Noobie-ish question re CDI

[spedrcr]

I have a 1987 Carrera targa and I'm quite sure I do NOT have a CDI box. IT should be located next to/behind the rear fuse panel, drivers side firewall, correct? Removed panel cover, no CDI. Coil is present and in the correct location just outside the fuse panel cover.

Car runs just fine. Everything works. Am I missing something???

[ischmitz]

No, your are not missing anything. Your car uses the later style DME (Digital Motor Electronic) aka ECU (Engine Control Unit) engine management system from Bosch that controls fuel and spark.

This system has two sensors at the flywheel that sense TDC and engine speed and then produce spark and fuel from a 3D map (lookup table). The main inputs are RPM and air volume. From that the system calculates the correct amount of fuel and the spark timing. The system also takes into account temperature of the engine and the intake air temperature to further refine timing and fuel mixture and it is able to stabilize the idle speed.

Different animal altogether.

Ingo

[spedrcr]

And the DME/ECU is located under the drivers seat, correct?

ECU's make sense to me. I have already checked out the ECU and I have a 28 pin socket chip. Also have a spare DME relay in the glove box.

[ischmitz]

Yes - both the ECU (or DME) and the DME relay are under the drivers' seat.

[spedrcr]

Thanks Ingo!

[Joe Bob]

Since the CDI isn't there to go Kaput, you have a DME relay that likes to fail w/o warning. Get a spare. Stay away from the URO brand and consider the slightly more expensive solid state ones sold on eBay.