Idle problems: Need a loan of a stepper motor

[CJ]

The car developed idling problems last night as I was pulling into the drive, it just cut out. The car would start but the engine would die unless I kept the revs up. Eventually got it to idle by keeping the revs up and engaging Drive, it was idling very low (maybe 250rpm) though. Took the car around the corner for a drive, no probs, back to driveway, in Neutral, revved it up and it died again. Disconned the battery over night, reconned this morning, idled fine, took it for a short drive, so far so good, into Neutral, rev it up, engine dies. Used the same procedure above to get it idleing and parked it up. I'm not getting any ECU diagnostic errors so I assume its the stepper motor. I took it out last night to give it a clean but couldn't get one of the screws off the housing, it was stuck solid, the screw-head now resembles a St. Brigids cross! I did manage to clean the plunger and in the inside of the throttle body housing with carb cleaner, however.

Anyway, if theres anyone in and around the D15 area who can spare half an hour some evening, get in touch. I should be able to tell pretty quickly if the stepper motors at fault. Cars off the road until I can get the damn thing sorted

CJ

[CJ]

Quick update: As per the graphic below, I tested the resistance between the pins on the ISC and all checks out OK (32 and 64 Ohms)



After fitting the stepper back in place, I turned up the idle speed using the adjustment screw on the top of the throttle body (1.5 turns), the idle is slightly more consistant but it still drops quite low in slowing down in Drive. I didn't drive the car to work today just in case I got caught out, I'm gonna swap the ISC in off Nigels car later on and see if theres any differene in idle speed.

CJ

[energy69]

Having the very same problem with mine. Waiting to hear back from Steelroe about a part or someone that can let me try their steeper motor.

Best of luck

[soc]

Having the very same problem with mine. Waiting to hear back from Steelroe about a part or someone that can let me try their steeper motor.

Best of luck

You should hook up with CJ tonight - maybe drive out to him when he's trying Nigel's stepper - that way you could both try it out...

[CJ]

You should hook up with CJ tonight - maybe drive out to him when he's trying Nigel's stepper - that way you could both try it out...

Probably doesn't make sense for him to drive his own car over to Blanch if its got idling problems, ideally, you would need someone to come to you.

CJ

[mark]

I could give you a loan of mine to try as its a new one, only problem is i'm away till Tuesday
Sounds like the problem alright, engine gets hot and it dies. You can still run it if you can keep revs over 1000 rpm or so which is tricky esp. if there is heavy traffic in your way. Give us a bell if you don't get it sorted.

[Nailer]

pm sent

[CJ]

Finally managed to try another stepper motor this evening, the car fired up and idled just fine with the other unit in place. The restistance test on the coils in the motor obviously can't be trusted, mine checked out just fine. RR, you have a pm!

CJ

[MAC 1]

correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the stepper worked like a choke and only operated whilst the engine is cold?

[CJ]

correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the stepper worked like a choke and only operated whilst the engine is cold?

You're not wrong!

CJ

[CJ]

Replaced the stepper motor last night with a new one from Ricerocket (thanks for the quick delivery David ), cars now idling from cold like a dream.

CJ

[pergau]

When I got the FTO first, the stepper was faulty.

I got a spare coil and soldered it into place but that didn't work, despite the resistance in the colis measuring ok, so I had to bite the bullet and buy a new one.

[Muad_dib77]

Reviving this as I'm facing similar issues - does anybody there have the Part number of the stepper?

Will try giving it a clean this evening - but I know this particular stepper has approx 150000k on it so it's probably about time I replaced it anyways.

I have a seller that has a few spanking new units stocked - but I'm wanting to verify the part number before throwing money after it.

Cheerio,

[Sebastian]

mine has the same issues since 2 days ago

[Kace]

If you want to continue using your car until you get a new stepper just unplug the thing - just means you need to rev for about 45 secs in the morning until car heats up, then it's pretty much fine to drive.

I drove mine for a week or so like this while I purchased the stepper

[Muad_dib77]

I actually cleaned mine this evening and now she runs like a dream again.

30 mins work at the most..

[steelroe]

I have 2 new steppers sale €130 each delivered in Ireland

[mcgon1979]

I actually cleaned mine this evening and now she runs like a dream again.

