euphorbia Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 I have just got my modular build on the road. Problem is the zetec is'nt running right. The engine is new from Westfield but old stock i.e. 1998 Escort unit chipped to about 135 bhp. At idle, it maintains 900 revs and then drops off to about 600, but just about regains revs without stalling. Once moving engine 'pinks' easily and 'hunts' or hesitates when travelling in 4th or 5th with minimal throttle.In addition it will only start from cold with the throttle open. Westfield say try super unleaded (which I have yet to do) but problem seems bigger than this. Has anyone else had similar problems with this spec. of engine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perksy Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 What ECU are you using If this has come from westfield, is it Weber Alpha Don't run the car like this for very long if it's pinking easily The pinking could be the Ignition advance needs retarding or the engines running lean. Is it running-on aswell when you turn the ignition off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euphorbia Posted September 6, 2004 Author Share Posted September 6, 2004 Thanks for the reply. ECU has Ford coolant written on it; Ithink that means it works through the temperature sensor in the thermostat housing. It is'nt running on- perhaps ECU needs a re-map? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S8ight Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 have you checked for an air leak ? dont see why this would cause pinking though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KerryS Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 Need to keep an eye on this thread, sounds like the same engine I have for my in-build car. Westfield assured me it was "plug and play". Kerry S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itguy Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 Pure guess here (as I don't have a zetec and don't know much about them) but with the engine revs dipping then coming back, is it an idle control valve problem (ie sticky)? This happend on the BMW 6cyl 2.5ltr that I am working on at the moment, ecu notices that the engine revs are dipping, tells the idle control valve to open a bit more to compenstate but it reacts too slow and then ecu tells it open really wide then you get this yo-yo effect... Just a thought. - Not sure on the pinking though... As it will be using EDIS ignition, the ignition map will be stored within the ECU, if its a ford item I doubt you can remap it.. (anyone feel free to correct me on any of that - probably complete drivel) Will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triggsy Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 I had a few problems with my standard injection zetec (not supplied by Westfield) when first installed. It would generally run ok but at junctions the revs drop to below 500 and it stalled. In the end the fix was simple - I connected the breather outlet on the crankcase to the inlet manifold. I think this is what Ford do on the Escort but whatever, it worked for me. Cheers Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 If Triggsy hadn't posted, I'd have said IACV control valve too... If the breather is connected as per Triggsy's post, then have a look at the IACV. As far as I'm aware, Ford EEC IV ECU's are not re-programmable. Seeeing as there are *millions* of cars runing perfectly well on them, I doubt very much it's an ECU programming problem. It will almost certainly be a problem with a sender or sensor, or a mechanical problem as described... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Ashcroft Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 A friemd had a similar problem with his car it was discovered that the lambda sebsor had a split around the mounting point and was sucking air so was giving a duff reading back to the ecu. Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Wood Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 If it's pinking I'd suspect it's running lean (have you checked the fuel pressure?) or the signal that the ECU uses to retard the ignition under load isn't right, resulting in too much advance under load. Does the setup have a MAP sensor? Is this plumbed / wired in correctly with no leaks? Ditto the throttle pot and mass air flow meter? Does the setup usually have a knock sensor that's been removed or disconnected? Can the setup be taken to a Ford dealer and hooked up to their diagnostic kit? Maybe there's a fault code logged that would point to something. The ECU may have gone into a "limp home" mode due to a single problem which might result in all of the symptoms you describe. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geelhoed Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 I second the check for air leaks on the inlet manifold. Did you block off all the holes? I didn't and it ran rough too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Wood Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 I'd second that. This would be another source of lean running. Are all the (unused?) inlet connections for cannister purge, brake servo, EGR, etc blocked off adequately? Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swiftr Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 You say you got the engine 'new' from Westfield. Did they supply an ECU, aluminium mounting plate and loom for the ECU? If so it may well be an MBE ECU (mine is and has Ford Coolant 5 written on the side of the ECU). I haven't even got mine started yet . But have found out the following: 1) All holes on the side of the plenum must be closed (or have a pipe coming out of them); 2) The ECU is mapped to a specific throttle body (which is not always the one attached to the engine); 3) The ECU can be re-mapped (I think using easimap, which apparently anything but easy, and way beyond me). My ECU is back at Westfield for re-mapping at the moment, so hopefully the engine will run once it's back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euphorbia Posted September 9, 2004 Author Share Posted September 9, 2004 Thanks guys for the many suggestions. For the record, super unleaded made no difference at all.Also the engine has an idle speed control valve but is not used, it has no MAP sensor, nor air flow meter. What it does have is the crankshaft position sensor, throttle position sensor, temperature sensor and lambda sensor.I have checked for leaks re the inlet manifold- none obvious and I think these would tend to increase revs if significant. It is the pinking which is the major concern which brings us back to the MBE ECU mapping etc.As driving car to Westfield in present condition may result in damage, I hope I can send back the ECU for a re-map; for those that need to know (!, I'll keep you informed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Wood Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 Sounds like it's definately not the original Ford ECU. The best route to fauilt finding would be to find someone locally who has the software to access the ECU and have a look at the readings it's seeing from each of the sensors whilst running. You might find one of them is duff. To be honest, if it all came from Westfield ready to go I'd see if they can help you out. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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