Vipec V44 A/c Issue

[Trozzle]

Hey guys,

Had a v44 installed over the last week or so, but the software is saying the aircon is turned on....and it is! All the time! Turning A/C off on the climate control unit does nothing, and unfortunately the OFF button is buggered so it's always tuned on anyway....this was never a problem though, as I just set it to 18deg and turned A/C off. Not even sure if the unit is the issue here, as it was fine with stock ECU.

Any idea as to what would be causing the A/C to be stuck on all the time after ECU install?

[DaveO74]

Not that it's gonna help you much but we both seem to have the dreaded air con curse, I have a engine check light always on with my PFC and it goes away when the a/c is turned on!

Maybe a 33 thing?????

Annoying hey

Can you somehow turn off the a/c using a laptop on the vipec?

[Trozzle]

Unsure. I just know the tuner told me for some reason the A/C is always on....I took this to mean that the off button does sweet shit all, coz it's never worked....didn't actually think they meant the A/C pump was always working, just figured they meant climate control unit couldn't be turned off.

zzz I'll ninja my mate's laptop over the weekend and check out what the ECU has to say I spose.

[TiTAN]

Auxiliary Outputs > Aux 3. - Aircon output to AC pump

Digital Inputs > DI 4. - Aircon input to ecu

they are the ones you need to look at for the aircon, my AC hasnt worked/been in the car for 3 years so i have never bothered playing with any of the settings for it.

[Trozzle]

When ESP installed the ECU, would they have plugged the correct shit for the A/C back in? Sorry, I haven't seen the plugs for the ECU, so I have no idea if it would be separate, or part of a large plug therefore no way to miss it.

Otherwise, once I sort out my other issue with the car (hopefully tomorrow) then I will install the software on my mate's laptop and have a looky

[Don Dada]

I remember reading some sort of "known" problem that exist with the V44 on skylines but i believe it was on 34s only or might just be a simple input/output setting

Download the pdf on their site and have a look

[BoostedBarge]

Yeah Don the issue you might be referring to is on R34s/Stagea 260RSs. The Air con clutch relay is always powered by 12V in these cars, but is switched by ignition on the older Skylines. The Vipec grounds the aircon signal when the ignition is off which causes the air con clutch to switch on whenever the car is off. The fix is a small change the wiring on the air con relay. It's in the manual. I think the later Vipecs might have resolved this issue on the ECU board.

Not sure what the problem with this R33 is. Have a play with the settings and see what happens. Check out the wiring to the clutch fan relay. Sounds like the coil side is always grounded. Could be an ECU issue, could be a wiring issue.

[Trozzle]

If it's a wiring issue, I'd assume it's at the ECU end of the wiring...otherwise it's hopefully just a setting.

The clutch is definitely engaged from the moment I turn the key to ign. Once it hits ign you can hear the loud click in the A/C pump, and when I start the car the belt squeals like a bitch.

[Trozzle]

Alrighty.

Both the aux output and digital input were what they should be.

For DI-4 (Aircon request), one of the settings is "Pullup resistor ON/OFF" - this was set to OFF.

Changed "Pullup resistor" to ON, stored to ECU, disconnected, then started car

-AC button turning pump on and off correctly (engine would almost stall when I turn it off though)

Connected to ECU while engine running and tried pressing AC button again

-not working (pump stuck on)

Confirmed "Pullup resistor" still set to ON

-it is

Stored to ECU again

-still not working

Disconnected ECU, turned engine off, connected to ECU, stored settings to ECU again, disconnected ECU, started car again

-button working again

Connected to ECU

-not working (pump stuck on)

Disconnected, turned car off, started engine, connected, stored to ECU again, disconnected ECU

-still not working

Disconnected ECU, turned engine off, connected to ECU, stored settings to ECU again, disconnected ECU, started car again

-button working again

It seems that simply connecting to the ECU while the engine is running breaks the function of the AC pump settings even though I have not changed a thing. I don't remember the outcome of connecting to the ECU while engine isn't running, then disconnecting without changing a thing and turning engine on once more, but I'm 99% sure it has the same outcome of breaking the AC pump settings. The only way to make it work again, is to store to ECU while engine is off before disconnecting.

