VSS Problems

[alang]

As my '96 2.3 FPT auto box wails its life away I bought another 9k, a '95 2.3 LPT auto.   This was fine (if a little slow) when I picked it up on Saturday.   Sunday morning was OK, over to my parents where I had left the old car to pull a few parts off (towbar and tailgate lock which was not working properly).   When I went to leave it would not start, the immobiliser would not release.

Tried new batteries in the plippers (with 5 blip routine) but nothing happened (it does not operate the door locks or release the immobiliser although the CL works on the key).   It seems the only avenue left is to change the ECU for another non VSS one (maybe the one out of the old FPT) or get the VSS disabled in the exitsing ECU unless anyone knows better.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions, and if anyone has the part numbers for the 2.3 ECU's (FPT and LPT) without VSS.

[Max Headroom]

Welcome to the forums Alang.

Sorry to hear of this bother - I'm not reallly knowledgeable enough on this but I'm sure someone will be along soon that can help

[Audax]

I'd pull the ecu from the old car as at very least it would let you be certain that it is a VSS problem and not something else, just make sure you've got an intercooler (which i'm certain all 2.3 cars did) and if you have an APC valve on the rad you'll get an upgrade to 200hp, of course I'm sure you'll make sure that you will tell your insurance company about this. In fact, if the old car had just sat there I'd have done the swap as it takes maybe 10 minutes.

[alang]

That was my plan for the weekend.  Just to make sure it works of course.   
I was going to get a 'spare' ECU in case I ever get the system working again but the EPC does not show a separate part no for autos, just with and without VSS for the '96 and only a single no for the '95?

[alang]

Seems to be solved - for now!   
Spoke to Wayne at Sarbtech (nee SES) about programming VSS out of the ECU and he said he could do it with Tech2.  He also mentioned that it was affected by a fuse (he thought 5A).   I checked the fuses today and the 5A were OK but found the Radio fuse 19 was blown (had been OK as the readio was working).   Replaced that and then it worked(??).  Briefly!  My son hit the button for the tailgate release and the CL fuse blew, which seemed to stop the immobiliser again.   I had changed the tailgate lock last week for the one from my other car as this one had the usual spring broken and did not always close properly.  The numbers were a little different but I thought they were interchangeable and it seemed to work OK at the time.   Also changed a dodgy back door motor on the new car in case that was blowing the fuse.  I found that you have to re-sync the plipper with the system each time a fuse blows but it all seems to be working at the moment.   Not sure if I really trust it though!

Would still like to get a non VSS ECU for 2.3T Auto but the EPC does not sem to list an Auto one, just one with No 4302329.   Does it get the auto signal to reduce power and torque from somewhere else?

[danilo]

Go to ECUproject.com. Read , read and read somemore then Download theT5 suite AND it's instruction pdf.   
The VSS can be activated,disabled etc.   very easily from T5 suite.
 The difference between an Auto ECU and a 5spd one is a couple of 'boxes' ticked in the onscreen menu.. again from T5 suite.