Calling All 20v 4age Experts........

[dave_g]

I need someone who REALLY knows their stuff when it comes to troubleshooting a 20v 4AGE, particularly the ECU. I seem to have my engine stuck in some sort of Limp home mode but I don't even know if this engine has such a mode. I have already checked fault codes. Please help.

Cheers,
Dave

[JP]

have you got the exhaust done after the headers and installed the o2 sensor yet?

After they're done...

Did you double check all the timing marks lined up on the crank gear and cam gears when you changed the belt?

What's the base timing at?

How old is the fuel in your tank?

[adamaw11]

Is the knock sensor plugged in and wired up?
likewise with the speed sensor wire?

what makes you think its in some sort of limp mode? is the rev limiter lower than it should be?

[4agte]

is the ic regulator plugged in

[sideshow]

can u get codes out of the ecu
i have had ecus fail afew times and the check light just stays on all time when checking for coides instead of flashing

if you drive it to sydney i can fix it for u in afew months

[dave_g]

Thanks for all the replies. Still no progress. This engine problem is casing me immense stress.

-4agte,...... I don't know what the ic regualtor is?

I think It's in a Limp home mode because it idles too high and more importantly it has next to NO power.


JP,,,, I still haven't got the exhaust finished hence have not installed the o2 sensor. I don't think the abcense of an o2 sensor would make the car run as badly as it is.

[JP]

4age's have basically no power when they have no exhaust. No torque at all until around 5000-6000rpm.

Finish the exhaust and then start your troubleshooting.

[dave_g]

thanks, will do

[4agte]

if the ic regulator is not connected the motor from my understanding (correct me if im wrong)the battery will not charge and the motor run like abosolute crap

its a very easy thing to miss as i belive its on the intake side of the 4age 20v and threfore hard to get to..........

[JP]

You're talking about the alternator's internal regulator. If you dont connect the charge light wire or the sense wire it doesn't charge the battery. If you've got a strong battery the car will run fine until the voltage drops below about 12.5v from lack of charging.

[4agte]

whatever dude but the shit needs to be plugged in otherwise yeah voltage drop low then runs like poo

[JP]

Here's a pic of the two types of AE101 20V alternators I've come across, Series 1 on left with the round regulator plug, series 2 on right with the oval plug. The last blacktop I did also had an oval shaped plug on the regulator like a 1J alternator

http://users.tpg.com.au/adsl0uxv/20v_alts.jpg

[4agte]

there ya go thanks for pointing that out

[ae71 kid]

ok i had a similar issue when i first put my 20v in on standard management... what is ur intake setup like, i ask because mine was a custom airbox with the afm straight on the front of it and at first there was not enough room for a filter or pipe on the front of it, so i just left it, this meant the air had to come straight from atmophere onto the flap in afm, causing it to fluxuate open and closed any time above 2000rpm and the engine to have no power and run like crap, i also had no exhaust at that stage, all i did to remedy this was simply create a pipe with a nice smooth graduation from round to square at the afm side, so as not to cause the afm flap to go nuts... this helped but was still gutless til i put my full exhaust on... hope this helps...
cheers tim

[dave_g]

thanks tim,

JP,
I put the exhaust on today and it still runs with no power. It runs quite smoothly but still idles at 1600 rpm and has no power even when taken to 5500 rpm. It's Much MUCH slower than my bigport 4age. I still don't have an o2 sensor but I'm sure that would not effect the engine's power. My understanding is that it is only used when cruising. I've nothing left to try, I need help.