I'm having some problems, which I think maybe ECU related:

 

Car was running sweet as a nut on Friday night, used datascan (Blazt) to check for ECU errors (code 55: all ok!)

 

Saturday morning however, I started up ready for the MOT and was running really rough from cold to running temp at all revs including idle - and it sounded like a lawn mower! I could smell it was running really rich too. (Still error code:55) (It's worth pointing out here that this is first time ever my engine has missed a beat!)

 

Quickly fired up Blazt again and using the power balance test shows that no.1 wasn't firing.

I got the car stethoscope out and all injectors are happily clicking away. Removed the coil pack and checked for spark - all fine!

So, decided to perform a datalog using Blazt - which was fine but upon viewing the log - its recorded some weird spikes. Examples:

 

In the RPM log: I peaked at 379775 RPM! (The rest of graph looks ok)

In the Water temp log: I had a negative peak at -50 oC

In the battery voltage log: (and this maybe a good symptom): Dropped to 6v all of a sudden!

 

By this point - I'm at the MOT station some 5 miles down the road, and the car's running no better. Sure enough it fails on the emissions due to an excessive hydrocarbon level!

 

Finally I get the car home - connect up Blazt again - maybe to get the error code out: still 55 - and Blazt freezes! So terminate the app, reload and try again. It runs again for around 10 seconds - and proptly freezes again!

So I'm rather confused!

 

Other factors worth considering:

- PTU is only 2 or 3 years old and all connections are fine

- Injectors are newish (~5 years old)

- Injector connectors are ~ 5yrs old

- Temp sensor is clean

- Temp sensor connector is ~5 years old - so no crustiness yet!

- I've ruled out a dodgy O2 sensor because the engine was playing up from cold, and the ECU, afaik, is running off the map during warm up.

- Boost gauge shows a healthy amount of vacuum when the throttles are closed, which leads me to believe there's no leaks anywhere.

 

Anyone have any idea what I'm experiencing?? (Except for what is known as "Z ownership syndrome!" lol)

 

Any help would be greatly received - I've only got 10 days to get it retested for free!

 

Cheers

Simon.

Think I would try another ECU for the sake of it,if it's a stock one there's a couple for sale on here,or you could borrow one? :cool:

Think I would try another ECU for the sake of it,if it's a stock one there's a couple for sale on here,or you could borrow one? :cool:

 

I agree. Getting the car fixed quickly is key here so will gladly pay for the P&P in both directions if someone does have a spare I could use for 7 days? If a kind soul was to lend me an ECU - they will have to be happy for me to put my 555 chip in - so an ECU that's been socketed will be necessary - unless you'd like a socket fitted FOC. The ECU will also have to be a pre-96 one (i.e. The common 16bit one, not the later one with OBDII etc)

 

Simon.

I think Znut had a socketed one for sale,if not try Paul a SWZ-bet he's got something lying around! :)

Couldn't just be a faulty spark plug on No1 could it?

 

Good luck

 

Jack

I have a spare and could post it tomorrow morning.