Has anyone tried this electronic control for the bypass valve on Ebay? Does anyone know who makes it? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33630&viewitem=&item=190187970420&_trksid=p3907.m29
I suspect it is designed and made by the seller. My only opinion is I would prefer to spend a bit more at Capristo ($900?), and get their brand new exhaust valve, AND the capability to adjust when the valve opens. The extra insurance that if the Capristo valve fails, it fails in the open position is icing on the cake. I forget who it was (one of the aftermarket exhaust manifold manufacturers) who posted recently that not having the exhaust valve functioning hurt horsepower, and he dyno'd it to confirm his suspicion. The Ebay device only gives you the option of allowing the existing oem valve to either work normally, or be wide open. For those of us with 96 to 99 355's, that is only going to trip the CE light if left open for more than two consecutive drive cycles. I think the Capristo offers the better compromise of just adjusting the valve to open sooner if that is your wish.
I just received a response from the ebay seller and you are correct. He indicated that he has made several of these (see his feedback) 'in conjunction with a local performance shop' which he does not identify. This is a plug'n play device that affects only the electronics and not the vacuum line so if your valve fails it will again fail in the closed position (as you point out). The Capristo design would appear to be a better design. He did not mention the cel issue though and I will email him back about this issue.
From what I can decipher in the workshop manual, it appears he is tapping into the circuit that controls the valve opening when the engine is cold. Notice the device has a couple of Amp "Junior Timer" connectors? Those plug into the circuit which prevents the valve from opening until the engine reaches operating temperature. In other words the exhaust valve does not normally open when the engine is "cold".
