - 05:52 pm, by: Blake Gloyn (Blakenz)

what fuel you running? my original soarer used to falter after about half an hour or so of running on pump 98 ( with 10% ethanol in it) . would run fine on 98, but didn't seem to like the 98 with ethanol.
if the engine electrical system sign came on, then it will have left a code I'm guessing. have YOU run Diagnostics? I'm not talking about their diagnostics machine, I doubt it will pick up anything from an OB1 car.
a failing battery CAN cause a number of issues, so get the battery checked. Doing the fuel pump ECU bypass is a good way of finding out if it is the ECU at fault.
another thing could be faulty caps on the engine ECU. Or a faulty map sensor, or crank angle sensor, or cam angle sensor.

Mike James
Newbie
SA
JZZ30 TT

Posts: 2
Reg: 02-2017

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, February 09, 2017 - 09:26 pm, by: Mike James (Myk393)

Blake Gloyn wrote on Thursday, February 09, 2017 - 05:52 pm:

Thursday, February 09, 2017 - 05:52 pm, by: Blake Gloyn (Blakenz) what fuel you running? my original soarer used to falter after about half an hour or so of running on pump 98 ( with 10% ethanol in it) . would run fine on 98, but didn't seem to like the 98 with ethanol.
if the engine electrical system sign came on, then it will have left a code I'm guessing. have YOU run Diagnostics? I'm not talking about their diagnostics machine, I doubt it will pick up anything from an OB1 car.
a failing battery CAN cause a number of issues, so get the battery checked. Doing the fuel pump ECU bypass is a good way of finding out if it is the ECU at fault.
another thing could be faulty caps on the engine ECU. Or a faulty map sensor, or crank angle sensor, or cam angle sensor.

It was BP ultimate 98. This problem came on immediately after I put the fuel in.

I haven't run diagnostics, no. I wouldn't know how to, so I'll have to search on here for that. I'll make sure to run a check as soon as I get my car in the morning (I got them to hold it for the night).

Not too sure what an OB1 car is either, all I know is that he said to me he had some new diagnostics machine that picks up more faults or something.

So replacing the battery and terminal connectors is a good place to start then?

Thanks for the reply, Blake. Appreciate it a lot.}

Roland Elliott
TryHard
New South Wales
uzz32 1uz-fe

Posts: 238
Reg: 08-2014

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Friday, February 10, 2017 - 12:33 am, by: Roland Elliott (Aussie2013)

I am unaware of any new commercial asdl scan tool that will pick up any more than the cpu can output, its not really possible to do so. think they are bullshitting.

Mike James
Newbie
SA
JZZ30 TT

Posts: 3
Reg: 02-2017

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Friday, February 10, 2017 - 01:22 pm, by: Mike James (Myk393)

Roland Elliott wrote on Friday, February 10, 2017 - 12:33 am:
I am unaware of any new commercial asdl scan tool that will pick up any more than the cpu can output, its not really possible to do so. think they are bullshitting.

Well, I've bought a new battery today and new terminal connectors. Picked up the car from the auto electricians and they said they "managed to get it started", it was already able to start in my opinion. So essentially they don't know what's wrong with it.

I've driven the car to my work around the corner and I've removed the old battery and changed the terminals. I'm letting it rest now with no battery... so the ecu can reset (I'm unsure on how many minutes it needs to be unplugged to reset).

I'm hoping it was just a •••• battery... but I highly doubt it, considering the luck I've been having.