VP coolant sensor ecu problem fixed

[greenfoam]

Just adding this for future searches etc.

For awhile I've had a problem of the VP running rich and the Torque converter not locking up for about 20 ks of driving then rapidly locking and unlocking. I figured it was the coolant sensor, no luck, was going to change the thermostat but tried another ecu and that was the problem. Somehow something in the ecu that reads the coolant sensor was stuffed. Since I've been tuning around this at WOT for a while now then car is now running a little lean on the top end so I have to redo the tune before Friday :P. Good news is that my fuel consumption should be fixed, it's been about 12l/100 for a while now and considering I do most highway driving and the agressive lean cruise (that wasn't working) it should have been well under 10. Anyway that's something for the future searches for those that get this problem

[savage1987]

sounds similar to a problem my VR had early on.. can't have been the same though. Good job fixing it though, hope your fuel thirst backs off a bit now!

[delcowizzid]

its definatly been the month for ecu's has it helped your slow warm up issue too mate .the coolant sensor circuit goes more than any other in these ecu's ive nearly lost count of the number that have the same issue

[greenfoam]

its definatly been the month for ecu's has it helped your slow warm up issue too mate .the coolant sensor circuit goes more than any other in these ecu's ive nearly lost count of the number that have the same issue

Yep I think because it was running so rich that was helping keep it cooler than it should have been, everything fixed. I knew it straight away when the converter locked up 200 meters from home lol been a while since that happened . I'll be putting the few spare ecus I have in the cupboard I think, looks like I'll been needing them at some stage. It was my 165 that broke too

[savage1987]

My VN never really warms up.. I've put a new standard temp thermostat in it and everything. On a cool day it sits barely above cold, on a hot day it gets nowhere near half gauge.

COULD this be my problem? I'm not really complaining and it's not really a problem as such.. it's just an odd anomaly

[greenfoam]

Easiest way to tell is how long it takes the torque converter to start locking up, which should be 44c or pretty much as soon as you get up to speed over there in the desert :P. If it's buggered it wont lockup for ages. I'm guessing there must be a large percentage of VN/P's with this problem. If would really screw your fuel economy around town/in the city. Might be the explaination for alot of those guys that are burning 15l/100.

For everyone that's having problems running rich and anyone planing to keep their vn/p I'd suggest grabing a few spare ecus

[savage1987]

For the first time in a while I noticed mine lock up on my own street today. I think mine migt lock up early like not even 1minute of driving.

Maybe I should just wait and see how the computer behaves with a normal motor (VR rebuild) and not my poo one (>>>500,000km poomotor)

[greenfoam]

Yeah well you get pretty good economy considering your running a 50hp mill in your diff, lol

[savage1987]

hahaha! Yes I do, oddly.. still averaging low 10s L/100km. With an auto.

[TAILS83]

how do you tell when it locks up.

[savage1987]

revs drop slightly and it's a solid link between engine and wheels, ie no 'flaring' from the auto when you put slight power on.

locks up in 4th and 3rd beyond 90kph in a cable controlled auto usually i think, others i'm not sure

[Noy]

Hmm interesting, thanks for posting this greenfoam. May be one of the problems im having..

[89berlina]

Just adding this for future searches etc.

For awhile I've had a problem of the VP running rich and the Torque converter not locking up for about 20 ks of driving then rapidly locking and unlocking. I figured it was the coolant sensor, no luck, was going to change the thermostat but tried another ecu and that was the problem. Somehow something in the ecu that reads the coolant sensor was stuffed. Since I've been tuning around this at WOT for a while now then car is now running a little lean on the top end so I have to redo the tune before Friday :P. Good news is that my fuel consumption should be fixed, it's been about 12l/100 for a while now and considering I do most highway driving and the agressive lean cruise (that wasn't working) it should have been well under 10. Anyway that's something for the future searches for those that get this problem

Legend Sure its going to solve alot of peoples problems. Including mine. I have the bad economy and my gearbox has been feeling abit dodgy around 100km/h. Feels as if its slipping... but not sure

revs drop slightly and it's a solid link between engine and wheels, ie no 'flaring' from the auto when you put slight power on.

locks up in 4th and 3rd beyond 90kph in a cable controlled auto usually i think, others i'm not sure

What do you mean by 'flaring' from the auto? Interested to know because I think I have this problem. Car also seems to run very cold

[savage1987]

What do you mean by 'flaring' from the auto? Interested to know because I think I have this problem. Car also seems to run very cold

put your foot down a tiny bit, if the revs rise a little (auto slips) then it's not locked up. If the engine note gets louder but the revs don't rise instantly then it's in lockup


edit: just to make sure everyone here knows, lockup is a perfectly normal phase of gearbox operation

[89berlina]

put your foot down a tiny bit, if the revs rise a little (auto slips) then it's not locked up. If the engine note gets louder but the revs don't rise instantly then it's in lockup


edit: just to make sure everyone here knows, lockup is a perfectly normal phase of gearbox operation

Yeah have noticed that. Definitely does that When I accelerate the slightest bit at 100km/h it seems to rev up and then after awhile settle down to normal and thats at a constant acceleration. I dont have a tacho but I can hear it by the exhaust note

[calais_cruzin]

I had this problem, thermo also wouldnt turn on properly first start, if u startedthe car twice the thermo fired up when its meant to.

Convertor is a easy one to pick tho.

The 2 vn/p ive owned have both eventually had this problem

[grnvs]

I know this post has been up a while, but just wondering does anyone know if this problem may also effects the ecotec ecu's as they are different? Cheers!

[delcowizzid]

it may do but ive not heard of many if any cases of it happening to them they are a much better manufactured ecu

[Cheap6]

The coolant temp. circuit is a common problem on VN/VP ECM's. In order to increase the resolution of teh coolant temp. sensor signal and additional resistance is switched into the circuit by the ECM after a certain temp. (signal) is achieved. If the printed circuit board is cracked so that the additional resistance is not part of the circuit, a false coolant temp. signal voltage is read by the ECM.

A scan tool/software will show the temp. signal reading low.

To postively show TCC lock up, an LED and 1K ohm resistor placed across the battery + wire and TCC earth wire at the ALDL connector will work and not draw enough current to affect lock up operation. You can also use ALDL wires to lock up the TCC manually, although the standard ECM operation runs close enough to the limits of NVH (and damage to the TCC?) to make that little more than of academic interest - it's very easy to do though.