Microtech Question...

[ryguy86]

Hi Guys.. I have a bit of question for people that know a little about Microtech's lt10.

I have just recently put one on my 4azge. Iniitally it was meant to be mapped as a direct fire ignition setup. so that i would be running 4 individual bosch coils.

I had since found out that the good guys at microtech sent me the wrong map and the one i have has been setup for 2 coils ( wasted spark setup) mainly used for running the standard coils.... so i have setup the 4 coils and have bridged the singal from the microtech igniton unit.. so the ecu you ignitor think that i have 2 coils.. . but im actully using 4( until i get a chance to take out the ecu and send it back).,..

anyways.. i have set it up.. had it tuned and it was running fine....since then i got the car home.. took it off the trailer.. but when i started it.. its only running on 2 cylnders. the way that the coils are setup are:

1+ 4 and 2 + 3.

I have checked the leads.. the plugs and coils. and they are all fine...

what im thinking is that i might have killed the x4 ingitor unit... but im not too sure..
i dont think so.. but its the only thing that i can think of...
spliting the igition signal off the ignition unit on the coils couldnt kill the ingition unit could it???

[The Witzl]

Did you split the signals from the ECU to the X4 ignition box?
Or did you split the signals from the X4 box to the coils?

Either way is not really ideal, but the first choice is the way I would've done it.

[ryguy86]

Did you split the signals from the ECU to the X4 ignition box?
Or did you split the signals from the X4 box to the coils?

Either way is not really ideal, but the first choice is the way I would've done it.

I split it from the x4 box to the coils.
I think that this has killed the x4box by putting it under too much load. I did this as it was the least path of resistance for a person that wants it done NOW!~

I couldnt have done the first option.. because the part of the loom that plugs into the x4box is a 4 or (2 in my case) way pin connector.. and to have split the signal up before it hit the x4box would have meant that i would need to re-pin the connectors... and i havne't got the tools to do it!


I have now gotten another x4box and im about to just do it right and put back the original 4agze coils for now.

i dont think its possible that i could have killed one for the signal channels from the ecu.. or is it???

also... i have been advised that microtech gear is pretty tuff wearing.. im wondering if the heat from the firewall could have hurt it?? i have it mounted on a nice piece of checker plate (alluminium) ... it gets hot... i wonder if its cooked it?? i doubt it.

[Kyosho]

Check for loose cables.

Also, grab a timing light and actually CHECK what 2 cylinders are firing.
Is it 1 and 4 or 2 and 3?

[ryguy86]

Check for loose cables.

Also, grab a timing light and actually CHECK what 2 cylinders are firing.
Is it 1 and 4 or 2 and 3?

i have checked all that stuff.

But yeah.

they are paired like this:

1 and 4

2 and 3

and i know that 2 and 3 are getting nothing.

[Kyosho]

Have you got a CRO?
Check what output you're getting at the ECU.
Have you checked all your wiring.

When you put it on the trailer what'd you do?
When it came home, what'd you do?

Is the ECU secure or floating on the floor?

[Roof87]

well, basically what i think is that i had a similar problem about 2-3 weeks ago, the thing was i had apparently blown 2 internal ignitors in my microtech, but i've got an MTX8... so i don't know the difference between an 8 or a 10... but yeh thats what happened with mine, just letting you know.

[ryguy86]

Have you got a CRO?
Check what output you're getting at the ECU.
Have you checked all your wiring.

When you put it on the trailer what'd you do?
When it came home, what'd you do?

Is the ECU secure or floating on the floor?

what is a CRO???? do you mean a LED Test light??? ill get one...

have checked everything.

i didnt do anything when i went on the trailer that i dont normally do.. i drive on and off. i have a tilt trailer.. so its nothing strange..

the ecu is mounted on a piece of checker plate on the firewall.. all nice looking

[ryguy86]

well, basically what i think is that i had a similar problem about 2-3 weeks ago, the thing was i had apparently blown 2 internal ignitors in my microtech, but i've got an MTX8... so i don't know the difference between an 8 or a 10... but yeh thats what happened with mine, just letting you know.

the MTX8 and LT series.. there is not much difference... the LT series is the LAPTOP series that is porgrammable with a LAPTOP and doesnt have a built in ignitor..

where as the MTX is not laptop programmable and has a built-in ignitor as far as i am aware...

how did you blow the ignitor coils?? ill coil wiring or what??

