Solid state DME Relay conversion ?

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by mysocal911

Remember, most all OEMs, e.g. Porsche Cayenne, still use a mechanical relay in critical
areas such as activating the FP.

The real bottom line is a mechanical relay is CHEAPER than an electronic one! Makes a big difference when producing thousands of cars.

[Tori]

FWIW, i just installed one of these solid state DME's last week. I think i see less cranking but it's not night and day difference. Im sure some of that is vehicle dependent.

Now, i did have one strange issue this past weekend. The car crapped out on me, and i couldn't hear the fuel pump powering up with the key like normal. One the side of the road i tried the key several times with no FP sound. I checked the relay, pushing on the connector and twisting wiring. After that it started up and hasn't missed a beat since. Now i'm nervous about this relay too.

[DRACO A5OG]

Oh wonderful, contact F9T.

Brother Tori, you did not have a spare in the car, you must always keep one just incase.

[Tori]

what makes you think i didn't have a spare ? Hell, i have two. The first spare i bought shortly after buying the car, (a regular mechanical type) and then the original that was in the car when i bought it after buying the solid state version.

Didn't need either though as after i touched and wiggled the thing it started working......

[DRACO A5OG]

That's weird, glad it worked out.

I still can't get use to the pump prime.

[Tori]

Originally Posted by Tori

FWIW, i just installed one of these solid state DME's last week. I think i see less cranking but it's not night and day difference. Im sure some of that is vehicle dependent.

Now, i did have one strange issue this past weekend. The car crapped out on me, and i couldn't hear the fuel pump powering up with the key like normal. One the side of the road i tried the key several times with no FP sound. I checked the relay, pushing on the connector and twisting wiring. After that it started up and hasn't missed a beat since. Now i'm nervous about this relay too.

FWIW, i emailed FT9 just to let him know about my momentary issue with the relay. I only wanted to make him aware that it happened early on in the ownership in case it ever happened again.

He promptly emailed me back saying he was sending a replacement that day, along with a prepaid shipping label to ship the old one back.

NOW THAT'S SERVICE !

[scarceller]

The very best spare relay to have in the glove is a gutted old faulty relay that has pins 30,87 and 87b all hardwired/jumper together. If you do this you will instantly power up the DME and the Fuel Pump the very minute you plug that test relay into the harness. Of course you can't leave things like this but in a pinch it will get you home.

I have exactly this in my glove box at all times. It can even get you out of other potential issues with the ignition switch and such.

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by Tori

FWIW, i emailed FT9 just to let him know about my momentary issue with the relay. I only wanted to make him aware that it happened early on in the ownership in case it ever happened again.

He promptly emailed me back saying he was sending a replacement that day, along with a prepaid shipping label to ship the old one back.

NOW THAT'S SERVICE !

Outstanding!

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by scarceller

The very best spare relay to have in the glove is a gutted old faulty relay that has pins 30,87 and 87b all hardwired/jumper together. If you do this you will instantly power up the DME and the Fuel Pump the very minute you plug that test relay into the harness. Of course you can't leave things like this but in a pinch it will get you home.

I have exactly this in my glove box at all times. It can even get you out of other potential issues with the ignition switch and such.

+1. I made a hard wired jumper to bypass mine when it failed in the garage, in the middle of my move to a new house. I had to drive the car, but had only owned a couple of months and had not bought a spare relay yet. The jumper worked so well that I don't have a spare relay, just the hardwire rig, which is always in the glovebox.

[DRACO A5OG]

Another alternative is to resolder the old or bad ones with high % silver content solder, should be bullet proof for life.

[Mrdi]

1) Do the pins on the SS DME relay come ready to install? 88 Carrera G50
2) How do you ground yourself to the chassis for installation?

[jlex]

1) yes
2) just touch an unpainted metal part on the car to discharge any static electricity you may be carrying so you don't unintentionally zap the relay's electronics.

[david.avrahami@]

I would like to have one the solid state DME RELAYS,, discussed here, for my 87 carrera.
Unfortunately, The Mfg/supplier of the relay does not ship to Canada...
Would someone will undertake to ship it to me ? I will purchase it and get it sent to you
and send you directly your incurred costs.
Here is my e mail address : david.avrahami@bell.net 416-833.6693
The volunteer, please send me your home address and e mail address and phone number. I will respond with my address as well.
Thanks

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by jlex

I ordered the non-priming model. Was a bit afraid of hydro-lock or flooding if the fuel pump was running each time the key was turned in a no-start situation. I suppose the designer figured out how to deal with that but I just wanted to be on the safe side if I had to crank the engine multiple times due to a no-start situation. I guess I'm just paranoid...

I have started to watch how I start my 911 now that I have the 3 second prime version of the DME. I have to deliberately pause to hear the pump run if I want to hear it. When I forget and just start the car normally, it is just twist the key and there might be a 1/10 of a second of extra prime if that. And the fuel system has a return line and the injectors don't fire unless the engine is rotating. There is no reason to not get the pump prime model.

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by jlex

1) yes
2) just touch an unpainted metal part on the car to discharge any static electricity you may be carrying so you don't unintentionally zap the relay's electronics.

Ditto, use old bag to store back up relay.

[jlex]

Originally Posted by Arne2

+1. I made a hard wired jumper to bypass mine when it failed in the garage, in the middle of my move to a new house. I had to drive the car, but had only owned a couple of months and had not bought a spare relay yet. The jumper worked so well that I don't have a spare relay, just the hardwire rig, which is always in the glovebox.

I had previously modified my mechanical relay to test the fuel pump/pressure when I had some concerns about that with my '85. Took the case off & jumpered two of the pins using a fused wire and an intermittent (button) switch. When I wanted to power up the fuel pump w/o turning the car on to test the pump and pressure, I'd just reach under the seat & press & hold the button. Nice manual way to pressurize the system especially when the car sat for weeks. Looking back, it's probably better to allow the car to crank a wee bit longer while its building up fuel pressure as that allows time for the oil to circulate a bit more before it fires.

[uwanna]

Just found a big plus for using the F9T pre-prime DME relay. After four days of non stop rain and drizzle I went to start my 3.6 motor and it just cranks with no start. I suspected moisture in the dizzy, but then remembered I had the pre-prime DME relay. I'm so used to just cranking
and having it start I didn't pay attention that there was no whir of the fuel pump that occurs when you turn on the ignition.

Rethought things, and when I turned the key on before cranking, I didn't hear the fuel pump run like normal. I then reseated the DME relay and exercised the key several times and voila I heard the fuel pump come to life and the motor fired up!

I saved a great deal of trouble shooting time I would've had to have done if I didn't have the pri-prime feature. I assume I had a flakey contact problem in the ign switch. It sure is reassuring to hear the fuel pump run for three seconds when you turn on the key.

Checked his web site, and it shows he is sold out of his electronic DMEs, wonder if he just quit making them or is just sold out as it shows. Would be too bad if he quit building them as it was a life saver for me.
http://www.ftech9.com/new-products/911-ssr-pp

[pmax]

Originally Posted by uwanna

I then reseated the DME relay and exercised the key several times and voila I heard the fuel pump come to life and the motor fired up!

This reminds me of the good ole spread the pins of the fuel pump relay hack.

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by pmax

This reminds me of the good ole spread the pins of the fuel pump relay hack.

You may be correct, but the pre-prime function not working led me right to the problem, whearas without that function I would have been guessing whether the problem was fuel, spark, moisture or something else.

[198491132]

I had no idea these were around, I need one! Web site says sold out and no model form 84 3.2. I sent email with an inquiry. Any other place to get find one?