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Date:         Mon, 24 Dec 2007 06:11:51 -0800
Reply-To:     pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Subject:      A Christmas Goose
In-Reply-To:  <200712100503.lBA53XoS026772@flpi125.prodigy.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Beset by demons. The venerable svx camping box is NOT on the road. All relevant commentary invited that might shed some light on the demonic infestation.

>>>> Posted to the subaruvanagon and svxvanagon groups:

After the demise of my long suffering exhaust system (tacoma) with it's myriad re-welding patches and lousy leaky performance, installing the new system has given me a troubleshooting opportunity.

Posted to svxvanagon group:

Troubleshooting a bit of a snit with a 92-93 SVX installation whilst everyone else languishes in the sun a Bahia de los Angeles. For those of you aware of the selectmonitor software/cable etc: I would much appreciate a known good ini file for the 92 vintage SVX. Short of chanting and calling an expensive exorcist one or two of the best are completely bumfuzzled over a very rich running problem. Details can be provided and later discussion encouraged but for now I would dearly love a known good selectmonitor.ini file as a christmas present from the gathered net.wisdom.expertise. <<<<

Details core dump somewhat incomplete and ongoing:

What we know, what we don't know and what we've done.. Not in chronological or any other logical order

What we know:

A. The Tacoma exhaust system was far beyond the end of it's useful lifetime. Leaky both through cracks and poor alignment with the head. No longer maintainable and causing EGR and O2 Sensor degraded performance.

B. The timing belt was at 60+Kmi and needed to be replaced per PM recommendations.

C. There was a 'whirr' in the area of the timing belt.

D. The O2 sensors would not likely be savable due to age and corrosion. Should be replaced.

E. The Tacoma Oil pan had a poor drain plug housing implementation resulting in leaks at the plug. Repair or replace with MCM large capacity pan.

F. The van ran as usual on arrival even with the abovementioned shortcomings. Fuel consumption was 13-14mpg measured with GPS for the previous several thousand miles.

G. After installation of the Exhaust system using the MCM recommended components, replacement of the questionable O2 sensors, installation of the improved oil pan, replacement of the Timing belt and the defective rollers and the plastic camshaft bearing covers, installation of the heat shield, the van showed ~5mpg fuel consumption and an overheated Catalytic converter after 25miles on the road at highway speeds.

H. Walker SVX O2 Sensors drop shipped to MCM per recommendation.

I. Measuring the new O2 sensors at the sensors gave 0.011 V (11 MV) steady at both sensors.

J. Measuring HC gave >600ppm with the new sensors.

K. Measuring HC with the old sensors re-installed gave ~20ppm at idle. voltage not measured.

L. The overheated Catalytic converter caused some melting of the taillight wiring harness insulation on the Drivers side.

M. ECU fault light set on first road test.

N. ECU does not dump codes/show codes when queried using jumper diagnostic method.

O. <<<reserved for more knowns>>>

What we don't know:

U1. Why the cat gets hot. May be too small for motor displacement. May be running very rich at road speed and load.

U2. Why the ECU doesn't emit codes anymore. May be interrogating it wrong (bad test connector). May be defective ECU.

U3. When exactly does the fault light turn on. Does it stay on. Does it remain on after restart.

U4. Whether or not the ECU codes are reset yet. (did we reset them using the re-learn mode or did we reset them using the jumper reset method or did we not reset them yet)

U5. Whether the coolant sensor (tested to spec at the sensor by MCM) signal is present at the ECU. (may indicate cable malfunction)

U6. Whether the O2 Sensor signals are reasonable and also present at the ECU. (may indicate cable malfunction)

U7. Whether Janet wears pasties on both nipples (may indicate wardrobe malfunction) included just to see if you are reading along.

U8. Whether the New O2 sensors are properly wired in manufacture (visual/continuity comparison should detect defective mfg).

Need pin-outs and wire colors from harness on motor.

U9. Why the fuel consumption was ~5mpg after the first work was done.

pensioner (struggling manfully to achieve mediocrity)


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