30 mins work at the most..

Hey Maud, Did you post seps anywhere? how you did it. removal and substances used to clean it etc. cheers buddy

[CJ]

I actually cleaned mine this evening and now she runs like a dream again.

Good news

removal and substances used to clean it etc.

Mgon, info here:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jaycom/fto ... tepper.htm

and here:

http://web.archive.org/web/200503072307 ... ndex3.html

CJ

[Muad_dib77]

I actually cleaned mine this evening and now she runs like a dream again.

30 mins work at the most..

Hey Maud, Did you post seps anywhere? how you did it. removal and substances used to clean it etc. cheers buddy

This will work for Mivecs and tea drinkers only!

Remove Air intake plastic pipe.
Just below the big gaping hole you'll find the stepper.
It's held in place with two brass-colored screws. I had to remove my battery to get at the screws good and proper.
Give it a good spray of WD40 - a GOOD spray.
Put on the kettle.
Unplug the Stepper
Undo the two screws.
remove the stepper.
Put tea bag into empty cup.
Pick-up yellow sponge from kitchen (clean variant).
Clean plunger (on the newly removed stepper! ) using sponge and WD40.
*** The plunger is the "pointy end" that sticks into the engine, on my stepper it was completely black - and as it turned out it was a beigy sort of color when I'd removed the Gunk! ****
Bring the stepper with you to the kitchen.
Add boiling water to before mentioned cup with teabag - wait 45seconds.
With a teaspoon (usually found in a kitchen drawer) give the tea bag, in the cup with the hot water, a bit of a squueze against the side of the cup.
Pick up the tea bag with the spoon. Discard of the tea bag where you see fit. (You're a bloke right!)
Add Milk & Sugar to taste.
Sit down at kitchen table with stepper and tea.
On the stepper it self you'll find two cross head screws.
Undo these and the stepper intself will come apart.
Blow on tea (this will become important at a later step - depending on how much milk you added previously - I used a fair bit for safety reasons.
My Stepper was CLEAN as a CLEAN WHISTLE on the inside - no gunk at all - all surfaces were shiny & pretty.
Sip tea
If your stepper isn't clean in the inside you need to be very careful.
you can either go the safe way and order a new stepper (Rory/Steelroe has them) - or you can rush off to get some contact/electronics cleaner spray from your nearest maplins. Clean with something soft and NON-FLUFFY.
Slurp tea.
But the two screws back in the stepper.
Make sure the the plunger (again on the stepper) is completely clean.
Finish cup of tea.
Leave the comfort of your kitchen - and return to your car.
I cleaned the opening that the stepper motor used to live in a good spray of WD40 and a bit of a stir with my finger - i then used a paper towel (folded over thick to avoid tearing/fluff being left in there!)

Refit stepper
Plug in stepper
Refit battery
Refit Air Intake

Start your baby - and leave her to get hot & bothered.
Cold Rev for mine is 1100-1200
Warm is approx 600-700
(both with Aircon off!)

*** NOW WITH ADDED PICTURE *** Click for bigness **


Picture is of a Mivec engine, and it's taken with the cam tilted sideways.
The HOLE is the Throttlebody with the Air-Intake Off.

PS. You can leave out the Tea bits - but I would advise against it..

No apologies for lenght.

[kevinod]

Good guide, I don't have any probs idling at the mo but might do it as preventative maintenance, as I've never cleaned that since I got the car.

[mcgon1979]

Brilliant Guide Maud... I shall follow it to a 'tea'...

[Muad_dib77]

Thanks guys

Happy to help...

I hate to think what a mitsi-dealer mechanic would charge if anybody was to drop their FTO in with these symptoms... Nothing better than being able to sort something (with the car) in the drive

[pergau]

Great guide but what brand of Tea will give me the greatest HP boost?

[Muad_dib77]

Great guide but what brand of Tea will give me the greatest HP boost?

LOL
I've used Barry Tea recently - but at present I'm running on "Typhoon". I'd say that give you ateast 8BHP - depending on how strong you make it you'd also get great big improvement in sound from the bottom end.. Smells a bit off - but that's normal..