Engine/ Fuel Management Electronics

[hilda]

Hi once again.
I seem to be having problems after the winter lay-up.
Does anybody know an expert with the diagnostic equipment to check the engine/fuel system electronics ? The garage who normally look after the car are baffled but think the problem lies in the fuel metering,perhaps a failed sensor.

Cheers

John

[Sy V]

Sounds like a problem for Elanscan, John.
Have a shuftie in that area of the Forum.

[rip]

Sounds like a problem for Elanscan.

I have the tools and a little knowledge.

Seriously, I have Elanscan but am still learning how to interpret the results...and am only about an hour away from you.

More help is always available once a log file has been captured & posted on here though.

Jack.

[GeoffSmith]

Has Ailwyn been moving threads again? 'Part Cross-Reference'

I started to tell an interesting story to tell about sensor failure but it was off topic I'm afraid.

[hilda]

Hi
Thanks Jack
The engine is now completely dead. I take it that Elanscan needs a running engine to work ?

Cheers
John

[GeoffSmith]

The engine is now completely dead. I take it that Elanscan needs a running engine to work ?

John, it will report back vital sensor information even if the ignition is not switched on. Any one of the sensors may be the reason for non starting.

[clemo]

do you have any more information than that?

do dash lights come on?
can you hear the fuel pump turn over?
have you tried the inertia switch ( by the battery)
has the immoboliser locked you out?

thinking.......

clemo

[Monty]

John,

If a sensor is down you would normally get an engine light, try doing the paperclip test to see if you`ve got an error code.

http://lotuselancentral.com/repair/aldl.htm

The Wiki comes in handy too
http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Main_Page

[hilda]

Thanks for the replies.
The engine was difficult to start & when running, especially at low revs, was very rich. The engine check light was off & all readings were normal. There was also a throttle delay.
It now won't fire at all.
Fuel pump working & as far as I can tell immobiliser working as normal.

Cheers

John

[Monty]

engine check light was off & all readings were normal.

Cheers

John

Does that mean u did the paperclip test?

The next thing is to see if your getting a spark, it`s possible it could be the HALL (£20 from Lotus sale) inside that CAS

http://lotuselancentral.com/repair/cas.htm

[hilda]

Thanks - no I haven't done the paper clip test yet but will do as soon as I can.

[rip]

The engine is now completely dead. I take it that Elanscan needs a running engine to work ?

No, it just needs the ECU to be alive.

[hilda]

I've now done the paperclip test & the only code that it threw up was 12-no fault.
I've also checked that there is a spark which there is
Does elanscan do more than the paperclip test?

Cheers

John

[Candles]

Yes, it tells you the outputs of all the sensors, hence you can see if something is weird. I would go down the more traditional route though initially: Spark (done), fuel?, etc etc....

Candles.

[Monty]

Yes the Elanscan is more detailed.

I pressume that the ECM is ok since you can get in to service mode, you did read the codes correctly, ie the 1st 3 codes will show 12 and only then will it show an error code (thats if you`ve got one)

Might be worth replacing the HES in the CAS as it`s a cheap replacement

http://lotuselancentral.com/repair/cas.htm

[GeoffSmith]

Might be worth replacing the HES in the CAS as it's a cheap replacement

But that failure would normally throw up a code 41.

For no better reason than I had very similar symptoms on another car, I'd suspect the coolant temperature sensor - ElanScan would highlight this problem for sure though. If you want an interface, I have some made up and could get in the post to you tomorrow if you let me know your address.

Geoff

[Monty]

Might be worth replacing the HES in the CAS as it's a cheap replacement

But that failure would normally throw up a code 41.

For no better reason than I had very similar symptoms on another car, I'd suspect the coolant temperature sensor - ElanScan would highlight this problem for sure though. If you want an interface, I have some made up and could get in the post to you tomorrow if you let me know your address.

Geoff

Not always

[rip]

John,

What is your next move with this?

If you are going to try diagnosis with Elanscan, it may be helpful to also scan a working Elan under identical conditions (ie. engine off, cold, ignition on etc). That way you will have a baseline to compare against.

[clemo]

Sounds like a problem for Elanscan.

I have the tools and a little knowledge.

Seriously, I have Elanscan but am still learning how to interpret the results...and am only about an hour away from you.

More help is always available once a log file has been captured & posted on here though.

Jack.

hilda i would be getting a pack of beers in the fridge and then calling

super rip


clemo

[hilda]

Hi
The saga continues.
I took the plugs out & cleaned them, number 1 plug was quite wet & all were sooty.
The engine started then died after a few minutes. It will now only start if the throttle is fully open.
I took it for a run & it misfires across the rev range.
I've checked all the connections I can see & done a visual check on the visable vacuum hoses. All seem ok.

John