| Author |
Message |
Brian stewart (Eurocardoc)
| | Posted on Monday, December 31, 2001 - 3:41 pm: | |
Edward is right, the ECU for the thermocouple should be behind the footpanel on passenger side, this operates the warning light only and has no direct influence on the fuel ECU (located in the luggage comp underside of a panel below the antenna). If the system for the fuel is not working, the fuel mixture will be wrong and the cat will get red hot, sends off the warning light at about 900deg I believe. The fibreglass bumper will then self ignite followed by extensive $$.
If the light is always on I would suspect that the warning system itself is on the blink, I think that FNA charge about $350 or so for the ECU, the thermocouple is probably OK, it is in the other end of the cat from the O2 sensor, a small braide covered wire leads to it. |
Edward Gault (Irfgt)
| | Posted on Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 5:14 pm: | |
I don't know about a 328, but the same system on a 308 is located under the right passenger floorboard. |
Doug (Doug)
| | Posted on Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 3:12 pm: | |
Mike,
I also looked in my trunk on the right side ---`a small peice of carpet is easily removed. A plate then has to be removed, but the electric antennae has to be removed first, then two bolts holding the plate in place --- haven't had a chance to see what is behind it yet, however.
Let me know what you are able to determine.
Doug |
M Grande (Grande)
| | Posted on Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 12:41 pm: | |
Doug,
I looked in the trunk (very quickly cause it's mighty cold in the garage!) and didn't see any easy way to access the area that the manual shows where these controls are. I'll spend a little more time on it this afternoon.
Mike |
Doug (Doug)
| | Posted on Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 12:35 pm: | |
Kurt and Grande,
Greatly appreciate your responses. However, I do need a clarification.
Is the thermocoupler on the catalytic converter? If it is, is it the unit which protrudes from the topside (and is a quite a bit larger than the O2 sensor)?
How do I check that unit?
Also, if I need to check the ECU relay(s) which is (are) located in the trunk, what is the best way? Any other suggestions.
Thanks again for your help.
Doug |
Kurt Kjelgaard (Kurtk328)
| | Posted on Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 10:33 am: | |
No need to check the O2 sensor, the ECU gets the input for the lights from a thermocouple, also situated on the Cat. |
M Grande (Grande)
| | Posted on Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 9:03 am: | |
Hi Doug,
From the wiring diagram, it looks like the catalytic ECU is located near the injection ECU and that *appears* to be in the passenger side rear 1/4 panel, access through the carpeted area by the antenna...I'll go out and look in mine (also 88 328).
The O2 ECU has a couple of relays that sit between it and the sensors, perhaps these relays are what's bad on your car? Easy enough to check those.....it's a bit more difficult to check an O2 sensor though short of replacing it with a known good one.
Anyway, just some thoughts. I'll go now and see if I see that ECU in the trunk area of my car....
Mike |
Doug Herr (Doug)
| | Posted on Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 7:43 am: | |
I own an '88 328-GTS with about 20,000 miles. The other day I started the engine and the "slow`down" idiot light remained on. In reading the owners manual it states this could be something serious (the catalytic converter may be overheated). However, since I had just started the car, it is doubtful that it would be too hot? Since then I have started the car seveeral more times driving it perhaps 25 miles. The idiot light goies off once in a while and will remain off until I turn off the engine. Other times the light remains on until I turn off the engine.
Update - I now notice the light is on when the ignition key first is turn on (without engine started), and remains on when car is started and becomes bighter when the ignition (charging) light goes out. The "slow down" light remains on constantly until I shut off the car. It has been mentioned to check the ECU, but I am unsure where it is located. Could there be other possibilites other than the ECU? Thanks for any assistance rendered. |
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