MS2 Install with AbeFM PNP Adapter Board
 

I finally gotten around installing my MS with AbeFM's PNP Adapter Board. I waited so long because I got frustrated on my first attempt. I almost sold the MS with the adapter board but good thing I held on to it and had Abe look at it again. :noob:

Anyway, I wired it up without my laptop hooked up to it. I wasn't really anticipating that the MS would work that's why I didn't even bother with the laptop. Fired it up, and it started! Whohoooo! WOW. I waited so long and it just fired right up. But the car would not stay idle, I think it's running rich. And the battery indicator light is on but faint. Obviously it needs more tuning. It was 11:30 at night and I don't feel like messing with it. I am going to hook up the laptop tomorrow morning and see if I can tune this.

Any ideas or tips would be appreciated. :noob:

If it wouldn't stay idling, did you change the Idle transistor? There was an issue with the first transistor that Abe used that had a bad spec and didn't run the idle valve properly. You can use a TIP120, TIP122, or the other type that Abe provided if you haven't changed that yet.

The battery indicator light being faint is normal for Abe's board. He suggested adding a capacitor to somewhere on one of the small transistors to solve the problem, but I haven't got around to doing it at all.

Post your MSQ or pictures of your idle settings, and we will try to get it up and running good.

I changed the idle transistor. Car runs now, I adjusted the idle screw. It's a bit rough. Car runs rich too. I'll post the MSQ later.

Congrats!!! My battery light was on dimly too. There is a capacitor that you can solder in to get rid of that issue. I'm on here through my iPhone at work, so when I get home I'll find a picture that you need. As for the idle, I never touched my idle screw ever. It is still the factory preset adjustment. I assume you calibrated your tps correctly?

:facepalm: Since I know the MS works, I put the stock ECU back and now the car won't start. Damn, it won't even crank, it just dies like the battery died.

Plugged the MS back and my car does not start.

Wow, you seem to be having the exact same issues I was having. Is the engine cranking?Is your fuel pump running? Take a meter and test resistance on the coils between 1&4 and 2&3. Tell me what you get. When mine didn't start, coil 1 was blown.

Engine does not crank, I don't hear the fuel pump. Yeah I think I fried the coils. Bummer

Check your main relay on the passengers side at the wheel well. It should still crank though, is your battery dead?

I strongly doubt you fried your coils, it sounds like you blew a fuse. Check the fuses like thirdgen suggested.

Thanks for all your help. I'll troubleshoot it tomorrow, hopefully it's just a fuse. I'll keep you posted.

Well the verdict is, I fried both my coilpacks. :facepalm: Geez! All fuses are good. I don't get any resistance on my coilpacks.

ouch. Wonder how that happened. Good excuse to upgrade to cops?

Are you sure they're toasted? I couldn't get my test leads inside the towers, so I used some scrap wire and stuck that down inside. Coil 1 was shot, coil 2 was ok.

Also, if I remember right, Abe's .msq was set for inverted spark (for cop use) make sure it is set to non inverted.

Yes they are, I used a screwdriver to reach inside the towers.

This was my MSQ file. Can anybody tell me how I fried my coilpack?

Assuming my fresh install of TS is good, it looks like it was set right. No cranking doesn't seem like a coil pack issue - it'll happily crank all day, I think even with the computer unplugged altogether. Of course, different people have different terminology.

When you say "cranking" you mean the motor never rotates? Thirdgen, as your car had a similar issue, do you remember if the rest of it worked?

When I fried my coil, the connector got all melty, it was pretty obvious.

http://abefm.smugmug.com/Miata/Modif...19_VVoUZ-M.jpg
Of course, it only changed shape because I touched it when it was hot.

Yes the motor did not crank at all.

^^^ holey moley.


Anyway, if your motor didn't crank at all, there's something else at work here.

Oh man...that's not good :facepalm:

check main fuse.

Main fuse is good.

Too bad you're down in TX, I'm sure someone would be willing to come by and help.

Well, If all your fuses check out good, (IIRC, theres a starter fuse?) check the wiring around your fuse box?

Did you hear any pop or spark when you tried to put your stock ECU back on? Anything unusual? Did all you do was try to put the stock ECU in and crank?

When did the car "just die?" Was it before or after you tried to crank it, or was it after you plugged in the stock ECU? Need more info here.

All fuses look good. I'll check all the wirings tonight around the fuse box.

Car was running before I switched back to stock ECU. When I plugged in the stock ECU, the motor wanted to crank but then it just won't turn. It almost seems like my battery died but it didn't.

so everything has power but it just doesn't even turn?

Yes sir!

maybe your starter is just dying.

It sometimes takes my car a few jiggles from on to start position several times before it cranks up. The connectors on the started could just be corroded over time, or your battery might just be really dying. Try jumping your car with another car or a battery booster to see if that helps.

Yeah maybe my starter is dying.

