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Old 11-24-2008, 11:29 AM
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Default EBC clicking

Recently my GM EBC started clicking at about 5-10 Hz when I turn on the ignition. It is definitely the EBC. This is before cranking the engine and is not going on while the engine is running. It is strange since it did not do this before, and only started recently after some minor tuning changes to the fuel table and boost duty cycle table.

I looked around but did not find the answer. It is not a big deal but I would like to get rid of it if I can. Anyone know what the deal is?

Thanks
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Old 11-24-2008, 11:43 AM
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Set the first RPM column to like 0 RPM and set the duty cycle to 0 as well. Quick fix. Make the 2nd column like 1k rpm so you can still set it to 100 duty for that quick spool you love so much.
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Old 11-24-2008, 11:44 AM
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could be 2 things:

1. You lost your TPS calibration so the MS thinks your throttle is open when it's not and is activating the EBC according to the corresponding line in your Boost Duty Targets table.

and/or

2. Your settings in Boost Duty Targets are wrong. You should have a bottom row that is all zeros. Say 20% tps 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0. Or if you want some EBC help at 20% throttle make that bottom row 10% 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0.

First check your TPS calibration though. Load the TPS gauge in MT and see if it reads 0 when your foot is off the gas. If not, recalibrate. Tools > Calibrate TPS
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Old 11-24-2008, 11:47 AM
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What chad said is wrong, you don't need to waste a column setting it to 0rpm. You just end up losing resolution across the RPM range that way. Better to give up resolution in TPS.
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Old 11-24-2008, 12:03 PM
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Don't really know much about the Megasquirt,but what I can suggest is,get rid of that piece of **** GM solenoid and get a MAC valve.

You will really appreciate it when you do.
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Old 11-24-2008, 12:15 PM
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I really don't know much about ebc tuning. I just know what I've done, pauls idea is a much better option.
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Old 11-24-2008, 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by spike
Don't really know much about the Megasquirt,but what I can suggest is,get rid of that piece of **** GM solenoid and get a MAC valve.

You will really appreciate it when you do.
Item # 310-12VDC, Humphrey 310/410 Direct Acting Solenoids Cv=0.14 on Air, Inc.
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Old 11-24-2008, 12:23 PM
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Yup,that valve will definately work too.I don't understand why people spend more or the same price for the inferior GM solenoid,when they could spend less for a boost solenoid that's 100x better.

Brain,what HZ frequency does the Humphrey valve operate at?
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Old 11-24-2008, 12:30 PM
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I run it at the same settings as everyone else: 19.5Hz. IIRC, when i tired others like 13Hz, it simply changed the scale as to where it operates. 13psi might be at 30%DC at 19.5Hz and 60% DC at 13Hz...don't remember.

Benefit...you can one of these guys: Item # P18, Air Exhaust Mufflers on Air, Inc.


but really, the cure for clicking is setting up the table better...specifically your tps values. During cranking or power on, mine is off. if i blip the throttle you can hear it clicking.
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Old 11-24-2008, 12:42 PM
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That's interesting,the MAC valve runs on 30HZ,I wonder if it can run at a lower frequency without any trouble.....any thoughts on that Brain?

I have one of those mufflers,it makes a big difference in cutting out the clicking sound.
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Old 11-24-2008, 12:48 PM
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You can also get one of those mufflers at any MSC, McMaster, Fastenal.
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Old 11-24-2008, 12:54 PM
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FWIW, I use the Humphrey valve ($33 shipped w/o fittings) with the MSPNP settings.

The following boost duty targets don't result in any odd cycling except occasionally when I blip the throttle at low RPM.

Also, sometimes while loading a new .msq, the valve will cycle a few times.


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Old 11-24-2008, 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by paul
could be 2 things:

1. You lost your TPS calibration so the MS thinks your throttle is open when it's not and is activating the EBC according to the corresponding line in your Boost Duty Targets table.

and/or

2. Your settings in Boost Duty Targets are wrong. You should have a bottom row that is all zeros. Say 20% tps 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0. Or if you want some EBC help at 20% throttle make that bottom row 10% 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0.

First check your TPS calibration though. Load the TPS gauge in MT and see if it reads 0 when your foot is off the gas. If not, recalibrate. Tools > Calibrate TPS
So I went outside at lunch and checked things out.

1. I checked the throttle calibration, even recalibrated it. Still the same clicking.

2. The bottom row of my boost duty target was already set to zero.

I have a gradual ramp-up from 0 to the full boost cycles at 80%+ to help with part throttle boost smoothness. But that is another topic.

Any other ideas? image of the boost duty table and my msq is attached.
Attached Thumbnails EBC clicking-boost-duty-table.jpg  
Attached Files
File Type: msq
12psi - 6.msq (34.7 KB, 129 views)
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Old 11-24-2008, 01:52 PM
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change the first two columns in the 30% row to zero as well. does that have an effect?
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Old 11-24-2008, 01:57 PM
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I'm back at my desk so I'll try it later and let you know.
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Old 11-24-2008, 02:03 PM
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Everyone's EBC table is so much more intricate and complicated than mine. I think I have 4 values for the entire table.
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Old 11-24-2008, 04:20 PM
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Originally Posted by ZX-Tex
So I went outside at lunch and checked things out.

1. I checked the throttle calibration, even recalibrated it. Still the same clicking.

2. The bottom row of my boost duty target was already set to zero.

I have a gradual ramp-up from 0 to the full boost cycles at 80%+ to help with part throttle boost smoothness. But that is another topic.

Any other ideas? image of the boost duty table and my msq is attached.
Change that bottom value from 2% to 20%
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Old 11-24-2008, 06:31 PM
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^ OK I changed it from 2% to 20% and I think that did the trick. The fix seems obvious now in retrospect. I am not sure how it changed to 2% in the first place, must have been an inadvertent typo on my part.

The clicking problem was somewhat intermittent, but I cannot duplicate the error as of yet. It is strange... When I turned on the ignition to power the MS it was not clicking. Then when I changed the column value from 2% to 20% and burned it to the MS, the clicking started up again. Without starting the car I turned off the ignition and turned it back on; the clicking was gone again. I started and ran the car, turned it off, turned the ignition on and off again a few times, no clicking. So I THINK it is fixed.

Thanks Paul

Chad FWIW all I did to create my table was to scale the values by row. 100% and 80% are untouched from the tuned values. For 60% throttle I multiplied the entire row by 0.8. For 40% I multiplied by 0.6. For 25% by 0.4. That makes the boost onset a little less snappy at part throttle and thus makes it easier to modulate; It transitions from the tamer wastegate behavior to the more aggressive EBC behavior based on throttle position. It's nice for rolling on the throttle while in mid corner.
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Old 11-24-2008, 07:05 PM
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I'll try your table tuning style. I just dropped in values that let me hold 12 psi to redline and 10 below 50% throttle.
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Old 11-24-2008, 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by ZX-Tex

Chad FWIW all I did to create my table was to scale the values by row. 100% and 80% are untouched from the tuned values. For 60% throttle I multiplied the entire row by 0.8. For 40% I multiplied by 0.6. For 25% by 0.4. That makes the boost onset a little less snappy at part throttle and thus makes it easier to modulate; It transitions from the tamer wastegate behavior to the more aggressive EBC behavior based on throttle position. It's nice for rolling on the throttle while in mid corner.
that's exactly how i determine my lower rows.
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