Manalishis Mk 1a 827 Vitesse (manual)

[Marc-827-Vitesse]

Nice work. And indeed, the dash is really nice indeed.

[Manalishi]

Good evening folks!
I have a small issue with the 827 Vitesse that I would like to discuss. The last few days the PGMFI light has come on sporadically and there is the odd very minor cut out.
No problem in starting or driving except for That.
My old 216 coupe had a PGMFI relay problem where a resoldering solved it. But this is not acting in the same way.

Any ideas?

[scoobyh123]

First thing to do Henrik is read the codes on the PGM-Fi ECU under the drivers (passengers on LHD cars) seat - switch the ignition on (but don't start it) and count the short and long flashes of the red LED and note them down and let us know.

If it comes on and goes off when you restart (especially once it's warmed up) it could well be a Lambda sensor, best renewed in pairs and then pull fuse "S" in the underbonnet fusebox for ~30seconds and then refit (keys in your pocket while doing this).

They are a cheap, single wire universal Lambda sensor as fitted to 8v Vauxhalls/Daewoos from the early 90s and also some Suzuki models.

See what the ECU reports first on the fault codes though.

[Manalishi]

Thanks Dave, will look into the codes and report back.
Not the lambda though, as my car doesn’t have any..!

[scoobyh123]

Thanks Dave, will look into the codes and report back.
Not the lambda though, as my car doesn’t have any..!

Force of habit Henrik, thinking about my 827s!

[Manalishi]

So after a long while I need to attack my PGMFI light. It went away for a long time But now it’s back and regularly comes on as I start the car.
I did check the codes and I have 9 blinks from the reader under the seat. So guys, any ideas?

Remember it’s a non cat so no Lambda.
It runs fine, Maybe a bit of hesitation in lower revs. When starting, the light comes on after a second or so.

[scoobyh123]

There you are Henrik, table to decode the blinks to a fault code.

On yours, 9 flashes/blinks is the crank angle/position sensor - i had this on my Sterling and it turned out to be the ECU which i tested by substitution. You could also try disconnecting the two large round (ish) multiplugs on the RH suspension tower, spraying inside both with contact cleaner and reconnect/disconnect a few times, another spray with contact cleaner before the final reconnect.

Disconnect the battery before the first disconnect of the plugs and only reconnect after the final reconnect of the plugs.

Give it a test drive. Hopefully that cures it, it did on mine the first time (several years before the ECU played up) but i hope that your Crank Position Sensor (CKP) hasn't failed, they are incredibly hard to get hold of and are fitted behind the front camshaft pulley so it's almost the same job as doing the timing belt (which you may as well do at the same time) but with an added "extra" in the middle of changing the CKP.

Give those multiplugs a try, fairly quick, easy and cheap (a can of contact cleaner is the only real expense) and will hopefully fix it for you.

[Manalishi]

Thanks Dave will have a go!
The symptoms doesn’t really sound like mine so perhaps it’s not totally knackered. It still runs pretty well, idle is perfect.

[Manalishi]

So first Update. We did follow the instructions by you Dave and I removed fuse S too after it was thoroughly warm. The cleaning of the multiplugs didn’t help But when I made the ”reboot” pulling fuse S the light disappeared.

My theory is that the light will come back But I hope not.

I will post updates.

Edit: yep. The light is on again.

[scoobyh123]

I hope your theory is wrong Henrik! I didn't mention pulling fuse S as i suggested disconnecting the battery before you started on the multiplugs which would have done the same thing - or should have done!

Have you had any battery problems/flat battery or similar recently on the car?

[Manalishi]

I hope your theory is wrong Henrik! I didn't mention pulling fuse S as i suggested disconnecting the battery before you started on the multiplugs which would have done the same thing - or should have done!

Have you had any battery problems/flat battery or similar recently on the car?

Unfortunately the theory was right. The light came on the very next Time I started the car.
It all started a few months ago, actually on the trip to Västerås that I wrote about. Marcus drove the black and I was driving the golden. At the motorway Marcus experienced a cut out, a millisecond, and the light came on. Then after restarting it was gone. This happened two more times then settled. About a week ago it came on permanently.

No flat battery. No reason at all really, just regular driving.

[scoobyh123]

I hope your theory is wrong Henrik! I didn't mention pulling fuse S as i suggested disconnecting the battery before you started on the multiplugs which would have done the same thing - or should have done!

Have you had any battery problems/flat battery or similar recently on the car?

Unfortunately the theory was right. The light came on the very next Time I started the car.
It all started a few months ago, actually on the trip to Västerås that I wrote about. Marcus drove the black and I was driving the golden. At the motorway Marcus experienced a cut out, a millisecond, and the light came on. Then after restarting it was gone. This happened two more times then settled. About a week ago it came on permanently.

No flat battery. No reason at all really, just regular driving.

Hmmmmmmmmmm, that's how mine went the second time when it turned out to be the ECU.

Do you know the part number on the ECU? If so you could have a hunt for a used one on fleabay, fairly quick and easy to swap compared to a CKP sensor and may well fix the fault.

This may (or may not) be the right one :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/163964274417

Try pulling fuse S again and then switch the ignition on after refitting fuse S but don't start the caar. The PGM-Fi light should go out after a few seconds, if it doesn't or comes back on immediately without starting, i would suggest the ECU is more likely.

[Manalishi]

Dave, you can discard my PM. I’ve found the ECU and it’s the one I thought.

Your link is probably the wrong one But I’ve found the correct. 37820PL2B03

There are a few available from Spain which is perfect. I need to understand the serial numbers though as they differ. Any ideas?

[scoobyh123]

Dave, you can discard my PM. I’ve found the ECU and it’s the one I thought.

Your link is probably the wrong one But I’ve found the correct. 37820PL2B03

There are a few available from Spain which is perfect. I need to understand the serial numbers though as they differ. Any ideas?

I've just read and replied to your PM Henrik! Not to worry!

Serial numbers don't matter too much, it's the main part number that matters, serial numbers on that age car are really just like the serial number on your kettle, washing machine or microwave, useful for the manufacturer to confirm it's within warranty and for obtaining any components that may have failed. monitoring quality of new components (if they get a big number of returns from a particular batch of S/Nos and were using a different supplier for example) and things like that.

In all honesty, i wasn't sure the link i gave you before was the correct ECU, it was more to give you an idea what to look for.

[Manalishi]

Dave, you can discard my PM. I’ve found the ECU and it’s the one I thought.

Your link is probably the wrong one But I’ve found the correct. 37820PL2B03

There are a few available from Spain which is perfect. I need to understand the serial numbers though as they differ. Any ideas?

I've just read and replied to your PM Henrik! Not to worry!

Serial numbers don't matter too much, it's the main part number that matters, serial numbers on that age car are really just like the serial number on your kettle, washing machine or microwave, useful for the manufacturer to confirm it's within warranty and for obtaining any components that may have failed. monitoring quality of new components (if they get a big number of returns from a particular batch of S/Nos and were using a different supplier for example) and things like that.

In all honesty, i wasn't sure the link i gave you before was the correct ECU, it was more to give you an idea what to look for.

Thanks again Dave, very much appreciated. I did get one of those in Spain, better shipping and no tax within EU so perfect! Lets hope that solves my problem, otherwise I'll get more grey hairs!