Anyone having this FiTech Issue?

jimschulz · Feb 9, 2016

I have an issue that has reared its ugly head with my FiTech system. The system starts and runs flawlessly for varying amounts of time and then will start to cut out. When this happens the controller display freezes with the RPM stuck at 59000+ and I have to reset the display to see real time data. It will drive fine at times and other times it will cut out over and over. Contacted FiTech and they thought it was a low voltage condition. I put a meter on the keyed circuit and there is no voltage drop untill the alternator slows from the cutout condition , and even then it only drops from 13.8-9 to 12.0 (Going from Alternator to battery voltage). I am thinking the unit has a bad ECU that just cuts out. There is no codes being spit out either. If anyone else has had this issue let me know. Thanks!

DirtDonk · Feb 9, 2016

Subscribing to this discussion Jim. Don't know myself, but I think someone was having some issues with theirs last week. Might have been similar.
You would think that 12v would be sufficient, but maybe their ECM is more finicky?

Sounds like you have a self-exciting "1-wire" setup? Is yours the one we were talking about a week or two ago?

Good luck.

Paul

DirtDonk · Feb 9, 2016

And by the way, even a 1-wire setup is not supposed to lose it's ability to charge when idling down. Once it's been fired up, it stays up until you turn the key off.
If yours is dropping to 12v with the engine still running, then something is wrong with the alternator/regulator.

And maybe that is enough to mess with things.

Paul

jimschulz · Feb 9, 2016

paul, No it only drops to the 12V because the engine is not firing because the ECU has cutout. It will continue to run while going down the road because of inertia, but while its parked and running in the garage it will die. The handheld display never loses power either, it just freezes up. While its running good theres a solid 13.8 to 13.9 Volts from the Alternator. It acts like the ECU just fails momemtarily. One more note is I am having the FiTech control timing. When its not acting up, it runs great.

brianstrange · Feb 9, 2016

Test the voltage to the unit while running, with the electronics on that circuit on. Make sure you're not powering it with the resistance wire that originally went to your coil.

charlesawhite · Feb 9, 2016

Funny I had a similar issue a week ago. After 1000 miles with no issues twice on the same day it just started slowing down and fought to hold idle till it just died. Tried restarting several times but it seemed like it wasn't getting any fuel. After 5-10 minutes it fired back up and ran fine until it did it again. I have a one wire alt and voltage seemed fine. I was totally stumped and thought maybe I had gotten water into my electrical connections on my gas tank with an internal low pressure pump when I hit the car wash earlier. I am running the fuel command center too and didn't notice any low pressure reading while trying to start it. 100 miles later and it hasn't happened again but I'm constantly worried now.

jimschulz · Feb 9, 2016

brianstrange, I am running the keyed supply voltage from the 903 wire (Non resistor wire) and the coil wire runs directly to the coil.

Charles, sounds like you are experiencing a similar or same condition. The problem is when its running good its a flawless system, but I cant take it anywhere because its unpredictable. I drove it Saturday for an hour with no problems, and then it started doing it and I barely made it home. Grrrrr Also, Does your handheld freeze up when it stalls?

mainsail09 · Feb 10, 2016

stalling

I've had it happen once. It felt exactly like the choke was pulled on a manual choke carb. The engine sputtered but never stopped so i limped back to the barn. I thought a mouse had chewed up my air filter as had happened before but that wasn't the problem. I always make sure someone is around to tow me when driving this one in case it quits. Hasn't happened since and still a mystery.

surfer-b · Feb 10, 2016

Are all of you running the FI Tech fuel command center, it may have something to do with the high pressure pump in that setup, when it does this is there any way you can see what the pressure is from the command center to the throttle body, of course when the engine starts to die the pressure will drop so it may be difficult to diagnose. If any of you has access to a high pressure pump, and its not too much trouble, you may try bypassing the fuel command center and see what happens. Im following this because I purchased this setup, however I did not purchase the fuel command center, I'm gonna use a 2000 Explorer in-tank pump, which puts out ~ 65psi

jimschulz · Feb 10, 2016

I am running the Fuel Center. I have watched the pressure when the issue occurs, and there is no drop. I can however watch the timing light and see that the spark stops when this occurs. Is anyone else using the FiTech for timing control?

pipermike · Feb 10, 2016

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=605736&page=16
Just read this extremely long thread about some of the problems a couple of guys were having with their unit, both went back to carbs, not what I wanted to hear as I am considering this system might sit back and wait awhile now. Hope you guys get them figured out, maybe there's something here that might help if you have done read it.

jimschulz · Feb 10, 2016

Thanks pipermike, I read through the thread and yes alot of similar issues. One thing I did read was some of the guys are grounding the TB with a seperate ground wire. I dont believe this is my issue, but its an interesting thought. I just got an email back from FiTech and Kirk gave the go ahead to send the TBI and handheld back. The fact that the handheld freezes up might be an issue. Im going to box it up tonight and get it out in the mail tomorrow. Hope they have fast turnaround.

68stang73 · Feb 10, 2016

Would love to hear the resolution on all this.

BigB · Feb 10, 2016

jimschulz said:
Thanks pipermike, I read through the thread and yes alot of similar issues. One thing I did read was some of the guys are grounding the TB with a seperate ground wire. I dont believe this is my issue, but its an interesting thought. I just got an email back from FiTech and Kirk gave the go ahead to send the TBI and handheld back. The fact that the handheld freezes up might be an issue. Im going to box it up tonight and get it out in the mail tomorrow. Hope they have fast turnaround.

I thought about the ground issue and was going to run a separate ground, until I was satisfied that I had really good continuity to earth.

LoneRanger · Feb 10, 2016

I'm also interested to hear what comes of this.

charlesawhite · Feb 10, 2016

My handheld does not freeze but reboots all the time for no reason. The cables are in securely so I was thinking it's an internal problem. Wasn't thinking it could be an ECU problem but maybe I need to call them.. I have a solid ground and good power lead. The day it died I my new MSD distro arrived so I installed it and the ECU is controlling my timing now. I have to say the new set up got rid of a slight hesitation and runs even smoother than before. I'm just paranoid about it dying on me in a bad spot.

surfer-b · Feb 11, 2016

Keep us posted on this, I may send this system back, I havnt installed it yet.

Tiko433 · Feb 11, 2016

Second on keeping issues updates ... I'm looking into getting one but not if yall are having problems

work765 · Feb 11, 2016

Tiko433 said:
Second on keeping issues updates ... I'm looking into getting one but not if yall are having problems

What he said ^

OUMX117 · Feb 11, 2016

^ In the same boat also. I'm interested to hear how this turns out.

Anyone having this FiTech Issue?

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