Code 54 - Help

[ESM]

I would take the memcal out of your old ECU and put it in your new ECU. That should fix it. One possible confusing issue is the condition of the oxygen sensor, which is ignored by the 9929 chip, and may or may not be in good working order.

The 5849 (the last digits of 16155849 quoted above tells me the old ECU has a 5849) is a rare prom id - its interesting to see it in a 49 states ECU. Most 49 states cars have the 1499 (and no EGR sensor). I have seen this id in only one other car, in Norway, and I was able to get a copy of the PROM from it so I do have a copy if necessary.

[DeanG]

It shows the Prom id: 5849 as mentioned above. A short drive didn't give any CEL however it usually takes 20+ miles. I will experiment more after lunch provided I can get an inverter to take the load off the laptop's battery.

[Doug]

good advice from above as always!

I agree that the

1.6S MAN DOM

implies it is for a "Domestic" = UK car, and not an Export.

[GeoffSmith]

It seems strange to me that the part numbers are not different. And what is a Lotus agent doing putting an open loop ECU in a Fed?

[ESM]

The service number indicates the ECU part number - its the same for all turbo Elans (and for all I know the NA too). The second number relates to the memcal and that's the one that varies.

[ESM]

Dean, could you check out the 13th digit of your VIN? I want to check its '2' (49 states) and not '6' (50 states).

[dapinky]

Sort of 'off topic' but still relevant:-

The part number for the ECU, I see they all have the same number, as it's only the memcal/PROM that is different (as indicated on the label) - but how come the part number refers to it belonging to an Esprit not an M100?
(A082 to start, not A100)

Is it the same as an Esprit ECU?

[ESM]

The Esprit that was the contemporary of the Elan did use a GM ECU of the same generation - it might be same one, its closely related for sure.

The part number thing is odd since its for an ECU with an Elan memcal and that definitely won't work with an Esprit's engine.

[GeoffSmith]

I've asked on LEF.

[DeanG]

I replaced the DOM (estic i.e., UK) ECU with the origional FED (eral) unit and went for a sereies of rides one of which was 70 miles. The car seemed to perform better and I received no CEL.

I always suspected that there was nothing wrong with the ECU. I must admit I was a bit shocked with the $3,000 bill for the diognostics and reparir.

I know the dealer (Criswell) bought the ECU from Dave Bean Engineering (DBE). I intend to call DBE on Monday and see if they can give me a list of ECU models they have in stock for the Elan. This should be very illuminating.

Now that I seem to have a spare ECU what should I do with it? If I could get a Kilimanjaro on the DOM ECU that would be great. It would certainly give me a bit more grunt in the high altitudes of Colorado when we go to LOG.

[GeoffSmith]

Dean,

$3000!

It would be worth your while talking to Algirdas as he has one of ESM's finest (although I don't know if he's fitted it yet).

Glad to hear things that things appear to be heading in the right direction. If you get a chance, post some logs for us to look at.

Keep us posted.

Geoff

[DeanG]

I'm not sure what qualifies as the 13th digit of the VIN but here it is
SCCGA36B7MF28102
Which gives me an 8 for the 13th digit?

[DeanG]

I'll try and look at the VIN again tomorrow.

[dapinky]

Dean, I think you've missed something out - all VIN's should have 17 digits (for all vehicles, not just these ones).

[Sy V]

Stripey's is SCC100ZT1LHD16467 - 17 digits, the thirteenth digit being a 1.

But an example of the US VIN format is here:

[Sy V]

Which would suggest to me that Dean's left the H out from between the M and the F.

The 2 is a forty-nine stater.

So he's got a Lotus Elan (M100) - G
Series 1 - A
Manual + Aircon and PAS - 3
4XE1-MT-engined Turbo 1.6 - 6
Inflatable restraints and active-belts - B
Check - M
1991 - M
Built at Hethel - H
Left Hand Drive with Catalyst - F
49 States (USA) - 2
Serial number - 8102

[dapinky]

SCCGA36B7MF28102

So, being a detective, I reckon you have missed out the 11th digit, which should be an ‘H’.

This would make sense as the workshop manual diagram would then de-code the car as:-

S
C
C
G = Elan M100
A = Series 1
3 = Manual, Air Con, PAS
6 = Turbo
B = Airbag/ seat belts
7 = Check Digit
M = 1991
H = Made at Hethel
F = LHD/Catalyst (Federal)
2 = 49 states (USA)
8 = serial number
1
0
2

Hence, the answer to the original question is that the digit is a 2.

[dapinky]

Bugger!

Beaten by some bloke with nowt better to do!

[Sy V]

Whereas I have got a (and they're different readout matrices):

Lotus - SCC
Elan (M100) - 100
4XE1-MT - ZT1
1990 - L
Built at Hethel - H
Right Hand Drive without Cat - D
ECE 15.04 - 1
Serial No 6467.

Page 3 of the Service Manual explains it all.

[Sy V]

Heh, aren't we the helpful-bugger brothers!