Dont ask me to troubleshoot...

[87NAT]

I feel like an idiot. My converter was not locking up with my manual switch so I did my homework on the boards and started troubleshooting. After checking everything and emailing Brian in Detroit(who built my tranny and was very patient and answered all of my emails:smile: ), he said he would send me a new TCC solenoid even though he didnt think that was the problem.

Well I found my problem. I thought I was checking for 12 volts on the purple wire at the connector on the tranny but I was checking the blue wire. My advice... dont do this in your garage...at night...with low light.:redface: The "blue" wire had 12 volts so I thought my problem was elsewhere. Make a long story short...I checked my wires again today(with good ole daylight) and found no power to the correct purple wire. I rechecked my brake pedal and had 12 volts so I started tracing the wires. Thats when I felt like an idiot. When I installed my vacuum brake system last month all four wires got pinched between the booster and the firewall

Heres my question. I dread having to get back under my dash and loosening my booster because I know the wires are screwed up anyway. I am 6'6" and weigh 285 lbs...I dont fit under my dash very easily. I want to just cut my wires at the connector, splice into them and run 4 brand new wires to their correct locations in the car. The purple wire to the brake pedal and tan/blk to the ALCL connector are not a problem. I want to know where the green/white third gear wire and light blue fourth gear wire go to?

Do you think the ECM is still locking up the converter even though the wires are screwed up or is it just affecting my manual switch?

I know this is a long post but I wanted everyone to double and triple check your own work when you troubleshoot. We all make mistakes. I could have sworn I was checking that purple wire...

 

[TURBO 6]

Ed,
Get your tall, lazy a$$ under there and fix it right. Glad you found the problem!

 

[87NAT]

C'mon Damon, I expected at least at little sympathy. Maybe you can make the drive to Lafayette and get your "vertically challenged" self under my dash for me.:biggrin: You shouldnt even have to tilt the steering wheel back.

 

[turbojimmy]

C'mon Damon, I expected at least at little sympathy. Maybe you can make the drive to Lafayette and get your "vertically challenged" self under my dash for me.:biggrin: You shouldnt even have to tilt the steering wheel back.

I believe the 3 and 4 wires go to the ECM. You really should get under there and do it right. When doing extended work under the dash I just take the driver's seat out. 4 bolts and it comes out easily. Then it's just like lying in bed. Except without a mattress, and with a brake pedal for a pillow, and the studs for the seat sticking into your back....but it is much easier.

To answer the question as to whether the ECM is locking up the converter. It's sending the command but it's not getting to the solenoid. It uses the same path as the manual switch so if that's not working neither is the ECM.

I went through the same thing last fall. I dropped the pan and everything before I realized it was the switch at the pedal (wasn't adjusted right).

Jim

 

[87NAT]

Turbojimmy thanks for the reply. Dont misunderstand me...I do want to "do it right". I dont rig anything on my regal. But my thinking is that the wires behind the booster are crushed....SOOOO why should I pull the booster if I would have to create a splice at the damaged point anyway? It would be easier to run my new wires from the connecter on the tranny thru my hole in the firewall into the car and start fresh with new connections. I will be making more work for my self..I might as well just cut those wires and leave them behind the booster. You cant see them and they would be "dead" wires anyway. Thats why I wanted to find out where the other two wires went.

After more homework last night I seem to have located their final destination at the 32 pin connector to the ECM at ports number C7 & C8. No lock up would explain part of my pathetic MPH at the track 2 weeks ago.

 

[turbojimmy]

Turbojimmy thanks for the reply. Dont misunderstand me...I do want to "do it right". I dont rig anything on my regal. But my thinking is that the wires behind the booster are crushed....SOOOO why should I pull the booster if I would have to create a splice at the damaged point anyway? It would be easier to run my new wires from the connecter on the tranny thru my hole in the firewall into the car and start fresh with new connections. I will be making more work for my self..I might as well just cut those wires and leave them behind the booster. You cant see them and they would be "dead" wires anyway. Thats why I wanted to find out where the other two wires went.

After more homework last night I seem to have located their final destination at the 32 pin connector to the ECM at ports number C7 & C8. No lock up would explain part of my pathetic MPH at the track 2 weeks ago.

Yes, that's how I determined mine wasn't locking up too. I had lost a few MPH at the track and couldn't figure out why.

Personally I'd unbolt the booster and see what I can salvage of the original wiring. Proably will need cut and spliced together. It's a pain in the butt but it might be easier in the long run anyway. But that's just my opinion, everybody's got one....

Jim

 

[87NAT]

Turbojimmy,

No disrespect meant...and I appreciate your advice. How can I not listen to someone running a full second faster than me in the quarter. Its obvious your doing something right.:smile:

I guess its time to start strectching and be a contortionist again to get to those booster nuts.:biggrin:

 

[87NAT]

booster loosened, wires repaired, have lockup again!

 

[turbojimmy]

booster loosened, wires repaired, have lockup again!

How come you didn't just splice new wires in? That's what I'd have done.



Glad you got it fixed - it's a great feeling to solve some of this stuff yourself, even if your initial diagnosis was incorrect.

Jim

 

[87NAT]

My back is hurting pretty bad this morning...I wondeer why Turbojimmy? Oh yea, its because I was bent at a 90 degree angle under my dash yesterday because of you. My attorney will be contacting you for damages...

You were right to do it that way. There were so many wires coming into the firewall behind the fusebox I would still be under my dash this morning trying to locate the right ones to resplice. Thanks for your help. Now maybe I can put some MPH back into my timeslip.:smile:

 

[turbojimmy]

My back is hurting pretty bad this morning...I wondeer why Turbojimmy? Oh yea, its because I was bent at a 90 degree angle under my dash yesterday because of you. My attorney will be contacting you for damages...

I know the feeling. I just came in from swapping out the left header and turbo gaskets (actually took the turbo gasket out and put it back together without one - hopefully it won't leak). My back is killing me from leaning over the fender. I'm going to take a break and then do the left side gasket.

Jim