I installed an Apex turbo timer last week, using an ebay pre-made harness for ease of installation. The timer works fine 60-70% of the time, but every so often, it will cause my starter to click/cycle on and off, eventually draining my battery, and leaving me stranded. I quadruple checked all my connections, and everything is conected correctly.

I can only suspect the ebay harness, but this thing is a very basic harness, I doubt even the harness being the problem.

Now for a little background on my car. It's a 98 Civic EX with a JDM b16A motor swap. Swap was done utilizing the stock EX obd2a vtec harness, an obd2--->obd1 conversion harness, and p28 chipped ecu.

I read in other forums that I may need a relay for my turbo timer, as the turbo timer is backfeeding the ignition signal to the starter, over and over again. Other than basic soldering and wiring when provided with instructions, I am very unsavvy when it comes to electronics, how they should be wired, grounded, relayed, etc.

The most helpful post I found on this issue, as it related to a nissan Z can be found HERE

Here is a quote of the individual who determined a relay as the solution...

Here is an image of the relay blueprint...



Is this the solution to my problem, a relay? Has anyone else had this issue on their civics when installing a turbo timer? If yes, how did you correct it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance

 

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Can moderators please move this thread to the "Audio/Security/Video" forum. Those guys are electronic geniuses over there. I'm sure they can better assist me. Thanks in advance.

 

Your better off tossing that turbo timer and getting a correct functioning unit. The relay is a band aid. There is something internaly wrong with your unit.

 

Thanks for the input. I thought the same thing, but if you read my post, the individual who solved this very same issue owned the very same turbo timer I do. I am hesitant to believe that both our apex turbo timers were internaly malfunctioning from the get go.

Can you provide the reasoning behind your determination? I am not trying to come off as stubborn, or hard headed. I am just reluctant to cough up $70-$100 bucks on another unit simply because someone states its "malfunctioning" without explaining how or why...

Thanks, hope to hear from you soon.

 

As a testament to wrx-killer-Sti's vast experience, he was absolutley right. My unit is not a properly functioning example, simply becasue it is a "Fake" unit.

Your comment spawned my curiosity on the reliability of the unit itself, and I did notice that the individual who purchased the same turbo timer, purchased it from the same place i did, e-Bay.

I googled "fake apex turbo timer" and sure enough apex itself had long ago issued an advisory (http://www.apexi-usa.com/content/pdf6117.pdf) which warned potential buyers of what to look for when purchasing a unit from unlicensed distributors. Needless to say, my unit fit all the criteria for a counterfeit unit.

Thanks again wrx-killer-sti.

Let this be a lesson to those who buy off ebay. Shop at your own risk

 

Just what I was gonna say is the timer you have is bad since they turn the car off not turn them on. Probably a bad diode or rectifier

 

bad install. Turbo timer doesnt go to the starter so why would the starter be clicking?
Check all your wires again something is jumping. Also could be a bad timer.

I know my stuff so trust in what i say. You can uninstall the timer and just hook it up to the battery. Use a test light and you can see if it works or not.

 

read the thread fool.
And the timer can mess with the starter since its tapped into the ignition wich last time I checked starts your car I could be wrong though since you know your stuff

 

So your telling me that if you tap the ignition wire that that wire itself is plugged into the start and will make it click? Never heard that before. I do keyless car, push button ignition, push button start, rfid, keypad , finger print scan , etc.. all day long. The turbo timer isnt connected to the starter so it shouldnt click/ Now if the wires are close together or have pin holes an arc can happen.

I can pull you a diagram if you like. The starter gets power from the battery wire in the ignition. Then it goes to the key switch and out to the starter.

 

This is true. I beleive the op is hearing the ignition cycling on and off and is hearing the iac valve clicking. You will hear deffently hear this on obd2 civic and tegs and sometimes on obd1 cars. I allways see these problems with fake turbo timers or old one. The diode on the board is shot. Buy a real name brand turbo timer and steer away from the fake and bad made aftermarket.