Ford EA Falcon CPI Idle controller

magnetvox · Post by **magnetvox** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 1:01 am

Hi gents,

I'm building a megasquirt to control a Ford EA Falcon CPI throttle body (which I'm bolting up to a weber manifold on an old Hillman). Just keen to explore Fuel injection and this is a relatively simply and inexpensive way to go.

My question is:
How does the 4 wire Idle control work on the EA Falcon CPI/CFI? Is it a stepper motor or a solenoid? Has anyone controlled these through megasquirt II (PCB 3), and if so can you tell me how, or at least point me in the right direction?

regards.

long283 · Post by **long283** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 7:26 pm

Have a look to see if you can find the idle-air motor, looks a bit like this GM one

(The idle air motor moves the pintle in and out in small steps)
or if you have an idle air solenoid

If it's got 4-wires it should be an idle air motor wire it up as per this link. (don't forget the internal jumpers to connect the IAM outputs)
http://www.megamanual.com/ms2/IAC.htm

If it's a solenoid that would mean doing the modificationfor a PWM idle valve and wiring it up as per the manual. See link below.
http://www.megamanual.com/ms2/IAC.htm#fidle

magnetvox · Post by **magnetvox** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 1:30 am

I did some more testing and a little research. Those throttle bodies use a dc motor (not stepper or solenoid) which winds in or out depending on polarity. It opens or closes the throttle constantly to adjust idle on EA falcons. No good with MS II from what I can work out.

long283 · Post by **long283** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 10:12 pm

There are a few options then:

1. Can you blank off the idle air an run without it - If the car is only for weekend use you might be able to put up with using a bit of accelerator untill the engine warms up.

2. Adapt a stepper motor or solenoid type idle air control to your manifold/throttlebody - Then use the existing code & mods.

3. Use 1 channel of the stepper motor control (such as 1A, 1B) to control your DC motor - This would require modifying the code a bit to get this to work. Not rcomended for beginners. Have a search of http://www.msruns.com/index.php to see if anyone else has done something similar.
Or ask the question on http://www.msextra.com/forums/viewforum ... 439fe817f7, http://www.msextra.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=4 or http://www.msextra.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=101 to see if anyone there is willing to code it.

My vote would be for modifying your manifold/throttle body to use another idle air motor/solenoid. I'm currently using a GM stepper type idle air motor in a Holley 4-barrel throttle body but the Ford solenoid might be easy if it has hose connections. Just put it inline between a vacuum port and the air-filter.

wagon · Post by **wagon** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:53 pm

Those EA CFI idle motors were never the best IMO. I seem to remember them having a pot for feedback of the motor position... A dog, woof. Many old EA Falcons idled badly.

If you want, I can try and dig up some information and fax it to you.

magnetvox · Post by **magnetvox** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 12:52 pm

Thanks guys. All good info.

StephieO · Post by **StephieO** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:43 am

Im currently toying with the idea of ripping out my v6 and fitting the engine and gearbox from a Ford Falcon XR6.
4.0 inline6 they very strong motors but none of the places here in Cape town have motors available. Wanted to know can this work?

wagon · Post by **wagon** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 6:54 pm

It's certainly doable. Is there room?

Stag76 · Post by **Stag76** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:22 pm

The Bosch idle valve found on a Hyundai Excel is a good option. The Ford Valve bolts to a plate, while the Bosch has hose fittings.

wagon · Post by **wagon** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:42 pm

C'mon, mate, you just wanted to show off that pretty manifold you made.

PS. You should come for a drive up the hill soon!

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