10 replies to this topic

[ryomini]

mpi / spi jap mini

 

is there a best procedure to remove the totally inaccessible coolant temp sensor hidden under

the manifold

I can just get my left hand to it - I have small slim hands

 

but I cannot even get the connector off to inspect for corrosion let alone the sensor

 

do I have to remove the inlet manifold - will I be needing gaskets

advice much appreciated

 

(don't have a code reader and will also be replacing the lambda sensor shortly)

[Fast Ivan]

As I mentioned in your other thread - my advice is to establish that you actually have problems with your sensors before you replace them.
There's a couple of reasons for this, one it's a hit and miss approach to fault finding and rectification and secondly it can get quite expensive.

I believey your issue is a high idle, have you checked for air leaks? What condition are your vac pipes in?

[ryomini]

Hi

no I do not have a hight idle

yes I have done the vac pipes and rubber connectors

yes I am following the advice on trouble shooting from the spi trouble shooting thread

@ruby answered the prob in another post of the same question

jacked car up and took it out with 2 extension bars

 

yes I agree but when you don't have a code reader it's a process of elimination

hope I can find a code reader one day

thanks for your concern anyways

 

- next stop the 02 sensor hehe

[Blatherskite]

Hi
no I do not have a hight idle
yes I have done the vac pipes and rubber connectors
yes I am following the advice on trouble shooting from the spi trouble shooting thread
@ruby answered the prob in another post of the same question
jacked car up and took it out with 2 extension bars
 
yes I agree but when you don't have a code reader it's a process of elimination
hope I can find a code reader one day
thanks for your concern anyways
 
- next stop the 02 sensor hehe

For the code reader, ebay is your friend!

[ryomini]

Blather

yep but they tend to be around the 200gbp mark -

so not the cheapest tool around

cheers though

[Fast Ivan]

Your almost certainly going to need access to one as an injection mini owner though

[ryomini]

Rob

yep cheers for your input -

sorry sometimes I think my replies can be a bit dry (I'm a grumpy old f*art by nature, ask my wife or my cats ;) )

 

I'm currently keeping an eye on ebay and am taking a look at a Jap real time monitor I posted a video in the spi only section

 

the downside with the jap monitor is you cannot reset the stepper and from what I understand the code reader is absolutely the only way to do so (am I right there?) the readers are darned pricey plus postage is no joke these days and then if I do need a lambda it'll be another hundred notes on top of the twenty or so I needed for a socket plus pandp - I had a very easy first 4 years but getting hammered at the mo and the running problems are absolutely not going away at all (very very very frustrating to say the least - you really need to experience it to understand it I think)

[FlyingScot]

You can manage without a code reader using a multimeter to check the wiring, sensors and the stepper motor coils. It's much slower than using a diagnostic set up of course.
The difficulty without a code reader is to read the stored faults and clear them plus live data (although the system you showed looks like it could do that). The setting of the stepper motor (stop) can only be done with a specific code reader (ACT or ACR with V3 or later) however this is usually only required when it's been messed with.
I guess that since your in Japan postage will be an issue for any non local system. Might be worth getting more details of the Japanese kit.

FS

Edited by FlyingScot, 23 June 2015 - 11:55 AM.

[ryomini]

FS thanks for the encouragement

Japanese kit is spendy - 55 000 yen for the FCR and 30 000 for the live data reader - how about if I just take the manifold right off, then I can clean the lambda without removing it and clean the manifold at the same time ????

[FlyingScot]

I would of thought it's cheaper to buy on EBay.... 55k is a lot in GBP!
Lambda cannot be cleaned, and to be honest it's unlikely it's the problem, they are fairly robust and just slow down over time as the cell gets poisoned. Unless you have data leading to the lambda I would leave well alone. Yes they are a service part but they are usually knackered due to long term faulty running.
People often suspect the lambda because it has influence on fuelling, but in my experience it's usually more basic things including wiring (minis are fame for their robust wiring - right?) including earthing, vacuum pipes and air leaks. From there it's checking sensors and stepper motor coils plus again the wiring back to the MEMS ECU.

FS

[Blatherskite]

Blather
yep but they tend to be around the 200gbp mark -
so not the cheapest tool around
cheers though

I'm not so familiar with electronics and sensors and so on, so I had to get one. Not so many in Norway... and I'm glad I did.