Ok, for all of you that are reading your FICM through SG II. This past couple mornings I saw that My FICM MP dropped down to 40-43v.

Have any of you using SG II noticed this?

Now I have read most FICM posts, and have always read the "Oh my, your FICM is toast and needs fixed and go with Swamps or Drquads fix it posts"

So, after I let the truck sit with Key on. The usual things that take draws on the battery stop doing their things, my FICM readings jump right up to 48v. That is when I start the truck.

So, does the low volts, cause more problems down the line only when you "crank" the starter when the volts are low, or does it matter as long as I let it get back up to 48v?

(I'm not good at soldering, so I am currently looking for someone in my area to do it for me, so yes, I'm thinking repair time)


What are your thoughts on this?


Sean

 

funny you brought it up Iv been chasing abattery light problem so Iv bewen watching this week at startup

at my startup after a cold soak
volts drops to 11.0-11.5 while glowplugs are on then goes to 13.6 when they shut off
ficm mp 48-49 volts at all times

cant remember the other 2 ficm Lp,vp
I will watch those 2 tommorrow after cold soak and post

let me guess you wouldnt know it without the SGII it still runs good

I also noticed that at the alternator with a DVM showed 14.4 but at the scangauge showed 13.6 wrote that off to electrical load



good luck sean

 

amdriven2live, The output voltage of the power supply in the FICM is Regulated by the large capacitors you can see in the Tech folder pictures, By definition "A regulated power supply is one that controls the output voltage or current to a specific value; the controlled value is held nearly constant despite variations in either load current or the voltage supplied by the power supply's energy source" I don't think your FICM should be doing that. As you can see, Blade35's Ficm output volts stays the same even when his batteries are down to 11 volts.


Blade35, you are effectively doing a Load Test on your batteries by watching the voltage and applying a load. I'm not sure at what voltage you would say the battery(s) are bad but 11.0 seems a little low. I would try putting them on a charger with 2-5 amp output overnight and checking again. You can leave them hooked together and charge at the same time. Batteries sometimes get a "surface charge" on the top part of the plates. When that happens the voltage comes up before the bottom of the plates are charged and the charging is stopped by the regulator. by charging slowly over a long period the entire surface of the plates are charged and the battery voltage wont sag as much with a load on it. If you try the deep charge and still see 11v I would get the batteries load tested.

 

Blade35, you are effectively doing a "Load Test" on your batteries by watching the voltage and applying a load. I'm not sure at what voltage you would say the battery(s) are bad but 11.0 seems a little low.[/quote]

no numbers in my post were battery voltages

alternator or ficm voltages only unless

volt on sgII is the alternator voltage right

I think I have a ground problem at the power sterring ground my bats load test 12.85 IIRC on that one but I still get the batt light thats the last ground to clean alot less light on since all the ground cleaning

 

Benny, My other FICM readings read right where they should, right at 12.5. They haven't varied much. BUT, I honestly haven't had all the FICM gauges on, just the Main power one. I'll check tomorrow with the others.

You know as well as I do, this Dang little SGII has been the best investment for my truck.

I am ordering the fuel pressure spring this next week. I'm hoping to get a couple days off in a row to put that in. I figure that up grading that will keep me from worrying about that issue or need for a gauge for fuel pressure for a while.

Thanks for your input on the SGII, you have been a big help in testing.


Sean

 

According to the FICM test procedure in the Tech Folder, the FICM voltage needs to stay above 46 volts at all times, even with cranking. If your FICM is dropping below that, it probably needs to be fixed or replaced.

At this point you probably won't see any issues with the truck, until it gets worse, which it probably will. However low FICM can damage your injectors before you know anything is wrong.

 

no numbers in my post were battery voltages

alternator or ficm voltages only unless

volt on sgII is the alternator voltage right

I think I have a ground problem at the power sterring ground my bats load test 12.85 IIRC on that one but I still get the batt light thats the last ground to clean alot less light on since all the ground cleaning[/quote]

the volt on the SGII -the preprogramed one- is volt at the OBD port (IIRC)which should be the same as batt v.

 

OK, so, let me ask you this. How does the FICM hurt the injectors, if I wait for the Voltage on the FICM to get to 48v before starting? Is it during normal operation, if the FICM falls below the required volts, it then hurts the injectors?

Now, I'm not trying to get out of "not fixing" this issue, if what I'm seeing is accurate, I'm more than happy to fix this, and I am tickled pink to know this SG II is working as I need it. I'm weighing my options as to which direction to go.


Sean

 

you got it that SGII caught my oil cooler saved me from that failure down the road

4-8 degree spread ectvseot on the new cooler
came from 25-30 on the old

great little unit if you can get the x-gauge it seems right on

yes check the others FICM VP,LP 12.5 sounds good then ya know its getting what it needs {but probably wouldnt run If you lost either of these]

 

Yes, I think you are correct in this.

 

I think if the voltage is up to 48V when you crank you should be OK. But does the SGII show FICM voltage WHILE you are cranking? Or is it like other accessories that turn off while you're cranking, so you can't really see what's happening at that time?

 

FICM Vehicle Power (Volts) (Should be 12 Volts, should not drop below 10.25 for more than 60 seconds, or 9.0 for 4 seconds. TSB 09-24-03)
KO=12.0 LI=14.0 HI=14.0 OR=10.5-15.5



FICM Logic Power (Volts) (Should be 12 volts)

KO=12.0 LI=13.5 HI=13.5 OR=10.5-15.5

These are measurements from Ford.

 

Well, it may not show the readings while cranking, I do have it set on fast, so, I will need to see if I can find a gauge to judge "crank" readings. My truck starts right up, so not sure if the SGII will catch any low volts during cranking.

 

You might have to follow the FICM test procedure in the tech folder and check it with a DVOM at the FICM itself.

 

no your right I was just thinking what mine normaly said

just keep in mind this operating value has a range before the cel pops

10.5-15.5 at 12.5 fell into the good range Iv watched LP,VP ones follow the volt gauge pretty close