Have to send my e420c for repair... anyone not using theirs?
 

Greetings all...

Have 2 dead outputs on my e420c after driving over 10k miles since installing it. Honestly been tickled pink with this ECU since installing it over a year ago.

Had my VVT output bite-it sometime back in April and I just haven't had time to make the repairs. Yesterday the idle went insane and from what I can tell... my output for the idle motor is kaput now too.

Been in touch with the folks at Adaptronic and they're gonna make the repairs for me; but it's gonna take more than a week with the transit time in the works.

Just wondering if anyone here has parked their ride for a while and has an ECU that can be borrowed for a week while mine is in the hands of Adaptronic? Will gladly make a security deposit so you know I'm not gonna run off with your e420c... just need to drive my car since my other miata is being used by my parents 4 hours away.

Argh... no fun... but I'm not bitchin... :)

Thanks,
Matt

If you're in a bind and need your car, I'll park mine for a while. Its too damn hot to sport this car anyway.

Pat,

Honestly I have been trying to figure out another way; but if I don't have a solution by monday... I may come crawling :)

Do you already have the modifications done to your diodes or a black label on top? If you don't, I will trade you. When mine comes back from AU, I will pay for shipping of yours to and fro to get the mods made.

Thanks sir!
Cheers,
M@

Matt,
I was typing a reply yesterday as the storm went through, but lost it. I'm home all day today babysitting a generator. Give me a call. 202 674 2036.

Pat

funny you mention it, I went to drive mine yesterday and it just spins. no fuel or fire. I checked fuses and plugs but everything seems okay. all I got at the ECU is a green light. what do those LED's mean again?

Pat,

That storm was insane! I'm just now getting power and internet at the office...

I'll give ya a call sometime after 2 PM once I get my head out of this disaster we call work.

Cheers man and thanks!
Matt

When are you supposed to get yours back?
Is this the issue where some diodes are undersized and need to be uprated?
Are these diodes in the Adap box or on the external PnP board?

jason,

the nice guys at adaptronic are expecting my ecu once i borrow Pat's... i suspect it will not take but a week or so.

my ecu was an early one and does need the diodes and since mine did cook the transistors.. it will need them too. All told though, adaptronic is standing by their product and have been taking care of me.

the adaptronic ecu with the black label already has the modification done whereas the red label would need to be moded.

hope this helps!
cheers,
matt

It all depends upon the configuration... post your map and a screenshot of your ECU data window... let's see what's cooking. Odds are it's a simple thing :)

I lost one of my ignition outputs a couple of weeks ago. Ignition 2 just died. It is out for warranty repair as well. Travis is on it.

I also have a red label ecu. I wanted to get some more details on this diode mod but I have searched the Adaptronic site and have not found anything.

Ahh, the mod is not too horrid; but here is the long and short of it...

...On our newest e420c units (with a black sticker) we have added additional protection diodes to help with the rare case of VVT Back-EMF spikes damaging the output.

In your case I suspect the output transistor (BUZ71 or similar) as well as 2 x 15V 5W Zener diodes will need to be replaced. In addition, 2 x 15V 5W Zener diodes should be soldered in parallel with the existing ones (on the underside of the board) to stop this problem from happening again...

That's a direct quote from technical support at Adaptronic and surely a phone call to them will get you the best results. (or email)

If you use VVT then it's a must. I still would like to find out why some of us are getting the outputs to cook since this is gonna be a long term question of whether or not I'll have to carry a spare ECU with me in the future.

Cheers,
M@

I haven't even tested VVT yet because of this. I'm waiting for winter to send mine off. Are you sending the unit to Australia or to Travis?

I'm sending it to Australia since the diode mod is easy but the other output dying has me worried... so I'm hoping that they will take a close look at things and maybe replace all of the transistors... or maybe gimme a free upgrade to the new hardware V2 :)

If you are sending your unit to Adaptronic for more intensive repairs contact me and I'll send you a temporary unit!

Best,
Travis

Do you do this for all your customers? I've been holding out on sending it back because I don't want have the downtime with my car.

Definitely, just have to send an email! I do the diode upgrade here on site, some of the more advanced repairs have to be sent off for. That is what I'm here for.

Best,
Travis

Travis,

Thanks for the offer! I already met up with Pat this afternoon and have his ECU till mine comes back.

Appreciate the offer and may take you up on it if Adaptronic takes more than a week + to do mine.

Cheers,
Matt

Pat,

Thanks for the loaner! I got her installed this afternoon and geez... VVT is nice to have! First time in a long time that VVT was working and now this car is screaming! :)

Thanks for the loaner and i got the broken one out in the mail today. Crossing my fingers that all will work out quickly!

Cheers,
M@