In the \"one spark club\" - sorted!
 

At Cadwell yesterday I had to come off early in the last morning session with the engine management light on and running on one cylinder (or the impression that I was). Further investigation revealed that the front cylinder was not firing (pulled the plug and it had no effect on the running), and when I remembered how to get the error codes to show up, it was confirmed as "Horizontal cylinder coil short to earth". Fortunately I printed off the list of codes that Nelly kindly posted and kept it in my toolbox.

Just spoke to Italia and they said the don't keep them in stock as they have had "no problems with them recently". Hopefully, later this week I will be running again. I was also told that it might not be the coil, that the ECU's have been know to fail and give that symptom too.

I asked them to order in a 2nd coil too for me to buy, as I don't think I shall be going anywhere without a spare in future!

Oh yes, I should jsut mention that the one that failed was the "flying lead" replacement that I had earler this year, not the rusty original one from the front cylinder that is still in the rear one.

Shame really - I was having fun with my STM slipper clutch and getting to know the bike again after the supsension had been set up by Colin of 100% Supsension. I have to say the suspension setup was the best £40 I ever spent on it!

[Edited on 20-9-2005 by HW]

[Edited on 24-9-2005 by HW]

Henry, You can run, but you can't hide :D

True, it seems. But ... I can run faster and try to hide better!

:sing:

Has anyone ever found an alternative supply of these coils? They are made by Beru and I beleive are also fitted to the likes of BMW, Audi, Seat. Scant info on the internet though so might have to start a more "traditional" search.

Rumour has it that Ducati changed the manufacturer for the latest models. How true that is I don't know.
Talk from the AA geezers is that they always carry spares of the plug packs for renault, audi, vw etcetera.
The failure of these units was quite high in certain car makes (according to the aa man who gets the call to fix them).

Tough break henry
Cheers
Alan

:sing:HW, Can you let me know where to find NELLY'S fault code write up.
Thanks

For some reason I couldn't find the thread. Here is the list though

Hold left hand button down while turning ignition on. Not sure how long you have to hold it, but whould come up with EFI error and a number in the right corner. If more than one error it cycles between them.

749/999 Error Codes

1.1 TPS Disconnected
1.2 TPS short circuit to earth
2.1 Pressure Sensor short circuit to power supply
2.2 Pressure Sensor shorted to earth
3.1 Water Temp Sensor shorted to power supply
3.2 Water Temp Sensor shorted to earth
4.1 Air Temp Sensor shorted to power supply
4.2 Air Temp Sensor Shorted to earth
5.1 Battery Hi
5.2 Battery Lo

10.1 Hor. Coil shorted to power supply
10.2 Hor. Coil shorted to earth
11.1 Ver. Coil shorted to power supply
11.2 Ver. Coil shorted to earth
12.1 Inj1 shorted to power supply
12.2 Inj1 shorted to earth
13.1 Inj2 shorted to power supply
13.2 Inj2 shorted to earth
14.1 Inj3 shorted to to power supply
14.2 Inj3 shorted to earth
15.1 Inj4 shorted to powersupply
15.2 Inj4 shorted to earth
16.0 Pump Relay
17.1 LH Fan shorted to poer supply
17.2 LH Fan shorted to earth
18.1 RH Fan shorted to power supply
18.2 RH Fan shorted to earth
19.1 Starter Solenoid shorted to power supply
19.2 Starter Solenoid shorted to earth

30.0 ROM/Eprom error
34.0 Signal Panel Sensor
36.0 Speed sensor
37.0 Immobiliser (transponder)
37.1 Immobiliser (antenna)
37.2 Immoiliser (instrument panel serial driver)
37.3 Immobiliser (serial cable disconnected)
37.4 Immobiliser (ccm serial drive)
37.5 Immobiliser (key not recognised)
37.6 Can Line error



[Edited on 20-9-2005 by HW]

Hmmmm .. anyone with a newish model like to whip one out so we can figure if they are different then? Please? Pretty please????

Must be something to do with Cadwell, Henry. Exactly the same thing happened to mine on the way up to Cadwell (as reported here.) Turned out to be the ECU. Hope yours is just a coil!

can anyone else join the OSC ???? - had same one cylinder problem on 999R 03 sunday am - ruined an early morning blast to the coast !!! F****

Will let you know if its coil or ecu ! -

Would I be better off buying a power commander if its the ECU ? or do i still need to replace the ECU ? - I do have the standard 999R ecu that mates to the standard exhaust (termis fitted with race ecu) ?

any advice appreciated !:devil:

You'd still need the ECU, regardless of if a PC was fitted. The PC should be considered an "add on" rather than a replacement for the ECU.
However, the PC would work with the stock ECU and you'd probably find any downloadable maps are written around the stock unit rather than the DP item.

