AFM test results - can I be sure my AFM is defective?

AFM test results - can I be sure my AFM is defective?

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Discussion

PreCat Griffith

Original Poster:

62 posts

6 months

Sunday 31st December 2023
quotequote all
Sorry to bombard this site, but I'm testing my AFM as per:

"Turn on the ignition, but do not start the engine. The meter should immediately indicate a reading of approximately 0.3-0.34 Volts. Most defective airflow meters will overshoot to 0.5 Volts or higher, and take at least 2 seconds to come down to the correct voltage."

My meter does indeed shoot to 0.5 (1.6 in the very first instance!) and then falls down to 0.35 over a few seconds. So can I be confident my AFM needs replacing?

I have a video of the meter reading if it's possible to upload here?

Belle427

8,967 posts

233 months

Sunday 31st December 2023
quotequote all
Very common issue but i think it would pay you to get yourself Rovergauge and let one of the guys here have a look at the logs for you.
Its been said if its slow to respond on the test you performed its likely it will be inaccurate through the rest of its range.
Im trying to find a recent thread that involved a lot of afm testing so will post it up when i do!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315059052757?chn=ps&amp...tongue outla-1814673648222&abcId=9303859&merchantid=6995734&gclid=Cj0KCQiAv8SsBhC7ARIsALIkVT3zJw_r7UiTZlOc0RSUicPUIuX2HYT9bPdqYjV9LDeCde6ly7BVzuUaApYtEALw_wcB

Belle427

8,967 posts

233 months

Sunday 31st December 2023
quotequote all
Here is the thread, never overlook the basics!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

PreCat Griffith

Original Poster:

62 posts

6 months

Sunday 31st December 2023
quotequote all
I do actually have Rovergauge. I had it up and running fine, but after removal and refit of dash it now no longer connects. I'm going to give it another go today on a different laptop. Fingers crossed.

PreCat Griffith

Original Poster:

62 posts

6 months

Sunday 31st December 2023
quotequote all
Belle427 said:
Here is the thread, never overlook the basics!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Ah, thank you so much! I'll have a thorough read. While I've got you here, just to pick your brains further, my coolant and fuel temp sensors (tested in situ) are BOTH giving resistance of approximately 1500 ohms when cold (11C). Going by the Steve Heath bible, these are way off (should be more like 4000?), but seems coincidental that they both read roughly the same.

"The Coolant Temperature Sensor should change resistance with heat, per the following specs.
-10C (14°F) 9100-9300 Ohms
0C (32°F) 5700-5900 Ohms
20C (68°F) 2400-2600 Ohms
40C (104°F) 1100-1300 Ohms
60C (140°F) 500-700 Ohms
80C (176°F) 300-400 Ohms
100C (212°F) 150-200 Ohms"

Belle427

8,967 posts

233 months

Sunday 31st December 2023
quotequote all
I would agree they should be closer to 4000 but strange they are both the same.
I cant really explain the difference, maybe warm the engine up slightly and just see what happens to the values against the table.

blaze_away

1,506 posts

213 months

Sunday 31st December 2023
quotequote all
I can help you with understanding RoverGauge data once you get it running.

Specifically with the MAF
Failing MAF's become erratic when the engine bay gets hot. Its easy for me to test for but I will need a RG log file created in a very specific way. What I do is take you data do a full statistical analysis which then gives a standard deviation for that MAF. Then if its >0.08 its defective. If its <0.05 its good in between its borderline.

PreCat Griffith

Original Poster:

62 posts

6 months

Sunday 31st December 2023
quotequote all
I tried a new laptop and RG is working! I'm so pleased.

Ok, great thanks for your assistance. What would you have me do? Take it for a drive while logging? Need half an hour to get the car all back together first. Be right back.

blaze_away

1,506 posts

213 months

Sunday 31st December 2023
quotequote all
Great news.

Set RG up as bellow then...use your COM port.....

Switch on ignition.

Click on "Connect" in RG

Click on "Start Log F5"

Then start the car (preferably from cold so I can see how the warm-up proceeds, but its not essential).

