Saturday, August 05, 2017 0:34 PM
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ECU capacitors
While I wait for the SW to be repaired, I thought I'd fix an annoying stutter in my 2001 Camry. What I found is entirely relevant for the MR2 and probably every car built between 1985 and 2005(estimate). Electrolytic caps may start to fail (or not work to spec) anywhere from about 8yrs on. All sorts of engine problems can occur if the ECU caps 'wander'. Refer to an increasingly famous thread by a Lexus guy in 2012 for greater detail.
Camry symptom was a momentary stutter/shake when the throttle was opened and only when cold. Once the throttle was opened, all good, and when hot the problem disappeared. discounted fuel supply as top end power was fine. Performed simple resistance tests on the TPS and the AFM - all good. Then Mark from MRC dynos mentioned that he often recaps old ecus, which led me to the Lexus thread. I took the punt and bought a ZD915 solder sucker and enough caps to do both cars and last night my son and I learned how to use the sucker and there were some minor problems with getting the old ones out, but we persisted, got the new ones in and bingo. Problem gone and general running off throttle opening is sharper/more power.
I will do the SW when I get it back. The only problem that it has is lack of boost 5psi which seems to be the standard amount when the TVSV doesn't do it's thin for whatever reason. (5psi is the wastegate spring pressure).
If you have an old SW with stock ECU (doesn't have to be Turbo) and some little niggle read the Lexus post.