Early V8's with Hi-Torque Upgrades

[act2007]

We have confirmed 5 owners of the Hi-Torque upgrade have experienced intermittent P0328 errors (open connectivity to knock sensor)after the upgrade. It has taken almost a year to see the pattern develop, I am looking for anybody else that has experienced this problem and if you were able to resolve it, how. So, far no one has resolved the problem, including one case of replacing the knock sensor. Anyone else has the same problem after the Hi Torque upgrade?

Alan

[Paula&Marcus]

Hi Alan,

Thats a very interesting fact !

Code 0328 usually indicates a circuit fault: "Circuit high input"

Usually, if this code comes up you have a earth problem somewhere ...

But ....

Are only MY97 and MY98 cars involved ?????

Are these only US-models ?

Please have a look if the air pump still comes on with these cars, when you start it from cold (= its the fan/pump in the trunk on the left side wall)

I personally suspect that you all got a MY99+ code installed in your car.

The earlier models are different, they need a different code !

You can proof this by installing your High Torque ECU in a later MY99+ car. If the code does not show up, then you can be sure.

Cheers

Marcus

We have confirmed 5 owners of the Hi-Torque upgrade have experienced intermittent P0328 errors (open connectivity to knock sensor)after the upgrade. It has taken almost a year to see the pattern develop, I am looking for anybody else that has experienced this problem and if you were able to resolve it, how. So, far no one has resolved the problem, including one case of replacing the knock sensor. Anyone else has the same problem after the Hi Torque upgrade?

Alan

[act2007]

Thanks Macus, so far only US models.

Actually, there's an owner of a 2000 V8 with the Hi Torque upgrade that's experiencing the same problem.

Mine was a brand new ECU ordered from Lotus matching the VIN number. So, most likely it wouldn't be a 99 code.

I did suspected that it might be a ground problem, however I looked at the ground wires on the clutch housing and they look fine to me.

Another interesting point is, the code did not come on right away. It took about 3-4 months after I got the upgrade for the code to come on. After the reset, the code only comes on when I jump on the throttle hard. Usually when I started flooring the throttle from 3-4K RPMS to redline. The most recent one I jumped on the throttle in 5th from about 70 MPH, and when I reached 145 MPH the light came on. That's after replacing the knock sensor and plug wires.

I didn't pay attention to the air pump but that's a good point, I will check on that.

Thanks for the input.

Alan

Edited December 5, 2007 by Bibs

[Paula&Marcus]

Hi Alan,

Thats very strange .....

If it really IS knock and/or engine noise, you should get a Code 0326. In this case I would say that you should fill in better fuel or do more grandma-style driving

But, Code 0328 is a bit strange.

To understand whats going on at PIN 56 you have to realize, that the ECU is constantly sending OUT +5V via 5 or 10 Ohm resistor to the knock sensor. The ECU then is just monitoring voltage-drops after the resistor (= at ECU PIN 56).

If the circuit (= only one wire) to the sensor is open (or the sensor itself is broken) you should get a code 0327.

If the circuit is shorted to ground (or the sensor is broken in a way that it behaves like a wire) you will get code 0328.

What does this tell us ?

Apparently your knock sensor behaves in a way that it (almost) produces a short circuit when it should report short knock spikes.

BTW, the knock sensor actually is a piezo generator which produces short voltage spikes that are counted by the ECU.

Hmmmmmm ...

Cheers

Marcus

Thanks Macus, so far only US models.

Actually, there's an owner of a 2000 V8 with the Hi Torque upgrade that's experiencing the same problem.

Mine was a brand new ECU ordered from Lotus matching the VIN number. So, most likely it wouldn't be a 99 code.

I did suspected that it might be a ground problem, however I looked at the ground wires on the clutch housing and they look fine to me.

Another interesting point is, the code did not come on right away. It took about 3-4 months after I got the upgrade for the code to come on. After the reset, the code only comes on when I jump on the throttle hard. Usually when I started flooring the throttle from 3-4K RPMS to redline. The most recent one I jumped on the throttle in 5th from about 70 MPH, and when I reached 145 MPH the light came on. That's after replacing the knock sensor and plug wires.

I didn't pay attention to the air pump but that's a good point, I will check on that.

Thanks for the input.

Alan

[1esprit]

FYI -- I'm experiencing the exact same problem. I've got a 2001 w/High Torque ECU. I've owned the car for 3 years. However, the P0328 code only started appearing about 6 months ago. I'm also getting a P0171 (lean code) on a regular basis.

Edited December 9, 2007 by 1esprit

[peter_england99]

Have you looked at your peak boost presure (MAP)? knocking and a lean condition may be a result of over boosting or p[oor fuel quality.

Regards,

Peter.

FYI -- I'm experiencing the exact same problem. I've got a 2001 w/High Torque ECU. I've owned the car for 3 years. However, the P0328 code only started appearing about 6 months ago. I'm also getting a P0171 (lean code) on a regular basis.

[act2007]

Steve,

Many suggested that it's a ground wire issue...I replaced the knock sensors and the code still comes up. I then took the car to my mechanic to clean the contacts of al the ground wires. So far so good but I haven't really test the car after getting her back. Anyhow, I'll keep you updated on our sorting process.

Alan

[1esprit]

Steve,

Many suggested that it's a ground wire issue...I replaced the knock sensors and the code still comes up. I then took the car to my mechanic to clean the contacts of al the ground wires. So far so good but I haven't really test the car after getting her back. Anyhow, I'll keep you updated on our sorting process.

Alan

Thanks, Alan. Please keep us posted.

Cheers,

Steve