Tracing Range Rover P38 MAF Output Problem

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ElectronJockey

New Member
Posts
7
Location
Uckfield
I am new to posting on this forum but have spent many hours reading other people’s threads and gaining knowledge from it. My problem is with a 1997 P38 with a GEMS engine that runs like a bag of nuts and bolts. I am an electronics engineer and have test equipment and a P Scan Diagnostic tool, so I am able to approach the problems in a logical way (when the whisky clears from my brain). The output of the P Scan shows:-

Live update interval 602 ms

Engine speed 633 rpm

Fuel System 1 Status Closed Loop

Fuel System 1 Status Closed Loop

Calculated Load 34%

Engine Temperature 99 deg C

Short Term Fuel Trim 1 -16%

Long Term Fuel Trim 1 11%

Short Term Fuel Trim 2 -17%

Long Term Fuel Trim 2 11%

Error Status 0 MIL OFF

Vehicle Speed 0 km/hr

Ignition Timing Advance 24 deg

Air Intake Temperature 27 deg

Air Flow Rate 0.04 g/s

Throttle Position 11%

Commanded Air Status 4

Oxygen Sensor Location 17

02 Sensor Output Bank 1 0.645

02 Sensor Output Bank 2 0.805

The engine ECU/ECM has been recently changed (I have tried three different ones) and has done about 50 miles so the long term fuel trims are probably reflective of the previous engine that it was used on. The air temperature and O2 sensors were changed last year. My main approach is to get the Air Flow Rate right (should be about 5.5 g/s) before looking at anything else. Much is written about the MAF sensor on this forum but the MAF does not appear to be the problem here. I have now accumulated 4 MAF sensors and the one currently on the car gives an output of 1.35 Volts. Rave states on page 351 that the output should be 0 - 5 Volts (1.4 V at idle) so there is nothing wrong with that MAF. Injecting a regulated voltage into the ECU/ECM and reading the P Scan gives:-

0 Volts dc = 0 g/s

1 Volts dc = 0.03 g/s

2 Volts dc = 0.16 g/s

3 Volts dc = 0.58 g/s

4 Volts dc = 1.38 g/s

5 Volts dc = 2.19 g/s

So, the full output of 5 Volts from the MAF could not reach the expected 5.5 g/s at idle and therefore eliminates the MAF as the problem. Checking the wiring harness from the MAF to the ECU/ECM shows that it is continuous (less than 2 Ohms) and there is no leakage. Continuity checks were made with an old ECU/ECM that was opened so that measurements could be taken at the PCB and they were again less than 2 Ohms showing that the plugs were mating properly.

It appears that something other than the MAF can affect the reading of Air Flow and it is probably related to the adaptive compensation.

My question is this. What other factors/inputs can affect the Air Flow Reading from the ECU/ECM? I know that other things are suspicious but I want to get the air flow right first.
 
Hi and welcome!
RR section is best as the right folks will see it.
You need to reset the fuel trims and error codes as a start, check for inlet and outlet air leaks and go from there
 
Thanks Kermit. I will have another look at the P Scan and see if it can reset the fuel trims. At the moment it looks as though the highly negative short term trims are balancing out the positive long term trims. If not, I will just have to let them balance out as the car is driven. It does start and run with the MAF unplugged.
 
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