Hi all,

First post here. I have a unique issue. I am building an Ariel Atom "clone" kit car. The engine/trans combo I received with the car (an RCR Superlite Roadster from RaceCarReplicas.com) happened to be a USDM K20Z3 w/trans from a 2006 Civic Si. I supposedly got the key/ECU/ignition (w/immobilizer) from the same donor car. The engine harness came with the car, and all sensors were plugged in to the right places when we got it. Nothing was cut.

When we got the key, the little LED didn't light up, so we had to replace the watch battery in the key (this may be a factor later in the story).

We bought harness from someone, and started to hook it up and eliminate some of the obvious things we wouldn't need (wipers, door locks, mirrors, trunk lights, radio, HVAC).

After months of wiring, we have the car set up to run. I do not have the Civic gauge cluster, so no helpful warning lights, BTW. The car cranks, but will not fire.

We have spark.

We have a fuel pump priming and 65psi of fuel.

We do not have the fuel injectors firing. The 4 wires coming in to the ECU from the injectors all show 12v. However, the signal from ECU to actually fire the injectors (grounding the 12v that is coming from the main relay through the injectors and then in to the ECU) is being blocked.

There is a pink wire from the 3rd ECU plug (#44, if I recall) that is supposed to cycle when the car is running (ignition to position 2), but shows a constant 5v, instead of cycling as we read it should.

Sooo... I've read that I can have the nice folks at the Honda dealer reprogram the key/ECU to make nice. Here are my questions, I'm hoping someone will know:

1) Do the ECU/Key/Immobilizer have to be in the car? Right now, the wiring is all over my garage like a strand of tangled Christmas lights.

2) Will the dead key battery (watch battery) result in needing to have the key/ECU reprogrammed?

3) Does the under-dash fuse box (or under-hood relay box) need to also be from the same car. Ours is from a car with the VIN "eBay."

4) Will the folks at the Honda dealer have an issue with all of this in a decidedly non-Civic package if I need to bring them a car? The wiring will be piled on the driver's seat and the ECU/Fuse Box/Relay Box and ignition will be in a beer box on the floor. The battery may be installed in a lunch box for safety.


Any ideas? This whole thing was unique enough I thought I'd try a new post as no one seemed to have quite the set of issues I've had.

Thanks,

Bionic Phil

 

I know that your ECU is an '06 unit, but perhaps this will still work. Cash up front, yes, but it would eliminate any possible future problems and would probably be equal in cost of a Honda Dealer helping you accomplish the same goal.

http://www.karcepts.com/shop/product.php?id_product=49

 

Paton,

I saw that on the Hybrid Racing site when I ordered my shifter cables from them (had to be a custom length due to the mid/rear placement of the engine). I figured I'd cross that bridge when I came to it, but was put off by the difference in years.

I'll give those guys a call, they seem to be really great with customer service from my experience, and they may know. The pin-outs on the installation instructions are totally different from the Z3 ECU's, but if I can get the actual wires (and what they do) we might be in business.

Thanks for the tip, I'll let everyone know what I find out.

Phil

 

When you say Atom Kit Car, where exactly did you come across such a kit? I know they can be purchased from Sector111 minus the drivetrain, but is this a different kit?

 

Well, let's say it is a "Atom-like" car. So similar, I'm planning on getting the plates "ISOTOPE" for it (should I be able to register it in this state).

Copy/paste the link below to get to the "For Sale" thread when I bought it a couple of years ago. I'm a little behind on the build due to other car issues. I don't know if Race Car Replicas still sells the kit or not.

http://www.exocars.net/showthread.php?t=4916

Phil