Re: throttle sensors

[Brett Dikeman <brett@pdikeman.ne.mediaone.net>]

(cc'd to the list for the benefit of non-200q-list members; I had presented
a theory as to why the ECU in the 20v tends to report bad throttle valve
sensors when they're probably fine.  I'd still like to get input from folks
on this subject.)

>The throttle position sensor is used by the ECU strictly to control boost.  No
>full throttle switch, etc.  Also, the first 30 degrees of throttle I believe
>are not used by the ECU.  There's also an idle switch.
Aha!  I _thought_ that was what the position sensor was for!  Here's a more
detailed theory:
Driver has a heavy foot(say he/she is on an on-ramp) and ECU says:
"hey now, I'm at 7/8 throttle, and I'm only getting 1.3bar boost, and it's
been like that for x number of seconds.  Waaaaaaiittt a second...well,
since my programmers were idiots, I bet the throttle sensor is wrong, I'm
not really at 7/8 throttle, and everything is ok with the turbo and all
those unreliable little valves.  I'll store that fault code so the dealer,
who is a silly tot, will put in a new throttle valve, and I will torture my
owner!  a hahahahahaha!"

(Ok, ok, it's late)

Why the ECU has no way to detect a bad WGFV and store a fault code for it
is _way_ beyond me...

>Shokan's car was at Mt. Washington last year.  As I recall, it's been driven
>hard and put away wet...but I didn't really take a good look at it.
>Chris

Yhea, I got the impression it was their "toy", and a promotional type
thing.  The fact that they "checked EVERY damn wire in that car for
months", yet I could instantly put my finger on the cause(granted, from a
biased description)...says something about their "expert" mechanics...

The guy did say something interesting, and that was that almost every 3B
motor they get in, goes out almost immediately; there's almost a waiting
list.  He says most of the buyers are Coupe owners...that's gotta be
fun...a 3B in a coupe...

Brett

PS:Went to the movies, parked next to what looked like a brand new,
small/sporty BMW(don't think an M3.)  Right as I was getting out, this old
guy and his wife walk up to the BMW(with his fancy remote locking, which he
was very proud of) and I pass him getting out as he's about to get in.  He
looks at my car kinda funny, I smile, and walk away, leaving him staring at
the car :)
Nice to know that a body design(granted, modified slightly) from 1984ish
still turns heads :)

------
Brett Dikeman
brett@pdikeman.ne.mediaone.net
~)-|
Hostes alienigeni me abduxerunt.  Qui annus est?
Te audire non possum.  Musa sapientum fixa est in aure.
Ita, scio hunc 'sig file' veterem fieri.
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