FTO Drivers Club, Western Australia

[Venn]

I wonder if anyone out there can help me out
My GPX is having ignition problem for a week. Before this, the engine died when rpm go below 1k. I thought resetting the ecu will fix the problem, so I decided to unplug the battery but can't find any tools and I did the hard way by unplugging the ECU cable. After 30 minutes, the cable was plugged in again. Unfortunately, that didn't solve my problem and the worst is the engine will never start up again. I have checked and found that the spark plugs are not working.

My mechanic brought a diagnostic machine to run a test on my ecu and found no error at all. Just wondering, if the crank sensor fail, will the ecu generate error code since it can't be started at all ? I even tried grounding the grey wire with red stripe in the diagnosis terminal connector to get the computer to flash the engine warning light to indicate any stored diagnostic code(s). It simply flashes continually like twice in a second. That means there's no error code stored in the ECU right ?

�� I�m running out of ideas and can�t find any spare ECU to test on my car and the store have no stock for crank sensors �� I just don�t want to buy both ECU and crank sensors and ended up none of them is broken �. HELP .. any ideas ?

[RichardH]

Do you have an alarm/immobiliser that might be (a) malfunctioning, or (b) be badly installed so that the unplugging of ECU wiring might have disturbed patch leads to and from the immobiliser?

The original engine dying bit sounds (from the little you've described) like an Idle Speed Controller (stepper motor) symptom.

This might be a job for a professional! But take another look at that wiring near the engine ECU and see if something got pulled, shifted, etc.

Good luck!

- Rich

[Venn]

Well, its not the alarm. I installed the alarm unit myself 6 years ago so I know the alarm is not the problem. I wired it so that when alarm is turned on, the starter will not run not the spark plug ....

The ECU and the wiring are in good condition, so my guess was the sensors that generate input to ECU fail and caused the ECU to cancel the output to ignition coil.

Maybe the sensor was damaged when I was trying real hard to pull off those plugs on the ECU

Just got myself 2 used crank sensors ... will try to change them and .... Every body keep ya fingers crossed

Thanks for trying to help .. Rich

[Venn]

Still the same problem after hours of hard work replacing those sensors.... With no more options.. I have decided to send my ECU for checking and repairing... guess I have to live for weeks without my FTO

[RichardH]

Damn. Have you downloaded the FTO workshop manual and done all the fault finding in it?

- Rich

[Venn]

Well .. I'm trying to download the workshop menual, but server seem to be very busy all the time .. waiting .... waiting ....

[RichardH]

If you're in Perth, I've got originals you're welcome to borrow. Bought 'em years ago, before there were soft copies doing the rounds!!!

- Rich

[Guest]

i have a ecu from a 1996 manual GPX, if you are in Perth i could bring it around and try it.

[Venn]

Thanks guys .... too bad I'm not in Perth ! I'm like thousands km from you guys My ECU has been sent for repair, just hope that they can do that ......

[Guest]

check if you have power going to your ignition failure sensor under cranking

[Guest]

Do you mean under the cranking sensor ?

[Guest]

i think you will find it just below the coolant filler cap.

If my FTO had not been modified i would take you a picture of where it is

[Venn]

Thanks ... I think it's the black square thing just below the cap

[Guest]

that sounds like it, there is two bolts holding it on. 10mm socket should get them off.

[Guest]

that sounds like it, there is two bolts holding it on. 10mm socket should get them off.

when you get your ECU back if that hasn't fixed it get a auto sparky to check it.