FTO AUSTRALIA

Hey guys I finally done my ECU error codes to try and figure out why MIVEC isn't working and why the car stalls when its cold. I also hooked a switch up to save the stuffing around next time. I got 2 different codes

Error Code 64 = Alternator FR terminal
Error Code 14 = Throttle position sensor

So what do I need to do to fix these?
Cheers Cb

Alternator FR Terminal - is the relay circuit from the alternator to the ECU.

Problem Could be your ECU, but it is most likely your alternator. If you've recently had your alternator reconditioned they might have screwed it, so I'd take it back to them & make them fix it. It could also be that the wiring / plug connection to the alternator has come loose or is faulty, might be worthwhile having a look at that as well before doing something as drastic as swapping/fixing the alternator.
This is the same problem I had recently which was causing my Mivec not to work, in the end I just bought another alternator & swapped it in. You could go to a few auto electricians & see if they can fix the problem, and get your alternator reconditioned at the same time.

Fixing/Changing the alternator should fix the Mivec problem, but are you having any other problems with erratic revs etc?

Throttle Position Sensor - The TPS might just need adjusting... not sure, but i think you would know if it was dead.

http://www.ftooc.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=45401

If that doesn't help;

Take your car in & get it checked out by an FTO mechanic, check through the forums in your State's section for recommended mechanics.

Ok wierd news (good i'm guessing) When I left to work (the car was already warmed up) I was driving along and thought hmmm lets see where the revs get limited and nothing happened it went all the way to normal redline hit second all the way to redline again slowed down and stopped for traffic then into it again and yep MIVEC was still working fine. I sit there and think to myself ok what have I done to "fix it" all I have done is got a new rear muffler, wind out the screw a little one the throttle body to compensate for it crappy idle and obviously do the ECU error code check (hooked a switch up to) then tonight coming home from work i let it warm up till the temperature gauge was right in the middle and nope no more MIVEC.

This makes me lean toward a loose and/or correded wiring perhaps? Any ideas?

This has happened once before in the wet but as soon as i stopped it went back to non Mivec!

might be worthwhile checking your solenoids & givign them a clean ...

mr-charisma wrote:might be worthwhile checking your solenoids & giving them a clean ...

Lol how do i do that? I really want to get it working i tried to push the plug in the alternator in more in case it was loose or something to no avail and i couldnt see where the cords ended up from the plug in the side of the alternator. I am thinking bout taking it to my mechanic and getting him to fix it but i dont exactly know what to tell him apart from i have a Alternator terminal FR error which could be due to correded or loose wiring?

It worked again last night.... it's so so quick with MIVEC and sounds so sweet. I need to make this random occurance become the norm again how do i clean these solenoids?

*edit*
I reset the ECU and let the car idle for a while i flicked the swith and both error codes were gone it was just flashing away at a constant pace then after about 2 minutes error Code 64 shows up again. took it for a drive no MIVEC and when i got back flicked the switch and error code 14 was still gone I take it that it didn't show an error as it doesnt affect the car unless the car is cold? either way it doesnt bother me I just have to get rid of 64 and clean them solenoids.

Any idea's guys? I really want to do it myself I just need some help on how to do it, like which bits to clean etc. If not I can get my mechanic to do it I jsut wanted to save some money.

cb wrote:

mr-charisma wrote:might be worthwhile checking your solenoids & giving them a clean ...

Lol how do i do that? I really want to get it working i tried to push the plug in the alternator in more in case it was loose or something to no avail and i couldnt see where the cords ended up from the plug in the side of the alternator. I am thinking bout taking it to my mechanic and getting him to fix it but i dont exactly know what to tell him apart from i have a Alternator terminal FR error which could be due to correded or loose wiring?

Hey, I'll see if I can find the guide for it, it was on www.mivec.co.nz ... I just got the mechanic to do it... 'twas about $20-30, so well worth the minor cost, & it won't need to be done again for a long time, so I didn't feel the need to learn how to do it..

http://www.mivec.co.nz/forums/viewtopic.php?t=419
http://www.mivec.co.nz/forums/viewtopic.php?t=936
http://webhost1.inspire.net.nz/~alphasp ... /index.htm

I guess if you need to know anything else you could sign up to www.mivec.co.nz & send a PM to 'Rabbit' he is a Mivec genius!

The problem could be a few things, the least likely thing is the ECU, the fact that it works occasionally indicates that it could be the wiring .... which should be an easier fix... But you just got the alternator reconditioned not long ago right? Take it back to them & make them do it for free..

I took it to an auto elec yesterday and got them to check out my alternator they had it for a few hours and said it was fine and was charging the battery properly etc. Are there any good FTO mechanics in NSW I could take it to i'm sick of only having Mivec every now and then!

You read the Workshop manual for what do with those error codes?

If unsure, make the drive to QLD. Take it to Joe & Ricks. Its sensors failing by the sound of it.

Bennoz wrote:You read the Workshop manual for what do with those error codes?

If unsure, make the drive to QLD. Take it to Joe & Ricks. Its sensors failing by the sound of it.

The workshop manual?

It's only the alternator thats bothering me im getting another stepper motor so the othe code is fine

Where abouts in QLD is Joe & Ricks?

The throttle position sensor (TPS) is not the stepper motor. The the TPS is the little black sensor sitting on the side of the throttle body facing the front of the car. Has a black plug going into it with about 4 or 5 wires. I'll try find a pic.

Circled in red. It may even just require cleaning as it cops all the soot from the crank case breather. A little fiddly, but an 8mm socket & you can carefully remove it, clean it & put it back on, Its just a little variable resistor. Could also be a broken wire in the plug, so check that too.

Not sure if you have to do this, but I guess it can't hurt.. (Ben, back me up on this) But when you remove the TPS, mark the position it is at before you take it off . grab a permanent marker & trace the outline of the thing, then put it back on how you found it.

Yeah I found this out the hard way last year. I didn't mark the position and didn't put it in with resistance against the springs inside it. The workshop manual says to turn it half a turn I think. If you don't get the position right the car will stall on part throttle openings, for example driving around car parks, at least it did to me.

Thanks for your help guys I'll do the tps now. The sytoms were identical to that of a faulty stepper motor. I'll keep you's posted cheers