02 SIII AU Running problems

iwannaford · 22-04-2006, 03:43 PM

Hi Ladies and Gentlemen. I don't know what else to search for, I cannot find what I am looking for with the Terms that I am using. So, I've decided to write to you all and ask for your valued assistance with my problem.

As it says in the Title, I have an 02 AU SIII SR Falcon, on Friday, I replaced my battery with a brand new better quality battery. The terminals were off the battery for about 10 minutes. I then cleaned both terminals, the hold down bracket, and the shroud. Reconnected the battery. Jumped in to start it and check the charging voltage, fine.. 14.3V I did however noticed, that the LED display in the dash, flashed all its parts, then had the word BASE in it, until the car was started.

What does BASE mean?

As I went to go home, I got in, started the car, put it in reverse, and the engine had dropped down to 300rpm, and shuddered pretty bad, then the revs proceeded to climb to near normal speed. Basically this occurs when ever changing from P or N into D or R. It also shudders about 10km/h just as I pull up at a set of lights, also when in D or R, slight motion on the steering wheel to activate the pump also causes a shudder, just a quick drop in revs.........

With the aircon, it is a bit worse.

Before changing my battery, everything worked fine. Now, after I just replaced the battery, its all gone to ИИИИ. How can a consumable such as a battery cause so much grief with the motor.

I have seen 2 auto electricians, one of them has attached his Diagnostics computer to just under the footwell. He said it has returned no trouble/fault codes.

The other, said that the problem is rare but it can happen where the ECU has to relearn all the sensors, elecronics that make the engine work. He recommeded taking it for a bit of a drive, so I have 140km drive out west and back. To no avail, Ive tried the 2 min in d with ac 2 min without ac etc etc.. That does not work niether.

I would appreciate any help that you all can give me..

Kind Regards.
Adam

Casper · 22-04-2006, 04:10 PM

The ECU has been reset and has not learned how to idle properly yet.
The quickest and easiest way to fix this is to disconnect the battery again for 15 minutes and then reconnect. Then, as soon as you do this, go through this proceedure:

To Reset AU ECU
Disconnect the battery for approx 40minutes to 1 hour.

Once reconnected do the following:

AUTO Transmission:

- Reset Computer by disconnecting battery (Take off the positive terminal lead)
- When power is re-connected, start car and idle in this sequence
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in drive and A/C on.
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in drive and A/C off.
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in neutral and A/C on.
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in neutral and A/C off.
- Drive the car on the road, for at least 5 minutes under variable throttle positions.

MANUAL Transmission:

- Same as above, except put the transmission in gear for (drive).

Often, resetting the ECU can give the car a fresh start, improving performance, economy and smoothness. It is recommended that an ECU reset is done after any modification to allow the computer to relearn the car and the driver.

iwannaford · 22-04-2006, 04:19 PM

I have tried that, it doesn't work. But thank you.

philstoj · 22-04-2006, 04:33 PM

lol, never have tryed those proceedures with reseting the ecu.
I just jump in and drive it after its done and never had a problem with anything.
But whatever floats your boat.

cArSiK · 22-04-2006, 06:37 PM

Give it time. Go for a long drive under many different throttle loads. It should slowly get better.

iwannaford · 22-04-2006, 07:57 PM

Im gunna send the fuel bill to Ford

cArSiK · 22-04-2006, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwannaford

Im gunna send the fuel bill to Ford

what a waste of a perfectly good postage stamp.

fordzilla · 22-04-2006, 09:58 PM

The same thing happend to my AU2 when the battery was disconnected.

The problem was rectified by doing 2 things:

1. Clean ot the throttle body with throttle body cleaner.

2. Adjust the idling screw (if required) to up the revs.

This fixed my probelm. Hope this helps.

zilla

iwannaford · 23-04-2006, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordzilla

The same thing happend to my AU2 when the battery was disconnected.

The problem was rectified by doing 2 things:

1. Clean ot the throttle body with throttle body cleaner.

2. Adjust the idling screw (if required) to up the revs.

This fixed my probelm. Hope this helps.

zilla

Thank you very much zilla.
I haven't had the chance to use throttle body cleaner yet, but I took off the air intake got someone to hold open the throttle, and gave it a good wipe around the butterfly edging and around the tube. Works a treat. I will get some TB cleaner today, and give it a good spray and wipe. Didn't have to touch the idle screw.

fairmont au · 02-09-2006, 08:13 PM

the word base that comes up is just the type of computer it has for the car aka the base series includes forte, futura and sr model come up with that and fairmonts come up with "fair" nothing to worry about,
and to probably get the computer to make it idle properly is to take it to ford and get them to reset the computer etc with their diagnostic scanner

b2tf · 02-09-2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairmont au

the word base that comes up is just the type of computer it has for the car aka the base series includes forte, futura and sr model come up with that and fairmonts come up with "fair" nothing to worry about,
and to probably get the computer to make it idle properly is to take it to ford and get them to reset the computer etc with their diagnostic scanner

I have absolutely no idea where you pulled that from but I guarantee you it is not correct.

HLC · 02-09-2006, 08:24 PM

ever since i put my exhaust on, my car sometimes cant make its mind up where to idle and will drop below rpm. a quick squirt on the gas normally fixes this. doesnt sound as bad though. resetting the ECU completely sounds like a good idea. aside from getting crap economy for a few weeks.

AUXRVIII · 02-09-2006, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairmont au

the word base that comes up is just the type of computer it has for the car aka the base series includes forte, futura and sr model come up with that and fairmonts come up with "fair" nothing to worry about,
and to probably get the computer to make it idle properly is to take it to ford and get them to reset the computer etc with their diagnostic scanner

"Base" comes up due to the cluster being a base model. "t" will come up for Tickford clusters, "fair" for Fairmont & "p" for Police.

Smoked · 02-09-2006, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUXRVIII

"Base" comes up due to the cluster being a base model. "t" will come up for Tickford clusters, "fair" for Fairmont & "p" for Police.

Really?

I would have assumed BASE meant the cluster was conducting a base test on it electrical circuits which is usually done when power is supplied for the first time (like when it has been reset).

AUXRVIII · 02-09-2006, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoked

Really?

I would have assumed BASE meant the cluster was conducting a base test on it electrical circuits which is usually done when power is supplied for the first time (like when it has been reset).

Well as the saying goes "you learn something new everyday"

JC · 03-09-2006, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUXRVIII

"Base" comes up due to the cluster being a base model. "t" will come up for Tickford clusters, "fair" for Fairmont & "p" for Police.

Yep - spot on. Though it isn't confined to reconnecting the battery. Also happens any time you disconnect, then reconnect the cluster. My wagon comes up with "Base", and the XR with "P".

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

I have absolutely no idea where you pulled that from but I guarantee you it is not correct.

Refer above.