Jumping starting a POwerFC car?

[T0nyGTSt]

I've jump started my car maybe half a dozen times since I got the FC.

Is this safe?

I ask in the light of Brendan's FC troubles.

A few guys at work and the local Lube Mobile/Autobarn say it's not good.

I certainly don't want a Kentucky Fried FC.

T.

[Sydneykid]

Use anti surge jumper leads

[sweetr33]

and turn headlights and accessories on in the car with the good battery that ur jumping from to reduce the spike range. Meaning voltage difference between the 2 eletrical systems

[Steve]

I hope its ok too.

I have done a few jump starts with mine including one guy who decided to try and start his car just as I connected - before I could raise the revs for a while to get the charge up - no probs yet.

[Merli]

I've done many many many jump starts with my PowerFCs and had no problems.

This is how I jump start cars:

1. Back cars up together

2. Connect cables

3. Start the car with the good battery

4. Leave for 5-10 minutes to trickle charge the battery in the flat car.

5. Start up the flat car, and immediately disconnect the jumper leads

6. Switch off the good car.

7. Go drive the flat car.

No problems with frying my PowerFC.

[B-Man]

Tony,

Don't forget that I am purely speculating about my problems - It might not have been the charging at all.

PH1 had seen simlar issues where the PFC lost it's AFM settings - (I have Q45 so maybe not many ppl have set this way)

If anyone wants to try my PFC in their car, gimme a hoy - I'd be interested to see if it does the same thing ( ie not start ).

Damn cars - such a waste of money.......

[T0nyGTSt]

You can try your FC in my car. The next time we might meet would be at the Japanese restaurant though...

T.

[B-Man]

Yep - that's cool ! I'm not in a HGE hurry or anything.....

Cheers for that !

[2rismo]

I have had to jump start my car with PFC installed a few times now and had no dramas.

I beleive the most potential damage is to the car doing the jump starting.

Either way I have used an earth on the chassis of my car for the 'ground' and simply clipped the positive clamp onto the + connector under that cover on the drivers side under the bonnet.

Clutch starting has gotta be much safer for the electrics doesnt it?

Adrian

[T0nyGTSt]

Clutch starting has gotta be much safer for the electrics doesnt it?

Clutch starting isn't going to happen on cars with immoblisers and it would be problematic on high-comp engines w/turbos?

T.

[benjiman74]

If your battery is dead flat how do you power up the coils, and get power to the FC with a clutch start anyway?

[sewid]

I cant remember if I mentioned this or not but my PowerFC forgets it's settings every time i pull the power on it.

[B-Man]

Hmmm interesting - I wonder if that is all that is wrong with mine.....

Damn sewid - that must suck , having to re-program every time you loose power - Especially if you hadn't taken a note of the old settings - then you would need a re-tune.

[Merli]

I cant remember if I mentioned this or not but my PowerFC forgets it's settings every time i pull the power on it.

That definitely shouldn't happen.

[DJ_L3ThAL]

replace internal battery ?

[sewid]

Yeah luckily it hasnt been an issue yet because everytime i pull the power all i lose is the "boost controller" setting since im using the base map.

For now im running the stock ECU though since on the base map the knock detection goes over 80 sometimes (only did it once but took it off after that).

Ill open it up to see if there is a replaceable power cell.

[B-Man]

I've already done that on mine - there is no battery in there - settings must be stored on NVRAM.

So do all your settings revert back to base map ?? ie if you change any timing or fuel settings, they also get reset ????

I reckon we should be able to find an electronics guru who could fix these things.....

[Guest RedLineGTR]

well i havent had my stock ecu fry so i dont think the power fc would be any different its still a ecu and but i just remembers more settings. Apexi would of mentioned it if they had a problem with it read the manual of the power fc (english) and my mate read the jap version no mention of it. Havent heard of anyone with a problem like this. My 2 Cents

[B-Man]

I don't think you can say that - the PFC might have different electronic components and different power supply components and different voltage protection, etc.

They are two completely different ECUs. Designed and built differently.

Either may or may not be suseptable to spikes or surges.

[DJ_L3ThAL]

and also the pwoerfc costs lots!!