In the USA we use SAE standards ,others us ISO.
The first EFI was in Aircraft. (flyin high there is little air, and tuning AFR on the fly(no pun) is no fun, nor is it easy, enter EFI.
My short answer, is below. About 30-40 core short names !
Engine Control Names (A primer)
Devices, or Sensors in RED will kill the engine if dead.
The ones in Violet color bad tend to force EFI in to Limphome mode.
Wasted Spark , uses 1 coil per two cylinders, and sparks the pair on the firing TDC and the Exhaust TDC at the same TIME ! (the later fact, is why it’s called wasted.)
The EGR is not critical , but engine will not idle, if it sticks open and ECU may invoke Limphome mode, if it leaks , in any why shape or form, even cracks in ITS casing or its special Gasket.
Most Sidekicks start and run poorly (bad idle) with the MAF/MAP disconnected, but power will be lacking. “due to MAF /MAP mimic mode known as Limphome or failsafe mode., of the ECU.”
Many sensors can be disconnected and the ECU will try to mimic (emulate) them (always poorly) and is for your safety ( you are moving , right?) All mimics trip off Limphome and about 15MPG ,horrid gas mileage.
List of dis-connectables: (and engine runs) MAF/MAP,TPS,IAT,ECT,CKP, ISC, EVAP, EGR. This trick (fact) can be used to troubleshoot the motor and EFI ! (ISC pulled the motor stalls, so block open throttle a tad and it runs)
If you pull more than one, the motor just floods.. now, or very soon, with black spark plugs ,as a reward. (sorry)
Do not get confused, if the sensor is disconnected and the car runs better, that does not mean it’s useless, not at all. (for sure a mimiced MAF can run better that a dead real MAF) Use a scan tool and find the truth or a volt meter.
Case in point , you have huge induction air leaks , say all 4 injectors are particially clogged. and with the MAF wires unplugged, car runs better, that is because limphome adds huge FUEL, to your false lean motor and helps.
Never assume there is one problem, and plotting all fail modes in a matric + symptoms, is impossibe. why? you say, because each ECU made works different , at the fine detail (secret) levels…
Rule 2, if you fool the ECU, it will just do something crazy and dumb that is what they do. They really are crude hardware sequencers, not intelligent.
MORE:
DLC = Diagnostic Link Connector, near battery or near right front headlight shell rear area. (used to command up DTC failures from CEL and to freeze the Ignition timing for setting same) some cars have 2 of them.
DTC = Diagnostic Trouble Code (blinking CEL or scan tool data, after 95′) My ECU is thrown DTCs again, we say, thes just errors discovered by the ECU, and recorded in to memory..
W.O.T = Wide open Throttle.
TPS Switch, this switch is inside the TPS and signals PCM to enable full Idle controls , if engine is hot.
The other side of the TPS, is called the TSP POT Suzuki calls it the TP pin. and is used for Temporary Fuel Enrichment , wide open throttle detection and rules, throttle cut and cut fuel mode, and other usage !)
CEL = Check engine lamp. aka: Service Engine Soon. SES or to a technician, the MIL lamp.
TB = Throttle Body ( the device that allows a driver of car and right foot, to control air into the engine, aka: THE ThrottleValve or T.V.)
VSV = Vacuum Solenoid Valve ( used to operate the EGR, EVAP, Dash Pot) The engine can have 5 of them. 2 for EGR, 2 or more for EVAP.)
Dash Pot or D.P. = Device (vacuum acutator) for 8v only , a temporary cold fast idle device ( 3 to 10 seconds delay at start and then it retracts) depending on ambient temperatures this delay time.
CAT = Catalyst Converter. aka : CATCON. aka; TWC “three-way-Cat” ( a smog filter nothing more) [a missing CAT , kills a good EGR valve or greatly weakens the EGR flow, and you will NOX, HC and CO, in a smog test ]
HC = HydroCarbons , Chem enginer term for wastes raw fuel out the end of tail pipe. NOX, is nasty smog called NitroOxides. (causes acid rain or worse if breathed)
FPreg. = Fuel pressure Regulator.
AFR: = Air fuel Ratio (ratio of air to fuel , aka: fuel mix) perfect its 14 lbs of air to 1lb of fuel. By mass, not volume. 14lbs of air , is a room 5.6feet cube or 177 cubic feet. 1/6th of one gallon .. So 1/6th gallon to 177 cubic feet of air is perfect AFR. STP.
STP = standard temperature and presssure. Google that.
EFI = Electronic Fuel Injection, also called EMS , Engine managment systems. or PCM.
VC = Valve cover. (known for leaking)
OBD = On Board Diagnostics.
PWM = Pulse Width Modulation ( as used on the injectors and ISC)
JDM = Japan Domestic Market ( cars with no smog controls ( I call them SLICKS) sold to their own country men or to other countries devoid of smog rules. (89-98?)
