Crank ref sensor problem on m800

[otto69]

Hi
A mate has a GT40 with a M800 running the 302 Windsor (AU spec sensors) and it keeps killing the crank ref sensor.
This will be the 3rd one in only a few thousand K's.
I'm only learning, so if this doesn't make sense, bare with me.
Long story short
1. after ref sensor cools down, engine starts and runs again (first time it happened)
2. It got worse until it wouldn't start at all.
3. played around with the laptop and and found to be not syncing on crank.
4. Also noted that 'max rpm' in sensor page was around 13000.......... so figured it must be the ref sensor.
5. fitted new sensor and worked fine for awhile.
6. Last week he tried to start it again and it was dead.
7. Checked and found not to be syncing on crank again and 'max rpm' was around 13000rpm..........
8. have ordered another sensor, but before fitting it would like to run a few tests.

Apart from checking continuity between pins B1 - B16.
What else can I check for ??
What voltage am I looking for in the sensor page for the ref sensor (std AU crank sensor) ??
cheers

Clayton

[Dragon]

I am not familar with your engine. I guess the sensors are magnetic?
Do a ref/sync capture while you are cranking and then compare the voltage with what you have in the relevant voltage level tables.

[otto69]

Thanks
Can I assume that they are magnetic with only two wires to each sensor ??
First time with this, so how do I do a 'ref/sync capture' ??
Do I find the 'voltage level tables' in the 'view sensors' window ??
Sorry for the dumb questions......

Clayton

[NathanS]

From your description it sounds like the sensors are magnetic, but you can confirm this using the Ref/Sync Capture function.
To perform a Ref/Sync Capture connect your laptop to the ECU, open ECU Manager and go to the Utilities menu at the top of the screen and click on Ref Sync Capture... During cranking or while the engine is running click on Capture, the signals received by the ECU from the Crank and Cam sensors will be recorded and then displayed on the screen. If the signals appear sinusiodal then the sensors are magnetic.

The voltage level tables for the Crank and Cam sensors are on the Adjust > Sensor Setup > Ref Sync Sensor Setup menu. The Ref Mag Sensor Levels table specifies the voltages for the crank sensor and likewise the Sync levels for the cam sensor. If you go to either of these tables and press 'F1' a help window will appear that gives you some information on how to go about checking whether the tables have been filled in correctly.

[otto69]

Thanks Nathan
I'll be heading over to his place tomorrow night and will try out your procedure.

So one possibility is that the cranking voltage level is set too high or on the edge of what the sensor is putting out so it doesn't see it when cranking ??
Is there a way of checking the sensor, ohms between the pins ??
If so, what sort of value would I be looking for ??
cheers

Clayton

[otto69]

The wiring checked out OK, but the short loom extension from the ref sensor was open circuit.
found a bad pin connection to the ref sensor.
Both the new and original sensors measured the same ohms between the pins, so refitted the original sensor and engine started first go.

Tried to c/o "ref/sync capture", but for the life of me I couldn't find it under the "Utilities" menu.
All it had was:
- Test outputs
- Get logged data
- Enable ECU options
- Set access passwords
- Upgrade ECU version

and I tried all of them.
The ecu would only open with version 2.30, does this have the "ref/sync capture" feature ??

Looked at the voltage levels chart and this is what was listed
0----250---1000---2000---4000---5000 rpm
0.2--0.2-----4--------5-------5-------5 volts
1.6--5.6-----8-------9.5-----9.5----9.5 (this is the actual volts at those rpms. The 0 and 250 listed volts seem low ??)

cheers

Clayton

[J&R]

Ref/Sync Capture utility is only available in V3 software and above. Sorry but we all assume that you are using the latest software that is available. The later software is much better and has this fantastic function built in.

[otto69]

Thanks
So how hard is it to update a 2.30 version map to a Ver 3+ ??

I downloaded the latest manager program first, but it wouldn't connect with the ECU.
So progressively downloaded each program until it would connect, yes it took a bit time
I'm sure there's an easier way to do this....
cheers

Clayton

[Mazi]

Did you try to upgrade UTC also?

[otto69]

Had to Google that .........

He already has the USB type one (looks like the # 61059)
Is there a later version ??
cheers

Clayton