Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: mattyvas on January 13, 2010, 11:10:37 PM

Title: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: mattyvas on January 13, 2010, 11:10:37 PM
Hello people,

     I am wrestling with an ECU issue at the moment.
DP ECU and stock ECU from my 07 S4Rs are not firing the bike.
For no reason I can think of after it was washed on Monday it stopped firing.

It has been in the shop the last two days and so far the diagnosis is the ECU is dead.
Or more so the immobiliser has locked the engine and all it does is crank but not turn over.
The shop mechanic bought in a Virgin ECU of his own that is pre-immobiliser  and the bike runs.

Plugs have been changed, coils checked, wiring harness is in order.

I have the red key but not the code card (but I'm searching) can either ECU be saved or am I up for a new one.

Please say, no Matty here's the answer all is okay [thumbsup] 
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: corey on January 14, 2010, 04:50:35 AM
You could try having the ECU sent out to get the immobilizer disabled... maybe...
You might be able to call DNA and get that code for your red key, providing you are able to supply the right information and ownership verification. they keep that stuff on file im sure.
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: scott_araujo on January 14, 2010, 08:26:22 AM
Hmmm..... Have you checked the antenna?  On most immobilizer bikes there's a little coil antenna under the key cover that picks up the signal from the key.  If that fails or gets disconnected you won't be able to start.  Long shot but easy and quick to check.

Scott
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: DarkStaR on January 14, 2010, 11:33:46 AM
I thought the bike will not crank if it's an immobilizer issue?

Quote from: scott_araujo on January 14, 2010, 08:26:22 AM
Hmmm..... Have you checked the antenna?  On most immobilizer bikes there's a little coil antenna under the key cover that picks up the signal from the key.  If that fails or gets disconnected you won't be able to start.  Long shot but easy and quick to check.

Scott

Quote from: mattyvas on January 13, 2010, 11:10:37 PM
... all it does is crank but not turn over.
...
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: mattyvas on January 14, 2010, 02:56:45 PM
Correct the bike will not crank if the immobilizer has the engine locked still.
But it cranks, there is spark but it just won't run.
Antenna has been checked as have the connections across the whole harness.

I don't think DNA can help me as I am in Australia but I might call our local importer.

Thanks for your input. 
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: DarkStaR on January 14, 2010, 03:48:56 PM
Do you know if the injectors are shooting fuel?

Kinda weird that both of your ECUs don't work all of the sudden.

Quote from: mattyvas on January 14, 2010, 02:56:45 PM
Correct the bike will not crank if the immobilizer has the engine locked still.
But it cranks, there is spark but it just won't run.
Antenna has been checked as have the connections across the whole harness.

I don't think DNA can help me as I am in Australia but I might call our local importer.

Thanks for your input. 
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: mattyvas on January 14, 2010, 04:13:08 PM
They were just day before on the track and riding to and from.
It is a very weird situation, I am just not prepared yet to shell out lots of $$$ for an ECU
Especially that is runs on a non immobilizer ECU, so the bike does run just not with either of my ECU's.

??? ???
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: Bill in OKC on January 14, 2010, 05:33:23 PM
That is interesting.  So the bike cranks and gets spark - just no fuel.  You know the fuel system works because of the non-immobilizer ecu.  I *think* there could be other sensors that disable the fuel - not sure on a Duc, but some other makes will disable the fuel injectors if the tip-over switch is hosed (stuck or turned upside-down) - possibly the sidestand switch/clutch/in-gear logic.   Since the third ecu works, is it possible it senses these in a different way?  I don't know, maybe can-bus instead of regular sensors?  Not sure but worth looking at before doing a new/reflashed ecu.  It would be odd for two ecus to fail in exactly the same way.
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: Duckintime on January 14, 2010, 09:27:46 PM
Heres my take... if the bike doesnt run with your ECU, but does with a non imobol. ecu, that doesnt rule out an instrument cluster problem. Most cases if the bike doesnt start after washing, the guage cluster has gotten wet inside. The ecu is sealed and the connectors to it have rubber sealing rings. Unless  you dunked it in a bucket, or forced water on it with a hose, I dont think water made its way in it
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: mattyvas on January 15, 2010, 01:23:34 AM
Thanks again for your replies.

It is an interesting problem, if my stock ECU fired it up then I would be happy saying okay the DP one is dead.
As it didn't I am not yet prepared to shell out for a new one until I can rule out everything else.

As to water in the back of the dash, it was/is dry and has been checked.
Someone else suggested today that maybe the key was dead but I would have thought nothing would
have happened when I tried the key.

After further discussion today I have booked it in to see an approved Ducati workshop so it can go on
the DDS (Ducati Diagnostic System) to see if it gives me a diagnosis, after which I hope to have an answer.
Only problem is I have to wait until Feb 1st as it's fair weather season and everyone is riding.

Thanks again
Matty...