[Kyosho]

Okay, I'm expecting loose wiring MAYBE.

A CRO is affectively a "heart monitor" for cars. a Voltmeter will tell you a voltage, and will give an RMS voltage on a sine wave, but is practicularly useless when looking at triggering information.
The pulse the ECU lets out will be very quick, and very short, most likely not detectable by a LED light tester.

You need to find out WHERE the problem is.
Are the coils getting a signal and not working.
Is your box thing getting a signal and not outputting
Is your ECU not giving the signal?

[ryguy86]

Okay, I'm expecting loose wiring MAYBE.

A CRO is affectively a "heart monitor" for cars. a Voltmeter will tell you a voltage, and will give an RMS voltage on a sine wave, but is practicularly useless when looking at triggering information.
The pulse the ECU lets out will be very quick, and very short, most likely not detectable by a LED light tester.

You need to find out WHERE the problem is.
Are the coils getting a signal and not working.
Is your box thing getting a signal and not outputting
Is your ECU not giving the signal?

yes,,,, very logical in your method.

1) i have checked the coils.. they are not getting a signal.
2) i have tested the coils with another car.. and they work. so i know they leads and the coils are fine.

3) i have been told that a LED light will be fine for testing the pulses as its all -ve switched and a Led will trigger with less than 1.5v and is fast enough.


4) i have elimiated it to be either 2 of the last you noted. either the x4box ( ignition unit) not sending the signal out. or the ecu not sending the signal to the x4box.

im hoping is the x4box that has died. they are only $120.00 whereas the ecu is $1700 and would put me off the track for a while, whilst it gets remapped at the shop.

[Roof87]

the MTX8 and LT series.. there is not much difference... the LT series is the LAPTOP series that is porgrammable with a LAPTOP and doesnt have a built in ignitor..

where as the MTX is not laptop programmable and has a built-in ignitor as far as i am aware...

how did you blow the ignitor coils?? ill coil wiring or what??

i earthed both the positive and negative terminals at the same time... hahaha... well not me but a cockhead mate of mine did.

im pretty sure my MTX was programmed through a laptop... otherwise im not too sure. but when it was tuned, it was through the laptop... but im not too sure. i know mine has built in ignitors in it, and i had blown 2 inside the ECU when i did that.


was there a bad smell when you went in your car, lyk pungent... burning plastic... coz thats what i smelt when i blew the ignitors.

[ryguy86]

man stupid ecus!

Why cant they be built for dudes that think they can wire them up .. but anit really meant to..

so when we do earth them out or something.. they dont die!@

Or just do what i did... and do it all with the battery disconnected.

[The Witzl]

MTX = handheld controlled programmable, with INTERNAL ignitors
LT = laptop programmable, WITHOUT ignitors


Therefore your LT10s doesnt have internal ignitors, so you will not be getting the same problem as mentioned by roof87.
I would suggest the problem is the X4 ignition box.

Here is how to test.
1. buy an LED test light. It must be an LED type.
2. connect the + side of the test light to ignition 12V
3. connect the NEG side to one of the ignition outputs from the ECU to the X4 box.
4. Start the engine
5. Look at the LED test light, it should be flashing.
6. If it is, try the other ignition output on the ECU to the X4 box.
7. If that is also flashing, there is a problem with your X4 box.

8. Repeat above process testing the outputs from the X4 box to the NEG of your ignition coils. UNPLUG your ignition coils first, and test whilst you are cranking the starter motor. (this will avoid back EMF voltage spikes and stuff).


What this is doing is testing the NEGATIVE pulse that the ECU sends to the X4 box. Point 8 is testing the negative outputs from the X4 box to the coils... which im pretty sure is the problem, as you have given each output DOUBLE it's intended load.

In fact, i'll wager $20 it's your X4 box.

[The Witzl]

oh... as for mounting the LT10 and X4 to the firewall.... i hope you mean the firewall inside the cabin, and not inside the engine bay?