VR V8 going into limp mode

[stocky]

the VR is ****ing me off atm. it seems like whenever it gets cold or wet, when i start the car, it goes into limp mode. sometimes it will do it a few minutes after it starts, sometimes right away. i will drive normally for a few minutes, then i think the revs dropped a bit and it goes into limp mode, and goes veeeeeeeeeeeery slow.
it did it to me last night, and after about 20 minutes messing around in the engine bay and letting it warm up a bit, it finally went into normal mode after i disconnected the battery for a little while. it then drove fine, but the engine light would flash on for a second if i took the revs up too high too quickly. it seemed fine later on in the night, but accelerating still felt slow.
tonight when i tried to start it, it immediately went into limp mode. it also took a second with the key turned for the starter motor to start doing something. i would turn the key, wait about 2 seconds and then it tried to start.
i have no idea what it could be. it had a new dizzy, new ignition coil, new leads. any help is appreciated and whoever solves it will get rep points

[greenfoam]

I told you 100 times if there's no error code you need to look at the memcal and ecu, just do it !

[stocky]

yeah will check the error code tomorrow when its not ****ing down with rain. ive also developed an exhaust leak at the same time. when i tried to start it tonight, as it was running, as i revved it a bit, a small bang kinda noise came from the passenger side? happened once or twice, but didnt do it again once it started to warm up a bit

i dont get how memcal/ecu could be a problem if it eventuallys runs fine? however, as i drive in limp mode, i get no instantaneous fuel usage reading? i know that wire comes directly from the ECU to the dash

[stocky]

ok its still doing it. code check came back with 55, which is supposed to be
Analogue to Digital Error - Auto Transmission Only

WTF. its manual. how does that work?

[fizzoj]

is it factory manual? or did you do a conversion?? you can run a manual trans on a auto computer...... do yourself a favour, unplug your ecu find someone with a auto or manual ecu and try it!!! Only do this if the motor is stock...

[stocky]

well im getting tired of this. it was running fine yesterday. started it tonight and straight into limp mode. now im not getting any error codes. when i bridge the diagnostic plug, i just get a constant error light with fans on. its not the ECU or memcal. i tried a different memcal, same thing. different ecu, same thing. it still does the delayed starter motor thing at times. im thinking a faulty wire near the ECU, but no idea where to start or how to check

[stocky]

ok still trying to work it out. i turn ignition on, engine light is on, abs module in engine bay makes about 5 quick clicking noises, like a relay, then lights dim and fans turn on. my brakes have felt weird lately. is it possible a broken abs module could cause limp mode?

[TUF UTE]

im thinking a possible issue with the neutral start switch .. just a idea... if its sensing something amiss and with dirty contacts or a bad wire....

[stocky]

its manual though. the car does start, just doesnt run very well.

[TUF UTE]

my ute also puts the fans on for diagnostic mode, dunno if thats normal

[stocky]

yeah i think thats normal. but when i try put mine in diagnostic mode, it makes no difference, as in the engine light doesnt flash to give error codes. just stays on

[TUF UTE]

woulda said ecu but you have tried swapping that :S its obviously a sender somewhere giving a major fault and not letting car operate. guess its process of elimination time mate

[greenfoam]

The trouble is no sensor as far as I'm aware will throw the manuals into limp mode (unless the dizzy will)

[stocky]

The trouble is no sensor as far as I'm aware will throw the manuals into limp mode (unless the dizzy will)

now youve confused me. i think ill have to start looking for bad earths somewhere. this all happened after i sprayed underneath the car to clean it. maybe something has water in it, but that shouldve dried up by now

[Emackulation]

Knock sensors will put the car into limp home mode, and yes the fans do come on when your in diag mode.

[stocky]

knock sensor has been disabled in the tune, and memcal has no knock board on it (not original hsv chip). the knock sensor hasnt been in the car for a month. had to remove it for pacemakers. i only just put it in a few days ago on the other side of the engine and plugged it in, but it should still do nothing.

[Blown V6 Hatch]

ABS Module....Not sure about VR's but i know on VT's it is a very common fault....When the electrical part of the ABS module goes, it puts up the engine light, ABS light, Traction light (obviously not on yours). There is a way to test the ABS module, all you have to do is disconnect the electrial plug and see if that fixes it. Thats what we do on VT's when we suspect an ABS module....

[Pub247]

Fuel system in good nic?

[Cheap6]

ABS Module....Not sure about VR's but i know on VT's it is a very common fault....When the electrical part of the ABS module goes, it puts up the engine light, ABS light, Traction light (obviously not on yours). There is a way to test the ABS module, all you have to do is disconnect the electrial plug and see if that fixes it. Thats what we do on VT's when we suspect an ABS module....

I was going to suggest something similar in removing the relays but the connector would do it.

[stocky]

this is seriously ****ing ****ing me off. went through every pin with a multimeter. all of them seemed fine. my idle air controller has stopped working for some reason. not sure if thats the problem completely or not. when i fiddled with the wires a bit near the connector, it started to work a bit, but then went back to limp mode. i tried fiddling with the wires to get it to do the same thing but nothing happened.

[VrWagz1]

Would it be possible the white black wire on the diagnostic connector and goes to the ecu is earthing out somwhere on the way from the ecu. Try pulling the pin on the ecu for it and see if it still does it.

[stocky]

hmm i think i checked and im fairly sure it was only earthing out when the pin was in. even then, wouldnt it still display error codes if it was earthing somewhere else?

[Emackulation]

I got no error codes when my ecu was dead.

[stocky]

yeah but i tried a different ECU and it did the exact same thing. it was a VP ecu with a vr manual memcal in it, which greenfoam says would work

[Emackulation]

The wiring loom is fuct maybe? You said when you wiggled it, it went ok, then it died again?