Tried that too. I tried jumping it with a battery booster.

Do you hear any "clicks" that your starter is trying to move when you put it into start? Or do you just dont hear anything when you move it into start?

You know what? I don't think I heard any clicks. It could be the starter. I have a coilpack coming my way, when I get it I'll check to see if it's the starter. Thanks

You guys are right. My coils are not fried. I rechecked them again and I get resistance of 10 ohms on both coils. So definitely something else is wrong. My starter possibly gone bad at the same time. I just bought a new main fuse, so will have to investigate some more.

It's too bad you don't have some folks to run through all this with you. Good news the coil packs are ok! I'm sure a systematic tracing will work. Could be a clutch switch lock out?

Actually I know somebody that can help me, but I'd rather troubleshoot it myself before I bother anybody.

Probably good news...

I have been tuning not inverted. 1999 Abe's bord MSII no coilpack issues.

Check your plugs. Probably Wet.

Which plugs are everybody running with 12psi boost MSII stock coilpacks?? I am still using the BKR6E, thinking of going to the BKR5E.

S! didn't read, yeah mine cranked w/wet plugs sorry.

Just checked the plugs, yes they're black. Probably from running rich. Thanks for the tip. I'm going to buy new plugs tomorrow.

Did you ever find that picture of the capacitor to get rid of battery light issue? I tried to search but I could not find any.

I dont have it on this computer, but I had an email that abe sent me a while back. It wasn't disclosed on this forum IIRC.

When i get home, ill dig for it.

I found the picture but I can't find what size capacitor. I think it's a .22uF? I'll post it up when I get home.

Thanks, I appreciate.

Well I replaced the plugs, but the verdict is, it's the starter. It won't even turn the engine, it won't click. I just hear a rattling noise. At least it's not MS related, which is a good thing.

rattling noise? If its a rattling noise, your battery is just dying.

Seriously, try jumping it again, and try to keep click it into start and see if it does anything.

Here ya go. The red drawing is where the cap goes.
Attachment 15778

And, from abe's email:

"Try a 0.1 or 0.22 uF capacitor between the top and middle pins of the TL431"

Thanks, I'll do this while my car is down

Heh, thanks guys.
1) For paying more attention to the forums than I do
2) For taking better notes. I guess if I'd thought to look on my photopage I would have found it.

(checks now)

Bigger version:
http://abefm.smugmug.com/MegaSquirt-...67_TF7is-L.png

Huh. I like the small version better. Looks more Pro. :-)

Just a note, though since you guys are running you don't need it anymore. I always say go buy 3-4 sets of plugs for a first start. Nothing fancy. $0.80 plugs is fine. If everything's fine, ok, you don't use them. But if not, well, I'd rather foul $12 of plugs than one set of $30 plugs.

My car runs! :bigtu: No, I did not fry the coilpacks, it's not the starter either. It's my battery. I bought a red top Optima #35 to replace my 11 yr old (I think) battery. It says Panasonic, I don't know if the PO replaced the battery or not.

But anyway, I'm going to do the battery indicator light mod and then install the MS again. I'll keep you posted.

Did you bring enough optimas for everyone in the class? :-) SO JEALOUS

Lol Abe. Go buy one :p

Glad your car is running. Did you install that cap? Work well for you?

I haven't installed the cap yet, I am doing that this weekend. I'll keep you guys posted.

If you put in the cap and it works well, I might just tear my whole MS apart and run one of these boards myself. My charging sucks, I have no low battery light, all my inputs are hokey.... I'm really pretty jealous - even with the poorly thought out "someone might want to put it in a box" design of the board - of the set up your guys have.

Update:

First a picture of my Optima battery in stock location.

Attachment 199214

Now my AbeFM PNP Adapter board with the capacitor fix. I used a 0.022 uF capacitor.

Attachment 199215

Gonna try this one out again and keep you guys updated.

I hope you meant .22uF.

It's .022uF and it didn't work. Battery light is still on. I guess I bought the wrong capacitor. Gonna go back to Radio Shack and buy the right one.

But the good news is, the board works. My car started fine, it idles fine but it runs rich, needs tuning. This PNP board rocks!

If I remember right, radio shack didn't have them, I'll check to see if I have any when I get home. I'll hook you up if I find one...

Hmm..

I bought a couple of 0.1uF capacitors yesterday for this and my bluetooth project, so ill try updating it this weekend. I'll let you know the outcome.

Congrats again on the PNP board.

Cool, I appreciate

So I'm home and I looked...I have (7) .1UF and (7) .22UF capacitors. If you want one, PM me your address and I'll throw a stamp on an envelope and mail you one out just cause I'm nice. Also PM me which kind you want? I'd go with the .22UF...

Thirdgen - is your car running? Just do the mod and see what you get. :-)

i think thirdgen sold your PNP board and did a complete custom install.