So:

-tuner didn't do this setting correctly, or it just doesn't make a difference whether pullup resistor is on or off.

-connecting to ECU will cause this AC function to stop working correctly

-fixed by storing settings to ECU when engine isn't running, then disconnecting before starting engine

-Engine will stall, or come VERY close to stalling when the pump is turned OFF - more than likely just requires idle tuning tweaked or something, since they could only tune it with the pump running in the first place. (running a MAP sensor FYI, if that makes a diff)

Anyone shed any light on this? I would try updating the ECU firmware, but I wouldn't expect it would be necessary as it would have either been the latest version when the ECU was fitted, or the tuner would have already done this....plus I just don't want to risk breaking something by doing this.

[Trozzle]

Anyone? lul

[Trozzle]

K so I went out and started the car again - A/C pump is stuck on again.

WTF is the ECU doing? Why is it being emo?

[sriver killer]

i've had this exact same issue with my r33.

Take it back to your tuner mate,

there is an auxilary on your vipec that the controls (don't quote me) sensitivity for your aircon

was a 5 min fix for mine, took it to another tuner, he plugged laptop in. adjusted something. problem fixed

[Trozzle]

hmm, I'll see...living in Canberra, I'm slightly restricted to whom I can take a ViPEC to...I'll send GT a PM and see if he can help out, otherwise I might have to dick around with it for a while

The only thing that really baffles me is that it only works depending on the order in which I perform connecting, storing settings, and starting the engine. Sounds a LOT like a firmware issue

[PM-R33]

Hmm interesting problem. Mine seems to be the other way around, the aircon isn't working since the Vipec install; just noticed it the other day.

I'm going to play around with it now, might just be a blown fuse or something. Strange thing is I can hear the relay under the bonnet click when I turn the aircon on...

[PM-R33]

Righteo so I think we have a similar problem as I now know why my Aircon aint working; it is the Vipec.

With the car on ignition and aircon switched off my values are as follows:

DI4: Aircon Request OFF

AUX3: Aircon Clutch OFF

With the car on ignition and aircon switched on my values are as follows:

DI4: Aircon Request ON

AUX3: Aircon Clutch OFF

So far so good. However this is where the problem lies:

When the car is switched on and aircon switched off my values are as follows:

DI4: Aircon Request ON

AUX3: Aircon Clutch ON

When the car is switched on and aircon switched on my values are as follows:

DI4: Aircon Request OFF

AUX3: Aircon Clutch OFF

So what is up with that. Is this the same problem as they mention the R34 having? Obviously the reason the aircon aint working is when I switch it on, the ECU is switching the aircon clutch OFF. But with the aircon switched OFF, the aircon clutch in ON?!

I have not touched any aircon values on the Vipec (same as the basemap) and it all seems to be setup correctly in the AUX3 and DI4 so what's the go?

Edited September 24, 2010 by PM-R33

[Trozzle]

There 100% definitely has to be a firmware issue or something with the v44...my A/C button is intermittently functioning correctly without me changing a thing. When it is NOT functioning, my A/C clutch is always engaged. I also tried completely disabling the aux3 and DI3 so they were both being used for nothing, and the clutch is STILL PERMANENTLY ON.

I have no idea what's going on man, and I honestly don't know what's up with yours either. Seems to be different things though, I think. It would appear yours just doesn't work, while mine is ALWAYS working.

[PM-R33]

Yeah mine is a bit strange. I'm downloading the latest firmware/software for it (I didn't realise there was a new one this month) so I'll see if that fixes anything.

Wouldn't mind some input from Trent or Anthony *hint hint *

Edited September 24, 2010 by PM-R33

[PM-R33]

Righteo well I fixed mine. Appeared to have been a polarity issue within in the settings of the DI4.

I put in the new firmware and changed the "ON LEVEL" from the factory set "HIGH" to "LOW" and now it functions as normally.

This is with the aircon switched on:

And obviously when I switch it off the clutch and aircon request go to OFF. So appears all good now. I wonder why it is set wrong though?

Edited September 24, 2010 by PM-R33

[sriver killer]

same fix for mine

[Trozzle]

could you please also post up a screencap of your Aux3 settings too? I want to set mine exactly the same and see what happens.

Thanks