Ecumate limitations
Ecumate limitations
Author
Discussion

Alun450

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

179 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
Later this wk a nice new ecumate will be coming to my door, I have a good idea of what it can analyse etc.

After I've used it to check various systems are working properly,

Am I right in thinking it won't pick up any info on speed sensor and or speedo itself.

I'm trying to ascertain weather I've blown my speedo ( box) when blowing 100 A fuse offering up alternator with batt STILL connected.

I have worked on cars before ( honest)

Any help would be very much appreciated.

I'm pretty sure I've goosed my speedo as its reading 5/10 mph soon as ignition is turned on and before my blunder it didnt do anything until 20 mph! (Calibration) apparently!

The 10A fuse on fuse board if that had blown the speedo would not work at all ?

When driving the speedo reads 40mph when cars actually doing 25mph so its gone bonkers, a bit like me!??!!!
Any guidance would be very much appreciated,
Thanks Al



QBee

22,485 posts

174 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
Had lunch with Daz yesterday at the TVRCCEM meet.....which just reminded me that you shouldn't expect your new Ecumate to charge your battery......hehe

SILICONEKID346HP

14,997 posts

261 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
What does the speedo box actually do ? I spoke to Caerbont , they said the box is not needed and did not understand why they fit this box ,the signal from the diff to the speedo works without the box .

After speaking to a Cerbera owner He told me the black box operates his door locks after a certain speed ,not sure if its the same on the chimaera.

Goaty Bill

1,779 posts

181 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
SILICONEKID346HP said:
After speaking to a Cerbera owner He told me the black box operates his door locks after a certain speed ,not sure if its the same on the chimaera.
Not to my knowledge.
I have opened and closed my doors a couple of times over the years at speed on the motorway because I have stupidly not shut the door properly and only realised later banghead

Alun450

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

179 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
He does like to have a laugh, good on him.

shpub

8,507 posts

302 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
The box converts the analog transducer signal into a "digital" form that the ECU can see. The speedo itself is OK and sees the signal but without the adapter box, the ECU will think that the vehicle is stationary and this screws things up. See page 40 in the manual.... http://ecumate.com/docs/Ecumate%20inst.pdf


ECUmate will flag up if the ECU sees a speedo fault, shows the speedo signal and if the ECU is going into is idle mode/sequence.

Alun450

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

179 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
Isn't it an interface between the (speedo, sensor)and Ecu, they use different software, (so out my depth now?)
It allows the ecu to interpret the info!?

SILICONEKID346HP

14,997 posts

261 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
shpub said:
The box converts the analog transducer signal into a "digital" form that the ECU can see. The speedo itself is OK and sees the signal but without the adapter box, the ECU will think that the vehicle is stationary and this screws things up. See page 40 in the manual.... http://ecumate.com/docs/Ecumate%20inst.pdf


ECUmate will flag up if the ECU sees a speedo fault, shows the speedo signal and if the ECU is going into is idle mode/sequence.
Is this box needed for after market ECU`s . ? I might junk it !

QBee

22,485 posts

174 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
Dragging around in my memory.....don't the early cars not have this, and it was only when TVR went to the T5 gearbox that they had to introduce the speedo conversion box?

Or was it the introduction of the 14CUX ECU that made the difference?

All i can remember is that it is a TVR-created mismatch of bits that requires a box to convert signals.

Alun450

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

179 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
Analoge/digital.
I've just dis connected alt main feed re connected batt and speedo still reads 8mph?
So now I need to invest in a volt meter, its about time I learnt!
I realise that various bits require correct current etc so you use it to assertain faults, etc, that's after ive took it to someone who knows what there doing to sort a problem of my own making!
Expensive home mechanics!
I should buy a bike with a carb!


QBee

22,485 posts

174 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
Alun450 said:
Analoge/digital.
I've just dis connected alt main feed re connected batt and speedo still reads 8mph?
So now I need to invest in a volt meter, its about time I learnt!
I realise that various bits require correct current etc so you use it to assertain faults, etc, that's after ive took it to someone who knows what there doing to sort a problem of my own making!
Expensive home mechanics!
I should buy a bike with a carb!

Expensive?
Maplins, multimeter is less than £20. Mine was £7.99, bright yellow. Can't see it in their online catalogue, however.

Alun450

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

179 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
Its not the meter thats expensive its my blundering about in the engine bay.
Just have to wait until my ecumate arrives and see what that says.




Rugbyfester

180 posts

165 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
Alun450 said:
Its not the meter thats expensive its my blundering about in the engine bay.
Just have to wait until my ecumate arrives and see what that says.
Hey Alun too late now you've splashed out on one, but you could have had a play with my Ecumate, if you want I would be happy to come over at the weekend and help you to use it, or to compare what your seeing against mine etc (assuming they should give similar readings), I just have to fit my new starter motor first (providing it arrives in time I will fit before the weekend).

Rugbyfester

180 posts

165 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
I have a Fluke test meter too if you want to use it.

blitzracing

6,422 posts

250 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
The important thing to look for is the speedo input the ECU sees that ECUmate reads- this should be 0 MPH at less than 3 mph, and then jump to between 30 and 50 MPH once the car goes over 3 mph. The speedo transducer box is designed to do this on the T5 gearbox cars, so its not a fault if you get these odd readings.

Edited by blitzracing on Monday 10th March 20:48

Alun450

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

179 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
Hi Paul, my ecumate should arrive on Wednesday so I'll use it ASAP.
I'm not in rugby at the wk end, work commitment so will stay at a friends house overnight.
I was going to mot it this wk but I haven't got much time so cancelled it. I really can't work out what I could have done to my speedo, I'm now deciding which fuse bourd I have fitted!
Really appreciate the offer and if I'm still trying to work it out by next wk I 'll give you a shout.
The car is due a service at Power so if all else fails I'll let them have a look.

It could just be stepper motor out of position and somehow I've goosed the speedo but I bloody hope not.

I have sometime in the morning so I'm checking earth points etc just to tick it off my Maybe list!
Regards Al



Rugbyfester

180 posts

165 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
Alun450 said:
Hi Paul, my ecumate should arrive on Wednesday so I'll use it ASAP.
I'm not in rugby at the wk end, work commitment so will stay at a friends house overnight.
I was going to mot it this wk but I haven't got much time so cancelled it. I really can't work out what I could have done to my speedo, I'm now deciding which fuse bourd I have fitted!
Really appreciate the offer and if I'm still trying to work it out by next wk I 'll give you a shout.
The car is due a service at Power so if all else fails I'll let them have a look.

It could just be stepper motor out of position and somehow I've goosed the speedo but I bloody hope not.

I have sometime in the morning so I'm checking earth points etc just to tick it off my Maybe list!
Regards Al
No Problem Alun - I'm no expert and read most posts with awe at the knowledge people on here have, I am looking for an excuse most weekends to get out in the Chim - with the Ecumate you can manually control the stepper - although I haven't worked out what help this is other than to prove the stepper motor travels in and out., not sure the unit is going to help with the speedo problem though.

Paul

Alun450

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

179 months

Monday 10th March 2014
quotequote all
It should throw up a fault code for speedo but not what's wrong with it

It'll be interesting to use it in condunction with the Rover gauge software.

I'll make an effort to read up on it all .
I'll have a day to play with it on Thursday then I'll have to leave it until next wk.