7 replies to this topic

[MinipixMatthew]

I recently took my '95 Sidewalk into a garage to have the ECU interrogated, as the engine hasn't been as powerful recently as it used to be, acceleration is somewhat uneven, and doesn't exactly love motorways at the moment. It turns out there isn't enough power getting to the ECU. The battery is giving plenty of power, showing the full 12V, and at the front of the car the loom is showing all 12V as well, but going into the ECU there is "less than 10V". Mr garage man tells me that's causing all sorts of problems, and while the engine will still run it's not going to be running as well as it could be. He's not sure where the problem might be, and he's setting aside a day next week to look at it all properly.

So I was wondering if anyone here knows the wiring of an SPi well enough to be able to predict the most likely causes for this? Just trying to help out the garage man really, as the less time it takes him to find the less it's going to cost me! It's not really something I want to attempt myself either. If anyone has any suggestions on where to start looking for these missing volts, do fire them my way!

Ta.

Matthew

[Sprocket]

Im going to hazard a guess that this is a 1995/96 Sidewalk and will have the 24 way blade style fuse box in the engine bay. Does it have its cover? Check all the fuses are in good clean condition. I have experienced this in the past and pulled fuses and replaced it in turn and the problem sorted itself, i then replaced all the fuses as there was obviously corrossion on the blades, I also used a little silicon electrical grease to stop it happening again.

ECU circuit is on fuse 8

[DaveRob]

This is a really usefull list and as far as I know isnt in the Haynes manual....or least not the one I have

Fits with the 95/96 spec injections ....and prob some others

24 Fuse Engine Bay Fuse box: -

1 -- 15amp -- Rear screen heater
2 -- 15amp -- Reversing lamps, stop lamps, headlamp dim-dip, indicator relay
3 -- 15amp -- Auxiliary cooling fan
4 -- 15amp -- Headlamp dim-dip
5 -- 15amp -- Heater blower, sunroof where fitted
6 -- 15amp -- Wash / wipe
7 -- 20amp -- Headlamp flasher, horn, alarm
8 -- 10amp -- Tacho, ECU, fuel pump relay, alarm
9 -- 10amp -- Stereo, cooling fan relay, auto gear selector lamp
10 -- 10amp -- Stereo memory, interior lamp, indicators, hazards, alarm, brake fluid warning
11 -- 10amp -- Fuel pump
12 -- 10amp -- Starter relay
13 -- 10amp -- Side and tail lamps left hand, number plate lamp
14 -- 10amp -- Side and tail lamps right hand, instrument lamps
15 -- 10amp -- Main beam headlamp left hand
16 -- 10amp -- Main beam headlamp right hand & warning lamp
17 -- 10amp -- Dip beam headlamp left hand
18 -- 10amp -- Dip beam headlamp right hand
19 -- 20amp --}
20 -- 15amp --}These fuses reserved for overseas spec systems
21 -- 10amp --}and accessories (A/C system, front fog lamps etc.)
22 -- 20amp --}
23 -- N/C
24 -- 10amp -- Rear fog lamp

DaveRob

Edited by DaveRob, 28 March 2008 - 06:54 AM.

[MinipixMatthew]

Fuse box, eh? As it happens my fuse box doesn't have a cover at the moment, never has as long as I've had the car. I did wonder whether that might cause problems eventually, but since it never has so far I just ignored it. I shall have a poke around and see if the fuse is corroded. Thanks for the tip!

As for covering the fuse box, does anyone know where I can pick one of these up? I've looked on MiniSpares and eBay and neither of them seem to have heard of a 24-fuse box...

[Sprocket]

Unfortunetely, you cannot get hold of the cover for the SPi 24 way fuse box and the MPi one I dont think fits.

You will find that the ill informed do not realise that the 95/96 SPi cars had a revised loom with this 24 way blade fuse box doing away with all those inline glass fuses There are not that many and there is no one wiring diagram for these cars either, well there must be, but i just cant find it

[MinipixMatthew]

In that case I shall either forget about covering the fuses (hasn't seemed to have caused too many problems so far), or I'll have to manufacture a lid somehow. I'll see if I've got any butter tubs that would be the right size... It's either that or I move the whole fuse box inside the car and replace it with an MPi box, but that seems like a lot of work just to cover the fuses!

[BoyracerAU]

I've noticed that ex Jap cars have been making their way back into the UK. No doubt some are also coming back in as half cuts or parts cars. Hunt down a wrecker who deals in this kind of thing. I'm sure they'll be able to find a fuse box cover for you.

There's one such business here in Australia that immediately springs to mind.

[Avl_Paul]

Good info folks - I was just looking for a fuse box cover for my late 95 (early 96) car with this same 24-way fuse box. I was hoping that the cover for the MPI "under dash" version would fit. Bummer.

Perhaps someone converting an SPI to carbs will be willing to give one up. I had someone give me an ECU and relay pack who was doing that. He thought the relay pack was the immobolizer but I was quite happy to receive the relay pack as the mount on mine was broken.

-P