A.K.A. = also known as….
HL = head light,
SWB – short wheel base, or LWB , you guess?
Firewall = that metal wall , keeping burning engine from hopefully non burning occupants!
LR =left rear , RH- right hand, RF , LF left front..etc. used everywhere in books on cars. (Every one has a right hand, but not all cars drive on the right side, so drivers side usually means, ZERO (with out RHD/LHD known or seen)
LHD= Left hand drive, and RHD right hand drive cars in UK/ Japan.
CW =clockwise.
CCW = Counter (anti) clockwise.
IFS, Independant Front suspension
IRS, rear.
TDC = Top dead center, and BDC is bottom dead center, or piston at the top of travel or bottom? and is also used in the context of firing for TDC. (not exhausting)
BTDC ,means firing before top dead center. ( used in the context of spark advance, usually or cam timing “valve opens xxx BTDC”.) expressed in crank degree’s
M/T or MT = Manual transmission, (see dealer drawings, every page has this. all catalogs ,all books on Suzuki) A/T = “AT” Automatic transmission , most call it A/T but the uFiche and EPC use AT.
Tranny, the transmission, not a transvestite.
IRS, Internal Revenue Service, RUN ! ok , Independent rear suspension (not on kicks) Independant Rear Suspension.
Dead stick , oop’s wrong business. for cars I call this , F.O.R.D, found on road Dead.
DIY , Do it your self.
DOA, dead on arrival.
DIW, dead in the water, or F.O.R.D. found on road dead.
A field KICK ( not foot ball) you found a kick in the farmers field or in an old barn, Aka, Barn find. (can be finders dream come true, if you have cash to get out all the bad fuel)
I will not list them all, I have this here, for fast look up.
Tools:
Scope
DMM Digtal Mulimeter (DVM ) a $3 on sale $4.99 MSRP.
GMM Graphing Mulitmeter Fluke.
DSO same but more expensive and Storage ( digital storage o-scope) The best deal in town.
Hello, I congratulate you for all the work you are sharing, it is worth gold for newbies like me. I tell you that thanks to your information and youtube I encouraged to repair my first engine in this case it is a Suzuki Vitara vehicle year 1997 1.6 16v G16B multipoint injection and I am willing to share photos to collaborate with your project. From already thank you very much. Greetings Patricio Bustamante from Rio Gallegos Argentina.
PD: give me an email and I’ll send you photos
Thank you so much for what you do, man! I recently bought a 1993 Suzuki Sidekick and because of you I know that it is the 1.6L 8v G16A throttle body injection model :-).
Because of your help- I can now say that it is a very nice, very safe little Kick! I have the 2 door, 4 wheel drive with original, working auto hubs, 3 speed automatic (unfortunately), and as I said before it’s the 8v TBI 1.6L. It DID have the 60k mile tune-up but it is currently at 225k and running better than ever after I read your website and changed ALL of this:
new distributor cap/rotor, new plugs and wires, new air filter, new fuel filter (thank you on the tutorial on how to depressurize fuel lines!!). I put in a new battery, new wheel bearings, new inner/outer tie rod ends, a new brake caliper, new brake pads, a new CV axle AND now all I have left to do is get new tires and get it aligned 🙂
This car now has second life and I am VERY confident that it will make it to 300k! I give the credit for this to YOU because I would have never figured all of this out on my own as a new DIYer.
You are THE MAN and without you MANY Tracker/Sidekick owners would be S.O.L!!! Thanks again!
I wish you all luck.
he forum died, and I am not Admin
sorry for that
mr fixkick , 2007 to now. retired 12 years now.
Cheers for this site mate. Best thing I could’ve come across after buying a 97 vitara. Don’t think a cambelt service would’ve been anywhere near as smooth without this!
You’re a legend
Sorry the forum is dead. Usually we don’t have to ask questions because you cover everything so well, we just have to read read and read again. BUT here is my question about the clutch cable: 96 Tracker base 1.6 2dr 4wd 5 speed manual. Where do you grab the clutch cable at the transmission to turn the nut?? The old cable was difficult, but at least on my old cable the area at the end of the threads (right before the rubber/plastic cover/loom) was squared off. Here is a pic where I grab it with a vise grip: https://imgur.com/a/l0pSkau
The new cable (from NAPA) in that area is round with no corners. I am not looking forward to getting under there to tighten the nut.
Any suggestions?
hello de FRANCE
I thank this forum it allowed me to troubleshoot my Vitara (ECM capacitors)
I also changed the tachometer, it also works great (1uf)
Great stuff. I was about to but a 94 sidekick in great condition. But after reading the hard to find parts page, I went out to look at prices. Finding them is hard, paying those prices would be painful. So even if they gave me the vehicle for free, it could cost me a lot down the road – assuming I can find parts. Going to pass now.