Code 54 - Help

[DeanG]

You folks crack me up!

I did miss the "H" in the VIN SCCGA36B7MHF28102

I was tired due to the heat and working on the car. I even remembered seeing the VIN described somewhere but couldn’t remember that it was in the manual. If you go to Wikipedia and enter VIN you get a good description of the VIN code. If you then follow the link at the bottom of the screen to Free VIN decoder at AnalogX http://www.analogx.com/contents/vinview.htm http://www.analogx.com/contents/vinview.htm it comes up with a Lotus VIN as an example.

Yes that is what happens when the car dies just a few miles from dealership and a couple hundred miles from home. I should have known better based on their reputation and first hand experience with a $600 side mirror repair. I should have had it towed to NJ to a real mechanic.

Since it is again above 90 deg and humid I think it is a good day to condition the leather. Then maybe a drive when it cools down.

Any good suggestions on what to do with my “spare” ECU?

[DeanG]

I spoke with Tom from Dave Bean Engineering. He looked up the order from Criswell (the Maryland Lotus dealer) and the order was for a non-cat ECU. He though that was odd since they stock three models of ECU's: California and 49-State versions as well as the non-cat.

[Doug]

good detective work, Dean. Next time stay one step ahead and you'll have money left to detail the Elan!

Have a fun drive.

PS I'd keep the ECU just in case -- or use to sell to someone in the future or trade for a part you may end up needing--it can be chipped to run a Federal Elan like we were describing so it is worth keeping . . .

[DeanG]

Being a glutton for punishment I ordered a new 49-state ECU from Dave Bean Engineering. On the other hand I also ordered a chip. I should soon have the best of both worlds.

[DeanG]

Today the car ran very rough for a few seconds within a few hundred feet of our driveway. It was running on a reduced number of cylinders when in first gear but would rev cleanly when the clutch was in. By the time I turned around it ran fine, well maybe a bit sluggish. I pluged in ElanScan but didn't seem to record anything odd.

[Doug]

Dean,

given you were using the open loop non-USA ECU for some time, it is possible you could have sooted up either the plugs or the O2 sensor or both! If so then these could give you rough running. Plugs you could check yourself, but O2 sensor could require precautionary replacement or ESM analysis and guessing from ElanScan logs! When my CTS (coolant temp sensor) went out it sooted up my car like mad. New CTS fixed the problem, but I found it sooted the O2 sensor enough that replacement made the car run much better! You can't clean an O2 sensor once it's dirty . . .

-D

[DeanG]

I like the O2 idea as I have one comming. I guess I will give it to a local shop to replace since I believe you need one of those special wrenches to get the new one screwed in.

[Doug]

you need an O2 socket, lots of penetrating oil, lots of time, and don't forget all the swearing!