With a slow moving Monster.
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: hypurone on January 15, 2010, 04:18:59 AM
Man that blows!! Another reason I do not wash with water. Def gonna watch for the outcome post on this one. I hope it turns out well for ya.... [popcorn]
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: Duckintime on January 15, 2010, 07:02:56 AM
Quote from: hypurone on January 15, 2010, 04:18:59 AM
Man that blows!! Another reason I do not wash with water. Def gonna watch for the outcome post on this one. I hope it turns out well for ya.... [popcorn]
Agreed. I do though wash mine with water, just everything below the tank. With all useless tech on bikes these days (japanese, european, etc,)  I dont dare ride in the rain. Theres a reason dirt bikes only have fuel injection  ;D
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: FIFO on January 15, 2010, 11:46:16 AM
Hey Matty
2 Failed ecu not likely :o
You could test your ecu in a donor bike, to prove that it is ok or not.
Now to find a willing victim, Big T, Dannog :-X ;)
But at a guess things are pointing to the dash as suggested previous.
2 weeks wait :o where's that frasers or penriff Ducati?


Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: corey on January 15, 2010, 11:50:03 AM
Quote from: Rob s on January 15, 2010, 11:46:16 AM
Hey Matty
2 Failed ecu not likely :o
You could test your ecu in a donor bike, to prove that it is ok or not.
Now to find a willing victim, Big T, Dannog :-X ;)
But at a guess things are pointing to the dash as suggested previous.
2 weeks wait :o where's that frasers or penriff Ducati?




Because his bike has an immobilizer, it will likely not work on any bike that does not have the gauge cluster it was mated to.
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: mattyvas on January 15, 2010, 01:10:45 PM
I know some people are not the washing type but I have always washed my bikes.
620 and now S4Rs, never had any problems. As someone else here has said the washing part might be
sending us up the wrong path looking for an answer.

Rob that wait is for Frasers Wollongong so Steve can look at it. He is away until Jan 28th so it's a few days
after he comes back. And yes I am going to try my DP ECU in Trev's or Dannog's bike.

I can do this as it hasn't been red keyed and mated to my bike for life, it can still be divorced!
That is my next thing to try, then I'll know if the ECU is busted. And if perhaps the stock just happened to die
in the time it has been out of the bike.

Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: goldFiSh on January 18, 2010, 03:47:13 AM
Quote from: mattyvas on January 13, 2010, 11:10:37 PM
Please say, no Matty here's the answer all is okay [thumbsup] 

OK, the real reason is the S4Rs knows you flirted with the stealth 1198s down at Eastern Creek, and is now making you pay  :)

Sorry mate, I know this is the place for real answers, but as I have none, I thought I might at least try to make you smile  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: Bill in OKC on January 18, 2010, 08:43:53 AM
Quote from: mattyvas on January 14, 2010, 02:56:45 PM
Correct the bike will not crank if the immobilizer has the engine locked still.
But it cranks, there is spark but it just won't run.
Antenna has been checked as have the connections across the whole harness.

I don't think DNA can help me as I am in Australia but I might call our local importer.

Thanks for your input. 

You might want to consider getting the technoresearch tool.  I know mine has paid for itself and also has some entertainment value. 
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: mattyvas on January 18, 2010, 04:53:31 PM
Thanks Goldfish, maybe that's true. She got me home from the track and said that's it  I'm done.

I'll take a look at the tool Bill, thanks for the pointer.

To further deepen the intrigue I put my DP ECU (not red keyed) into another S4Rs today and guess what?
It fired up straight away, so the diagnosis continues.
I think it is pointing toward an immobilizer problem, maybe the dash but then the dash doesn't show
any faults so I think my next step will be a Ducati Oz shop for a run on the DDS machine.

Stay tuned.  ???
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: DarkStaR on January 18, 2010, 07:19:42 PM
Have you checked all the grounds (ECU, Motor)?

How about all the connectors leading to and from the ECU, motor, gauges, sensors, ect?

Maybe when it started with the shops ECU...they just got lucky!?!?
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: mattyvas on January 19, 2010, 02:27:27 AM
Yeah they have all been checked.
I have been told to move a ground wire but I need to get some better allen tools to remove it.

Busy over then next few days so I'll have a go on the weekend.
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: mattyvas on February 01, 2010, 12:54:31 PM
Update to the story, bike is now in the hands of an official Ducati shop.
Mechanic has all the information I could give him and my previous shop had even called to give info.

My feeling now is that it is an immobilizer problem as I tried my DP ECU in another S4Rs and it fired no problem.
So everything seems to be pointing to a fried wire or something in the immobilizer system.
The dash is behaving normally, needles sweep like always, lights blinks like normal.
I am hoping it's not going to be the dash.

Hope to have an answer before the end of the week.
Title: Re: Dead ECU or not?
Post by: mattyvas on March 02, 2010, 12:25:41 AM

Had a call from George this afternoon (third shop the bike has been too) with the question, do you want the good news or the bad news.

I said well, the good news is it's fixed, the bad news is it cost $$$ to do so.
Basically I was right, fixed it is and in the end it was the starter motor causing the problems.

So reco-ed starter in and she's back to life.
I'll be going out Thursday to collect it so I'll let you know after a ride of course.
I'm hoping that this will be the end of the problems, after all the place it's at now is run by 2 of Australia's best Ducati mechanics.
It has been a strange problem to solve and I'm still not sure that all is right.
Seems washing it had nothing to do with it in the end but I'll now be ultra careful in the future.