Sterling #S009

[Brett Proctor]

Check engine light came on

Got a P0480 code

Got the granddaughter for the rest of the week so it wont be till the weekend before I can trouble shoot it.

 

[sector]

Could be just the fan fuse.

 

[Brett Proctor]

I'll have a couple hours tomorrow before the granddaughter gets here to look at it.
I'll check that out

Thanks

 

[Brett Proctor]

Fuse is good.

Fan circuit is something I put together, not a oem Subaru circuit.
I'll do some testing and see if I can find out why the ECM isn't happy. First time I had this issue

The oem Subaru system has 2 fans to it and I have just one.

 

[sector]

Check the relay as well. Did you keep subaru relay or used a custom one?

 

[Brett Proctor]

Subaru OEM Fan Diagrams

New wiring diagram

Had the hardest time trying to resize these diagrams to fit on this page, but I finally got it right.

 

[Brett Proctor]

Update to this story

I have the FSM and it has a diagnostic section in it for the trouble code that came up.

Followed the procedures in the section and a couple of the tests had you testing the resistance in components that are in the fan circuit. (Connector B84, terminal 74 @ the ECU)
One thing I noticed when doing the tests was that there was not much tension on the test pin when inserting it into terminal 74. So Terminal 74 got replaced with a new one. Tension on the new one was a lot better.

Next, in the FSM they had a specific ohm resistance to the coils in the fan relays (the diagnostic section also had resistance specifications for the wire in the circuit) . I knew the relay worked because I tested it, but I didn't check the resistance of the coil. So just to make it official I tested it.
Resistance was not within specifications. So I started to test all the spare relays I had to see if I had one that was with in Subaru's specifications.
Found just one.
Installed that relay and tested the system. Everything seems to be working now, so I cleared the trouble code and after running the car for a while the code never came back up.
I hope the problem is fixed. Only time will tell.

 

[Brett Proctor]

I think this is the second time I've had issues at the connector B84.
After thinking of why this is happening, I was thinking since the ride is so stiff the jarring motion that the ECU must takes at each impact (its mount directly to the body) must be pretty bad. Maybe it would be a good idea if the ECU was rubber mounted to the body to help absorb the bumps and jarring motion

I'll look into my options for cushioning the blows to the ECU.

Always looking at why things happen and how to avoid them in the future.

 

[sector]

In all subaru models the ECU is hard mounted so even if your car has a harsh ride, it should not cause issues with signal integrity. Also many dune buggies as well as all Factory Five 818 kit cars use subaru drivetrain and harnesses with OEM hard mounted ECUs without any issues. So I wouldn't over complicate your installation as it's unlikely the cause of that loose pin. Probably just a defective contract that you already addressed. Good find.

 

[Brett Proctor]

The suspension in my car is so stiff that hitting some bumps feels like there is no suspension at all,

To bad there are no options for the torsion bars.

This is what I am thinking of getting

 

[sector]

Interesting, I recall talking to few Sterling owners at the car shows, reporting that ride quality is not too bad with stock VW suspension.

 

[Brett Proctor]

Difference in tire profiles would make a difference.

I'm using 17 tires with a 40% profile.
Tom told me that he had, I think 15" tire with a 60% or 50% profile and ran that at a low air pressure and was getting a decent ride.

I also put polyurethane bushings in before I found out that rubber bushings were the way to go.

In the future I may address this but for now I'm trying to get the title issues resolved

 

[sector]

Makes sense. Good luck with your title.

 

[Brett Proctor]

Went to the DMV and they're going to send me the new title.

 

[sector]

Nice. Final major milestone accomplished.

 

[farfegnubbin]

I do like the plate.

 

[Brett Proctor]

Don't know if any of the top 10 produced are still on the road, So I thought this was a good idea to let it be known that S009 is back.
I have seen a few of the lower production numbers pop up, but they weren't road worthy.

 

[farfegnubbin]

It’s kind of cool to think that there are only about 850 of these, total. With that low of a total — and if each owner participated — it actually wouldn’t logistically be hard to account for the vast majority of them. Rick had tried to provide that with his National Registry and he DID catalogue many dozens of the cars.

 

[Brett Proctor]

So what's going on with S009

Ordered samples of carpeting so I would have a better idea what will look best in the car.

Engine is running nice and smooth but when I hooked the scanner up to check things out I notice the fuel trims (short and long term) were running a little lean (-5% ) and the ECU was trying to adjust for it. So after a little investigating I found it was from the K&N air filter.(unresticted flow to the engine) I made a pre filter sock to go over it which restricted some flow to it and the trims came down closer to 3%
I'm thinking of going to the pick a part yard and see if I can find a air box that will fit in the space where the filter sits now.

The more I drive the car the more I'm getting comfortable driving it.
Getting the telescopic/tilt steering column adjusted right and the seats make a comfortable ride.

 

[Brett Proctor]

Went to the Pick a Part yard the other day looking for a air filter box that will work in my build.
I have a K&N filter now, but after reading so many negative reviews on them I decided to get a OEM filter installed in the car
Got to much time and money invested in the car to have a simple thing as a bad air filter ruin the engine.

The K&N is one of the worst filters that allows dirt through the filter.

So not so easy task to find a oem filter box that fits in the space thats available. I found a filter box out of a 2002 focus that I'm trying to make work right now.