Leave the car to idle (no touching any controls)

Allow the car to reach full temperature and for the fans to cycle on and off at least twice.

Continue collecting data for a further 10 minutes. That should be about 20 minutes in total.

Send me the two txt logfiles. (I will msg you my email address)



Edited by blaze_away on Sunday 31st December 15:41

blaze_away

1,506 posts

213 months

Sunday 31st December 2023
quotequote all
Seems yr profile does allow me to msg you, are you on facebook ?

RayTVR

1,041 posts

143 months

Monday 1st January
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What Did Rovergauge give as the temperatures at ambient?

blaze_away

1,506 posts

213 months

Monday 1st January
quotequote all
Quick update

OP sent me his logfiles, the temp sensors are all good coolant rises from 5 to 90's and stabilises/cycles, fuel temp rises from 5 to 25 slowly rising as engine warms up.

What we have found is the MAF looks good though reading low 26% at idle v normal 32% ish, it has good stability with StdDev 0.031 (good maf's are <0.05 at idle) sensor may need a clean.

The ICV is very low at near 0% vs normal 35% so suspecting base idle needs setting and/or vac leak.

In order of priority
set base idle, check for vac leaks, re-run logs, maybe clean maf sensor.

Belle427

8,967 posts

233 months

Monday 1st January
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Great work.

blaze_away

1,506 posts

213 months

Monday 1st January
quotequote all
Just did video chat with op and suggested "suck" test on the vac advance pipe. It failed so suspect vac advance unit diaphragm perished.

PreCat Griffith

Original Poster:

62 posts

6 months

Monday 1st January
quotequote all
Frank (and RoverGauge) has been so helpful!

We're making steady progress; I could never have done this on my own.

Vacuum advance diaphragm needs replacing, and we've also established that clamping this hose (with annotated yellow stripe) from/to the plenum will cause the revs to drop until stalling, so perhaps our vacuum leak.



Edited by PreCat Griffith on Monday 1st January 20:56

PreCat Griffith

Original Poster:

62 posts

6 months

Monday 1st January
quotequote all

Belle427

8,967 posts

233 months

Tuesday 2nd January
quotequote all
That looks like the crankcase vent hose from rocker cover which is un valved so may behave like that.
Id repair the vacuum advance and see how it goes but you can temporary clamp or plug the hose to see if the stepper responds and goes to its normal value.
Some info on how the crankcase vent system works here.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...


Edited by Belle427 on Tuesday 2nd January 07:05

blaze_away

1,506 posts

213 months

Tuesday 2nd January
quotequote all
Belle427 said:
That looks like the crankcase vent hose from rocker cover which is un valved so may behave like that.
Id repair the vacuum advance and see how it goes but you can temporary clamp or plug the hose to see if the stepper responds and goes to its normal value.
Some info on how the crankcase vent system works here.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...


Edited by Belle427 on Tuesday 2nd January 07:05
Great link about crankcase venting thanks.

I was wondering if op might have leaky rocker gasket(s).

I am at my car later today will give that hose a squeeze see how much it knocks the revs. Mine has been fully vac sealed using smoke tester so I know there are no vac leaks), not yet done on op car.

Op did manage to get base idle to about 750rpm (tightened hose clips and blocked off leaky ign advance module) but iirc that was with adjuster fully shut. ICV now runs at 12%ish.

Belle427

8,967 posts

233 months

Tuesday 2nd January
quotequote all
Its worth checking that fuel pressure regulator hose is connected to the back of the plenum too.

blaze_away

1,506 posts

213 months

Tuesday 2nd January
quotequote all
As a reference check I checked what happens on my engine when I clamp each of the crank case hoses to the plenum.

1. No impact on rpm
2. Moderate decrease in engine rpm
3 Moderate decrease in engine rpm

Concluding that (metered) air is drawn from outside the butterfly to plenum when butterfly is shut and plenum vacuum is at its highest.



Edited by blaze_away on Tuesday 2nd January 20:32