Start Tester Guide

[SteveOS3]

Hello everyone and happy new year!

For Christmas I managed to borrow a genuine ex-Ford Sun Star tester to see if I could get to the bottom of why the emissions have suddenly jumped up.

First go showed a fault with the engine temperature sensor so I replaced it - second go the fault is still there.....

The guide I am using was written by Gerald TVR and can be found below. The guide says for fault code 13 I should refer to page 15, but there isn't a page 15....

I am going to check the wiring from the sensor to the ECU but if that looks Ok can anyone give any more advice?

Many thanks,

Steve


chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gbsportscar.com%2FTVR%2520Body%2520Off%2FFault_Code_Reader%2FEngine%2520Management%2520and%2520Emission%2520System%2520Code%2520reader.pdf&clen=312834&chunk=true

[Adrian@]

I helped Norman with this ..there is a PDF on the GBsportscar page that goes with the start tester info. A@

[phillpot]

Yep, but as the man says, it only goes up to page 12!

fault codes


My Haynes Fault Code Manual gives exactly the same result but no reference to page 15, perhaps that just shows you where the sensor is?



Talking of which, not wishing to insult anyone but it was the ECU temp. sensor you changed and not the one for the gauge?

Edited by phillpot on Wednesday 12th January 17:29

[Adrian@]

I had to look myself...at the bottom of the page. (granted no page 15, but the code functions). A@

https://www.gbsportscar.com/Engine_diagnostics.htm

Edited by Adrian@ on Wednesday 12th January 17:20

[phillpot]

Ah! that's different to the fault codes tacked onto the Instructions! How very confusing

[RayTVR]

There are at least two sets of competing code translators as highlighted above.

In my experience the one on the end of Norman's document seemed to be closer for my S3 than the one on GBsportscars site.

Maybe what we need to do is try on a working car and disconnect TPS, temperature sensor, AFM in turn and see what maps?

I can't do this of course.....

[SteveOS3]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I get the fault in "Section 4 Engine Running Self Test Procedure"

So, according to the Fault Codes it should be "R"

13
(O) ISC did not respond properly (extends to touch throttle then retracts for KOEO)
(R) Idle Speed Control motor or Air Bypass not controlling idle properly (generally idle too high)
(M) ISC sticking, open ITS circuit or TP sticking

I fitted a new ISCV, is that the same as the idle speed control motor, last summer so it shouldn't be that?
Not sure what the "Air Bypass" is....

Can anyone point me at the location of the two temp sensors?

Many thanks,

Steve

[phillpot]

SteveOS3 said:

Can anyone point me at the location of the two temp sensors?

ECU temp sender (as my photo, 2 wires) screws in RED arrow

Gauge sender (single wire) is just next to it, hidden by the throttle body in this drawing, BLUE arrow

[SteveOS3]

At least I've replaced the correct sensor so I guess I need to test the wiring from the socket to the ECU.

I've seen black and grey sensors but I recall being told that was just down to the manufacturer and there were no differences in their operation.

[RayTVR]

Do you get the same result (fault code) with the temperature sensor disconnected? if so, should be just a case of checking the resistance of the sensor to confirm.

[NMNeil]

Looking in my books I found that for the 1985-89 EEC IV system, code 13 is RPM out of spec.
Code 21 is for the coolant temperature sensor.
For the 1990-95 EEC V system code 13 was "Unable to control RPM" or "DC motor did not move"
Again the temperature coolant sensor is code 21.
Here's the test routines for the EEV system. (Most of Ford's pre 1996 diagnostic routines are backwards compatible, so should be valid)
https://www.techcapri.com/ServiceManuals/PCM/Capri...
New Generation Star Tester manual. (EEC V)
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1719546/Ford-New...

What year and size engine is it, and I'll see if I still have the factory wiring diagram?

[phillpot]

NMNeil said:

What year and size engine is it, and I'll see if I still have the factory wiring diagram?

It's the 2.9 efi Cologne fitted by TVR from about '89 - '93 (non catalyst) EEC IV

I don't know which tester Steve is using but the instructions I have been referring to are with this basic Star Tester

[SteveOS3]

I've got this tester.

The guy who lent it to me was a Ford employee and it left the building when he moved to VW....



Instructions below but I was following the gbsportscar plan.

[Adrian@]

Q. Historically, has the TPS been checked for being at full throttle at idle (check up from the plug to see if the TPS has been changed) just a thought, I have seen this many times and even went with Norman to find this on a car that he was using the star tester on whilst trying to get the information together. TBH, I do not think we even came good on a Ford/written version of codes to assign to the 2.9 as supplied to TVR from Power Torque. A@

[NMNeil]

phillpot said:

It's the 2.9 efi Cologne fitted by TVR from about '89 - '93 (non catalyst) EEC IV

I don't know which tester Steve is using but the instructions I have been referring to are with this basic Star Tester

I don't have the wiring diagram, but the Cologne 2.8 and 2.9 engines were fitted to the Ford Ranger and Bronco II here in the US, so they will possibly use the same wiring diagrams and colour codes as a UK variant..
https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/EDia...

[NMNeil]

Try using the other methods for retrieving the codes and see if you get the same result.
You never know, TVR may have used a custom ECU with different codes
https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/OBD_...

[SteveOS3]

So..... it may be the ECU temp sensor or the ISCV and there may be a custom code returned anyway.... you have to love these cars for keeping us busy

I have a Gunson Ford code reader that says it's for all Fords from 1987 to 1997(or thereabouts) - I'll give that a go later.

Thanks for all the help.

Steve

[mentall]

I've used the Gunson for years (S3C). No problems getting and interpreting results, and the results have repeatedly been confirmed by reality.

Good luck in connecting it, though. Please let me know if you need help!