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Thinking too hard? 700

I have a 1990 740 non turbo with Rex Regina. A week ago the car began intermittenly hard starting, making it hard to diagnose the problem. I looked over the obvious--- changed cap and rotor, checked fuel delivery, then it died on me while running in the driveway, and after detecting or rather not detecting signal to the fuel injectors while cranking, I replaced the brain. The car started up and ran fine for a little over a week, and today I have the exact same symptoms. Before I plug in yet another ECU (my last spare), and risk damage to it, I was hoping that I might find someone else who has worked through the same problem.

Poorgie








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    Thinking too hard? 700 1990

    "...after detecting or rather not detecting signal to the fuel injectors while cranking, I replaced the brain."

    Could you give more detail on how you detected this failure, like what "signal" was missing?

    After 7+ years with a Rex-Regina 940 and almost daily BrickBoard scans, I believe those ignition and fuel systems to be just as reliable as their Bosch counterparts. If there is a weak link it might be the Regina fuel pump, which can be iffy after 175K-200K miles—so that's a possibility. The 700/900 Radio noise Suppression Relay (or it's grounding point) could also be suspected. It gates the +12V to the injectors. Maybe the start-run sequence below will help with your trouble-shooting:

    Start-Run Sequence LH2.4 or Rex-Regina

    1) During starter cranking, the Crank Position Sensor sends timing pulses to Ignition Control Unit (ICU = EZK or REX)

    2-a) The ICU uses these CPS pulses to trigger the Power Stage (aka Ignition Amplifier), which initiates spark from the coil.

    2-b) At the same time, The ICU also propagates the pulses to the FI ECU, to allow FI operation (no ICU pulses means no Fuel).

    3-a) The Fuel Injection (System)* relay (previously energized at Key On) powers the AMM, IAC, ECU, Injectors (RSRelay on 700/900 cars), and Fuel (pump) relay coil + side.
    * The System relay is in the white case with the Fuel relay.

    3-b) When ICU pulses are received by the FI ECU, it "energizes" the Fuel relay by grounding the relay coil (– side) to run the fuel pump(s).

    When all these things work, the engine runs until the Ignition is switched off, which in turn shuts down the FI system.


    P.S. Randy's tip on the RSrelay is a good one, and relates to my question about your injector diagnosis.

    --
    Bruce Young, '93 940-NA (current), 240s (one V8), 140s, 122s, since '63.








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      Thinking too hard? 700 1990

      Thanks for the quick response. I posted before I left for work this morning, and after a quick dinner, I'm going out to look at the car. The "signal" I refer to is the injector pulses. I used a mechanics stethoscope to listen for the clicks of the injectors while cranking.With the ignition on, I used a jumper wire to the starter selenoid, to crank the engine, and could only hear a single click as I discontinued cranking. I should hear them click at a regural interval right? I verified spark, and fuel delivery (I replaced the pump with a new one about 3 months ago),using the same procedure, although I did not put a guage into the fuel rail. I would appreciate any other thoughts on the subject.
      Poorgie








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    Thinking too hard? 700

    If the injectors are not pulsing I would suspect the radio suppression relay. Two relays mounted on the strut tower near the coolant reservoir-one controls the radiator fan and the other the injectors.

    Pull one and use a wire jumper to connect the two heavier wires in the connector. If the fan comes on with the jumper in place you chose the wrong relay- replace it and pull the other one. Install a jumper between the two heavier wires in the second connector. Try to start the car. If it starts you have located the problem.

    The relays respond to reflowing the solder. Remove the cover and get out your soldering iron. After reflowing replace the silicone that was sealing the cover to the base. May as well reflow the fan relay while you are at it.

    Randy








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      Thinking too hard? 700

      Thanks, going out to check it right now.
      Poorgie








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        Thinking too hard? 700

        I jumpered the relay, and it started right up! I feel foolish to have overlooked this. I had checked it as a possible source of trouble a couple of months back, when I had fuel pump issues. I switched it with the ac fan relay for now, and will pick up a new one tomorrow. Thanks for your input.
        Poorgie








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          Thinking too hard? 700

          Glad that it was that easy.








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            Thinking too hard? 700

            Awesome that it was such an easy fix! Always make sure you cover all the bases.

            Glad that it was something simple. You can probably re-flow the relay's solder to get it working again, but some people prefer to replace them with new. I prefer to resolder mine.

            Happy Bricking
            --
            1990 740 Turbo, on its way to stock specs, maybe beyond







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