First drive issues

[Tommio RS]

Hello ZR-1 registry.

I has recently taken ownership of a nice 1995 ZR-1

Upon taken my 3rd or 2nd shakedown road test i have found a couple of issues. Test drive loop is 6kms and 15mins of driving.

1: The Speedo cuts in and out.
Upon driving around on my test loop the speedo worked fine.
Then about half way through my drive it just cut in and out.....Then out.
Then the CEL popped on....
I have pulled the codes doing the pin jump under the dash and found 2 codes:
C12 no issue
H24 Vehicle Speed Sensor
I think the connector is poor from my guess.
How does one find the VSS for diag?


2: The coolant temp seems high for my liking.
On the same test drive loop i was seeing temps of 96C at a stop.
When moving the temps would drop to around 88-92C.
The rad fans would NOT shut off at all really.....And when the CEL popped on i though the car was overheating and such. But i think not.
Here is why.

I touched the top rad hose and it was warm but not hot.
When i would squeeze the upper rad hose i could hear a hiss noise from the upper rad cap/ surge tank.
I removed the cap from the car when it was cold and found the caps seal to be junk!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/k2VchkbMMXtRVEPD7

I also performed a check to see if the cooling system had any air in it by,
removing the surge tank cap and running the motor to see if the vent tube to be streaming coolant into the surge tank and it was. O and the coolant is GREEN and looks very clear, NOT discolored!

So my best guess for the coolant being higher than normal and fast heating im hope is a poor rad cap because the car could NEVER build pressure.

Things that i KNOW are still possible:
Air lock
Plugged radiator
Cylinder head gaskets.....I hope not!

Thanks again.

[Ccmano]

Welcome to the addiction....

VSS is located at the driver lower rear of the trans. It’s round you can’t miss it. Probably just a bad connector.

96C is 204F and that’s perfect. If fans are both on at 204 you probably have a Haibeck chip. Stock fans don’t come on till 225 and 234. These cars were set up to run hot. Nothing to worry about unless the fans can’t maintain 234 at idle. On a hot day 100 plus degrees you could see 240’s with the fans on. Anything over that is a problem.
H
:cheers:

[Tommio RS]

So snap

I never thought that the car could have the Haibeck chip!

That would make some sense then.

From what read from the site that would make sense.

http://www.zr1specialist.com/HAT%20Web/products/Calibration%20BMCBG.htm

Although, the only grey area i see is the engine power light being default on.
Mine is not BUT does it remember your last setting? Like turning the power key to normal then shutting off the car. Then starting the car will it remember to stay on normal? or will it go back to power?

Also i have not seen the CAGS (1 to 4 shift) light or anything forcing the shifts.

So does this Haibeck chip have any options? Like maybe to not have full power on by default?

Also im not dumb to chip tuning and such. I have a custom chip on my 1993 subaru legacy turbo. And i mean its CUSTOM.

Sorry if im asking dumb questions and such. Your talking to a guy who worked heavy on imports lol!


Also never knew how hot these ZR-1 run! Thats nuts.

[Ccmano]

The hot running thing was 90’s way to limit emissions. Particularly NOx. Read through the Haibeck tuning docs and you will learn a lot. Any number of things can be turned on or off. Changes in tuning like spark and fueling are also possible. But it’s very old school an clunky. There were a number of tuners back in the day so your chip may or may not be one of Haibecks. It’s easy to check. Just unbolt the ECU (leave it connected), flip it over and remove the cover on the bottom. Just look inside and see what the chip label says. In addition to Haibeck there are still a few tuners around.
H
:cheers:

[Tommio RS]

Interesting on the whole hot running deal back in the 90's.
I know my stock 93 Subaru Legacy Turbo gets worst fuel eco than my newly found 95 ZR-1! And the Subaru is a turbo 4 cylinder lol.

Anyways, still have not gotten under the car yet to inspect the wiring for speedo and such. Although i have noticed that the reverse lights do not work? I know they run on different circuits but they are likely in the same area.
I have just been loo lazy to get under there and jack up the car.... This thing is LOW!

About the car having a chip.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1gfdEeQskntCKfrP2

Sure does! Doug Rippie Motorsports chip.
What it all does im unsure but i know the cooling fans turn on at about 85C. Also looking for some info online about this chip and what it all does, might just email DRM to see what what about it.

Tom

[efnfast]

Shoulda' come to the gathering, you could have asked Doug personally.

[Tommio RS]

Lol i wish i could have.


Sadly i dont live in the USA i live in Canada....


Im going to do some reaserch and such around the net and email DRM and see whats what.


Also replacing the poor rad cap with a new unit worked nicely.


Cars coolant numbers much less jumpy.


Also the VSS issue. I actually got under the car and found the connector to be SUPER loose fitting at the sensor.
So i guess i need to buy a new VSS connector kit of sorts...

[Tommio RS]

OK.

Replaced the connector at the VSS.
Still does not work.....

Going to order a new sensor now and try that.

Hope the gear is not broken!

[Tommio RS]

OK!


Finally got a new VSS and installed it!


A little difficult laying on my back but was not too hard.
I have done worst things before.


Speedo works perfect now.


Just need to find a way/ tool to replace the back up light switch.
That can wait a little bit.


Otherwise the car runs GREAT!

[efnfast]

I bought a cheap 7/8" wrench and cut it off about 4" long. Worked great.

[TX '90 ZR1]

To change the back up light switch I use an O2 sensor wrench and a long thin ratchet. Works great. Here's a pic.
7876

[Tommio RS]

Lol.


I basically have that O2 sensor socket!
Mines a Snap-On ver but i dont have the slick thin long ratchet.


Going to have to invest in one of them me thinks!

[TX '90 ZR1]

Lol.


I basically have that O2 sensor socket!
Mines a Snap-On ver but i dont have the slick thin long ratchet.


Going to have to invest in one of them me thinks!

The ratchet is very handy for many projects in hard to reach places. I don't know how I got along without it.

[Young1]

i bought a cheapie set of offset box end wrenches at Harbor Freight. I think it was 24 mm. The largest in the metric set.

[Tommio RS]

TX '90 ZR1 (http://www.zr1.net/forum/member.php?u=4359)


Where did you get that slim 3/8 ratchet?


I probably can buy a snap-on ver. but i would prefer not lol.


Also might do the cheapo wrench idea and just hack it up also.


Thanks!

[TX '90 ZR1]

TX '90 ZR1 (http://www.zr1.net/forum/member.php?u=4359)


Where did you get that slim 3/8 ratchet?


I probably can buy a snap-on ver. but i would prefer not lol.


Also might do the cheapo wrench idea and just hack it up also.


Thanks!

I nearly hate to admit it, but I picked it up at Harbor Freight. I don't generally get much there that I intend to use regularly.
The wrench is 3/8 on one end and 1/4 on the other. Both ends swivel also. Don't remember how much it was, but couldn't have been much.