Anotha MS3z that will doez the VVTz
 

Got it from the first batch of MS3s last year. Did NOTHING with it for quite some time.

Then I decided to build a quick and dirty adapter harness just before doing the 1st group buy. The expansion board of the GB units is based on a prototype that I made for the MS3:

Attachment 190682

So I made the adapter harness and yet again I did NOTHING with it, due to the lack of time and the fact that the car runs brilliant with the enhanced MS2. So it goes for sale.

The buyer wants it, and when given the option, prefers to remote mount it either in the glove box or under the passenger airbag cover. So begins the saga of doing it from scratch:

Attachment 190683

Yup, lots of wiring. I remade the connectorboard to include all of the expansion board functionality in it, and here's how it ended up:

Attachment 190684

And when inserted into a DIYBOB case:

Attachment 190685

Which is a DIYPNP case really:

Attachment 190686

The gf is only too happy that this saga came to an end:

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...DSC_4763_1.jpg

Congrats to the new owner!

(gf not included!)

Looks great, can't wait to hear how it works once installed.

Any updates on this?

Replaced the custom alternator board with with one of my own PCBs and now it doesn't read RPM, no cam signal. :vash:

Still trying to pinpoint the problem. As soon as it I find the problem, its on its way, everything else is good to go.

whoops. that's an odd one.

Yeah, it was working fine on the previous test, but the custom alternator board wasn't charging, so I removed it from the connectorboard and just added my standard expansion board, which controls the alternator. Shit works on the stim just fine, not on the car. Will be investigating again in a few hours, the neighbors don't like noises between 2 and 6pm, its a greek siesta thing.

And I thought Greek siesta is like 8am to 6pm... :laugh:

Tell me about it, I work like, 9am to 1am every day including weekdays and national holidays.

5V pullup on cam sensor input FAIL. Accidentaly removed it when I removed the alt board, which got its 5V from the same regulator. Will test tomorrow morning on the car as it is raining like frack right now.

Dimitris, are you using the 9926 inputs?

Nope, custom inputs.

Mofo started today. The issue with RPM was indeed the 5V pullup. But then it would crank, crank and wouldn't start, popping LOUD every once in a while. Removed plug wires from #1, tested for spark using coil test mode, sparks like a champ. Aciddentaly touched the coilpack that drives #2 & #3, OUCH - shit is hot like fuck.

And then it dawned to me: I had spark output set to inverted because I had just copied my basemap from my MS2, and the outputs on the MS3 are normal, not inverted.

Coils are toast.

Attachment 190501

Tried another set of coils, and it fires up, but not really well, and I can't connect my widebands because they are switched on by my MS2 through a circular connector that the MS3 does not have.

Q to y8s: Does your idle valve hum louder than it did with whatever ECU you had before?

shouldn't have killed the coil packs just cranking on the wrong polarity.

Dunno if the Toyo COPs are more robust, but I've idled with it set to inverted when using the MS3X outputs doing the same thing; copied my MS map.

I took my sweet time getting around the car and so on with the ignition on. So at least 3-4 minutes baking them. That probably did it.

Sight segway here... I have Joes inverted spark output mod, however it still 'fires' on key on which makes me think it's not working.

I've had the software set to inverted for well over 12 months, Am I running my coils inverted without knowing it i.e. are the toyota COPS, that robust? Or is something else FUBAR to make me fire on key on with Joes mod?

joe's mods should be set to "inverted."

the MS-II firmware doesn't cycle the coils with power on, unless you have an old alpha.

FWIW the Toy COPs have a "time out" where they'll turn off if you leave the signal on beyond a certain point.

The danger is that it creates a spark too, and can cause rod-fatal pre-ignition.

That's what I mean, the coils fire at key on, yet I have Joe's mod AND set to inverted.

uS doesn't cycle at key on, but MSII has the same ignition drivers as MS1 so it does with the 'normal' ignition driver circuit.

using the available 390Hz it's not noticable.
I dont remember hearing it on anything else either. I think they all ran it between 400-500 Hz, but I'm not sure.

I've been running mine (and all the GB units) at 490Hz and it is whisper quiet. With the MS3, at 390Hz, it buzzes quite loudly.

I have a loud stereo.

I do have some PWM converter boards but... it idles fine so...

To answer my own question: I reduced the idle valve frequency from the MS3 to 50Hz and hooked it up to my own expansion board that ups the frequency to 490Hz: It idles better now and doesn't hum as loud.

We can probably check to see if we can add something closer to 500 Hz.

Ken

Now that it's been on the car for a bit what's your impression?

It feels smoother than the MS2, it doesn't having a random misfiring issue that the MS2 has (at least I haven't felt it for the past week), I like that it doesn't stumble when I save changes, the number of available inputs/outputs is AWESOME. It required a LOT more fuel than the MS2, around 50% in most areas (I idle at 40 in the MS2, 61 in the MS3), and I still haven't nailed down the cranking fueling - it doesn't start as nice as the MS2, but that's obviously in the tuning, and when I want to leave I'm usually in a hurry.

The misfire thing is funny. My MS3 missed where the MS2 didn't. Going seq. spark solved that however.

I noticed a similar thing with my fuel maps so I altered the req_fuel value instead of rescaling/retuning the fuel map.

Hey Dimitris,

Any chance you could scope the VVT solenoid's current draw and flyback effects?

Are you looking for something in particular?

yes in fact!

after I started using VVT, the Q3 (upper right of schematic below) transistor started to get reeeeeally hot and screwing with all my PWM outputs on the expander board.

http://www.msextra.com/doc/general/pix/ms3x_schem3.png

I know you're not using that board but I'm curious if there's something about the VVT solenoid that causes problems with that circuit.

Temporary solution was a diode between VVT and +12.

Potential more universal solution is changing the 32V zener to a 22V zener.

I'm just a user so I only have a marginal grasp on cause and effect here. As I understand it, there is something about the solenoid that's forcing that transistor to dissipate a lot of power (so much that it heats up and discolors) but only with the VVT-compatible firmware.

Big ol shot of Q3:

http://y8spec.com/megasquirt/images/burnt_ms3x_q3_1.JPG

I am, in fact, using the MS3X. I can easily scope the voltage, but not the current.

oh!

I thought you made yourself a superior board.

You could measure the voltage across the resistor R69 and infer some things about current, couldn't you?

Not yet, young grasshoper.

The zener is ok at 36V, it shouldn't be a problem. I will have a look with the scope if I find some time tomorrow.