I had considered the PC route, even before this occurred. However, I thought it might replace the ECU, but I can see how there is a lot more going on in the ECU than just the fuelling.

I borrowed a coil from Steve (Stv749) last night to try and eliminate the ECU from the equation. I can't help feeling that a coil will be quicker to get and replace than the ECU (mine is the Asymetric Termi module), but with the Ducati ordering system there is no guarantee of that of course.

First signs are that it is not the coil at fault. Whereas it was starting on one cylinder before, it is now not starting at all with the known good coil in. We did try the "possibly faulty" coil in Steve's bike too and at first it spluttered and fired on one for a moment, then cleared and fired normally. Couldn't get it to misfire then. I shall get him to test ride it on my coil when I return it to him this evening.

Looks like I might be refitting the standard ECU and a PC3 after all then.

Nelly, about how long would you say it would take to replace an ECU? I seriously doubt Italia would have one in stock, let alone the right one for my exhaust, so if that is the problem I might try to get them to refit the original one if it doesn't take too long. Would I be unreasonable asking them to do that whilst they are testing the coil (if it's a long job)?

You have U2U

when my coils failed it took out the plugs as well

the plug might be a good starting place....:puzzled:

it might be cheaper as well ;)

Interesting ... might see if I can get a spare one today to try it.

Im the same right now guys, have had the Coil replaced and it done it again so the bikes in right now getting looked at, will let you know what it turns out to be.

/ian

I've just been trying to figure it out with a spare coil from a mate. WIth the battery fully charged and this other coil on there, it flattens the battery so the LO indicator comes on the dash, in about 3 or 4 tries. Done that twice today, recharging battery inbetween. It does seem like there is a short somewhere, but it doesn't seem to be the coil. :mad:

all my problems started after i put my Termi's on, dunno if its a coincidence or what..... mines an 03 749s

/ian

Also an 03 749S, and problems started after fitting Termi. But then, it was at 1 year service that I had the Termi fitted, so you could also say problems started after 1 year service. Just the age of it I think, or the termi ECU is not briliant. Not sure yet.

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE GUYS ! AS I SAID I WILL POST THE DIAGNOSIS AS SOON AS KNOWN !:devil:

Italia (Steve) stepped up to the plate and got me in the workshop at very short notice. He found that the ECU was not giving a spark on the front cylinder, which actually gave the misinformation on the error diagnostics that the "horiz coil short to earth".

Unfortunately Ducati UK do not have any ECUs in so heaven knows when that would come in. I opted to have the original std ECU refitted which Steve was happy to do, and I have arranged to have a Power Commander III fitted next Friday. Good deal on that I reckon, with an option to have a custom map done on the dyno for £88 extra.

As it stands, by bike is back on the road and running well, with the Asymetric Termi and std ECU, tweaked to give fairly good readings for the can. Just not going to spank it until I have the PC on. :biaggi:

Big thanks to Italia for their flexibility in getting me back on the road, and also a big thanks to Nelly for taking time to chat to me about PCs, ECUs etc. If it's any consolation Nelly, my mate with the 916 is definately going to have it fettled by you, so you can look forward to a day out (or 2) down to Wiltshire to fetch it. :roll:

Hmm this is good to know, Cheers HW !!

/ian

Hi guys - the good news is that my 999R running problem was apparently a fuelling issue with it suddenly running extremely rich !!
(like a pile of s**t !)

Hats off to the boys at 3X Mcycles - they fixed it and it runs fine now !

It also had to have the safety recall check on the oil cooler ! - if you've got one with a KTM cooler - make sure you get it checked !!

That's a result then - and still some fine autumn weather left too.

:burn:

Bit of a thread revial!:lol:

Just got what i think is a coil issue (1 cylinder ecu light) and also spotted this in the middle of this thread whilst searching... Do you know what 3x did to your bike to cure the fuelling?

Mine has been serviced (inc new fuel filter, old one virtually blocked!) and has not been running well since!
Bike has PC and the guess is that there is too much fuel getting through now!?
Race ecu faulty (variable rev limit/power) so was set up with standard ecu. Currently running with PC taken off and race ecu put in.