Intermittently dying car
01-16-2015, 12:44 AM
#16
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Sounds like you might have a cracked solder joint on your DME, my car exhibited similar symptoms at one point.
Take a read through this thread I started on how to repair the DME, hopefully it will be of help to you:
https://rennlist.com/forums/924-931-...ed-w-pics.html
Take a read through this thread I started on how to repair the DME, hopefully it will be of help to you:
https://rennlist.com/forums/924-931-...ed-w-pics.html
01-16-2015, 10:25 AM
#17
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That sounds pretty likely to me. I'll dig in there over the weekend and see what I can find. Nice write up, I always like pictures when diving into something new.
01-17-2015, 06:55 PM
#18
Pro
Easy way to rule out anything going on with the DME or the speed/reference sensors & their connections is to confirm that you are getting a signal AT THE COIL.
1) Remove your glovebox light assembly (assuming it works).
2) Connect long wires (nothing special required) from the two DME connections on the coil to the glovebox light assembly, so that you can place the light where it's easily visible when cranking the car.
3) When you crank, if the coil is getting a signal, the glovebox light should flash.
This is a really easy test. Try this and report back.
Also, let us know if you have the original chip in the DME or if it has ever been replaced.
1) Remove your glovebox light assembly (assuming it works).
2) Connect long wires (nothing special required) from the two DME connections on the coil to the glovebox light assembly, so that you can place the light where it's easily visible when cranking the car.
3) When you crank, if the coil is getting a signal, the glovebox light should flash.
This is a really easy test. Try this and report back.
Also, let us know if you have the original chip in the DME or if it has ever been replaced.
01-17-2015, 09:52 PM
#19
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Greg, you are the man. I got the DME loose and knocked on it really good and it started running. That was enough for me to proceed. I took it apart and based on the article you linked I went straight to those solder joints and looking closely they were indeed cracked. I went back out and with the DME apart plugged it back in. Tapping those joints I could turn the car on and off. I re-soldered those connections and tried again and it's solid as a rock. I guess only time will tell for certain, but I feel a good deal of confidence that I found the culprit. I'll report back (naturally) if it stops running again, but I'm so excited to get it back on the road. Thanks to everyone!
Oh, and I'll certainly hold on to that bit of information about testing Johnathon. I doubt I've seen the last gremlin for this car! I still have to figure out why the car cuts out at moderate throttle but does fantastic cruising at 5psi or and doesn't seem as bad at WOT. But at least it runs!
Oh, and I'll certainly hold on to that bit of information about testing Johnathon. I doubt I've seen the last gremlin for this car! I still have to figure out why the car cuts out at moderate throttle but does fantastic cruising at 5psi or and doesn't seem as bad at WOT. But at least it runs!
01-17-2015, 10:12 PM
#20
Rennlist Member
Greg, you are the man. I got the DME loose and knocked on it really good and it started running. That was enough for me to proceed. I took it apart and based on the article you linked I went straight to those solder joints and looking closely they were indeed cracked. I went back out and with the DME apart plugged it back in. Tapping those joints I could turn the car on and off. I re-soldered those connections and tried again and it's solid as a rock. I guess only time will tell for certain, but I feel a good deal of confidence that I found the culprit. I'll report back (naturally) if it stops running again, but I'm so excited to get it back on the road. Thanks to everyone!
Oh, and I'll certainly hold on to that bit of information about testing Johnathon. I doubt I've seen the last gremlin for this car! I still have to figure out why the car cuts out at moderate throttle but does fantastic cruising at 5psi or and doesn't seem as bad at WOT. But at least it runs!
Oh, and I'll certainly hold on to that bit of information about testing Johnathon. I doubt I've seen the last gremlin for this car! I still have to figure out why the car cuts out at moderate throttle but does fantastic cruising at 5psi or and doesn't seem as bad at WOT. But at least it runs!
01-19-2015, 11:44 AM
#22
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Drove a bunch over the weekend and into work today and still running. I'll drive it all week to build confidence before driving it very far, but encouraged for sure.