Stepper - high idle
Discussion
I am having a problem with my stepper motor. It has been cleaned, as has the body, when my engine was rebuilt. I am having trouble with the tockover, which is high at about 2000rpm, and occasionally repidly oscillates between about 500 and 2000 rpm.
I swapped steppers with a Rangie one from the gut next door and the engine immediately behaved perfectly normally, 800rpm tickover, steady as a rock. He put my stepper in his Rangie and it had the same symptoms as mine, 2000rpm ickover.
Definately the stepper then.
Given that is is spotlessly clean, any ideas why it should be doing this? It's obviously not closing properly. Is it just knackered?
I swapped steppers with a Rangie one from the gut next door and the engine immediately behaved perfectly normally, 800rpm tickover, steady as a rock. He put my stepper in his Rangie and it had the same symptoms as mine, 2000rpm ickover.
Definately the stepper then.
Given that is is spotlessly clean, any ideas why it should be doing this? It's obviously not closing properly. Is it just knackered?
Yup, I kind of knew it was a gonner. I just hoped maybe someone was going to say "oh yes, they stick sometimes, reverse the polarity/smack with a mallet/dip in virgins piss and it will be ok". I didn't want to part with the thick end of £100!
It is stuck fast, it doesn't move when the ignition is turned on/off, it won't push in with the ignition on let alone motor back out again. A ex stepper. Shuffled off this mortal coil ...
It is stuck fast, it doesn't move when the ignition is turned on/off, it won't push in with the ignition on let alone motor back out again. A ex stepper. Shuffled off this mortal coil ...
coetzeeh said:
I had a similar issue after cleaning my stepper a few months ago.
Got advice here to reset the stepper by starting the car and let it get up to temp without revving e.g at idle. Fans must kick in. Repeat this three times.
After this my idling has been perfect.
That might have some effect on the ECU "learning", but I'm afraid the stepper has no memory. Swapping in another which worked perfectly as soon as the key was turnedhas proved that the stepper itself is faulty. Putting it into another car that had no knowledge of the fault previously which then displayed exactly the same problem pretty much confirms it. Got advice here to reset the stepper by starting the car and let it get up to temp without revving e.g at idle. Fans must kick in. Repeat this three times.
After this my idling has been perfect.
Thanks for the tip though!
[quote=victormeldrew]Yup, I kind of knew it was a gonner. I just hoped maybe someone was going to say "oh yes, they stick sometimes, reverse the polarity/smack with a mallet/dip in virgins piss and it will be ok". I didn't want to part with the thick end of £100!
Just an idea, if your still short of virgins piss and to tight to pay out £100 (lol) wrap some PTFE tape around the steppers thread to help the seal, I have same problem and this was suggested to me, although not tried it yet, Ian
Just an idea, if your still short of virgins piss and to tight to pay out £100 (lol) wrap some PTFE tape around the steppers thread to help the seal, I have same problem and this was suggested to me, although not tried it yet, Ian
You don't think the pikey in me has been there already? No, PTFE didn't help, but I would always use PTFE on any thread where being air or water tight was an issue. I've also tried: - Running with the stepper disconnected (idle stays at 2000rpm, no surprise there)
- Taking the stepper out and connecting it, observing no movement when ignition cycled
- Running with the stepper removed and thumb over orifice - runs fast until thumb removed, then it dies rapidly. "Take it out and tape over hole" bodge discounted as ineffective!
- Stealing the next door neighbours stepper (he noticed me switching them!)
- Smacking the fecker with various sizes of blunt implement having decided its fecked so what the hell. No change, but I felt better.
Trying to source a secondhand one at the moment - one on ebay, but its filthy and looks incredibly worn (it has a step in the valve head!)
Failing all else the wallet will be opened. Maybe I could sell tickets for this rare event to offset the trauma?
note to self - cleaning stepper by leaving overnight in a solvent bath may not be the most effective method! 
I used PTFE tape and ended up shearing the the body off between the thread and the hexagon. I now use a proper sealing washer and only tighten a bit past finger tight. Be careful they are quite fragile and fairly expensive. I bought mine from MM 4X4 ( www.mm-4x4.com/ ) and it was a good price.
Mike
Mike
miketvr said:
I used PTFE tape and ended up shearing the the body off between the thread and the hexagon. I now use a proper sealing washer and only tighten a bit past finger tight. Be careful they are quite fragile and fairly expensive. I bought mine from MM 4X4 ( www.mm-4x4.com/ ) and it was a good price.
Mike
Their web site is a bit pants though; no search. I have ordered one from Paddock as their website does have a search, and they list them for £55+VAT (thanks Dave!). Mike
I would only put them in finger tight plus a tweak with the spanner anyway, aware that the body is part ally and part plastic, and not the strongest. Incidentally, since the hex is on the ally part, and the plastic bit is the terminal connection, I presume you don't have a 32mm spanner?
Shouldn't be using a spanner of the square plastic section! In the States (for Rangies) they use alternate parts from GM which have an all metal body, but then I'd worry about cracking the housing. Best just to be aware of the fragility, use a spanner on the hex not the terminal housing, and be careful! Edited by victormeldrew on Monday 12th March 14:37
I'm getting old mate, fingers just don't seem to do as they're told any more! I know what I'm trying to type, but increasing it comes out as gibreish.
I quite liked "tockover" anyway, should be just as valid as "tickover" really! Not sure Bill will be happy about being the "gut next door" though! Sorry Bill - a typo, honestly!
I quite liked "tockover" anyway, should be just as valid as "tickover" really! Not sure Bill will be happy about being the "gut next door" though! Sorry Bill - a typo, honestly!
Edited by victormeldrew on Monday 12th March 14:41
New stepper arrived in the post this sorning from Paddocks. Apart from the comedy sealing washer (a bit of gasket material rather than a fibre washer) it seems fine for £55. Even had thread sealant on already. Fitted, started up, tickover is spot on and rock steady, job done.
Next job is to replace the oil pressure sender which I managed to twist when refitting. I have a new one sourced from Rimmers, just need to put a few more miles on the clock to finish breaking in the rebuilt motor then I can drain the Halfords oil, fit the new sender, and refill with Mobil 1. Job for this weekend!
Next job is to replace the oil pressure sender which I managed to twist when refitting. I have a new one sourced from Rimmers, just need to put a few more miles on the clock to finish breaking in the rebuilt motor then I can drain the Halfords oil, fit the new sender, and refill with Mobil 1. Job for this weekend!
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