Common ECU issue

Hi all,

I'm wondering if any of you have heard of a common fault with the VFR ECU where it fails to send a signal to the air control valve on the airbox?

I sold an ECU and the buyer is saying this fault is apparent. I'm hoping he is genuine but I am sure it was ok when I sent it. Can anyone confirm his claim?

If you have experience with this fault how does it manifest? Error codes? Performance?

Finally, does anyone know what causes it and if it can be repaired?

Any help or advice will be most welcome.

 

Surely one of you can help?!?

 

The air control valve, aka the flapper valve is vacuum operated. Or do you mean something else? There is only one thing in the airbox and that is the flapper valve. The only other thing the ECU does is read sensors and adjust fuel and ignition.
You better clearly verify what the buyer is trying to tell you. He is either confused or he's trying to rip you off.

Also ask over at www.vfrdiscussion.com, so you have it from two sources.

 

Just a note that the flapper valve system (on my 5th gen at least) does not work when the bike is in neutral (don't ask me why). Just make sure the purchaser knows that. If they want to test the system on the centrestand, you need to pull off the neutral switch wire (on the clutch cover) so the bike thinks it is in gear. Then the flapper should do it's thing, hold the flap shut under 5500 rpm and open it above that. As Lint says, if the engine is not running, there's no vacuum to operate the flapper diaphragm even if the solenoid valve switches over.

In my experience it would be rare for an ECU to lose a small bit of code but not fail completely. On the other hand, who has ever heard of a wiring fault on a VFR? (that last bit was intentionally sarcastic). My guess is either the purchaser has no idea how the system works, or has another fault like a dead solenoid valve or a vacuum leak.

 

Thanks guys, you are confirming what I believe.

 

The guy persisted with his story and concluded with a swap with a customers ECU/HISS to prove mine faulty (like a customer would agree to that!). I offered a refund to see an end to it. To confirm what you guys said, I previously spoke with 5 main Honda dealers and David silver spares. None of them had ever heard of the fault. Some people eh!

 

I hope you got your perfectly functional ECU back! Otherwise, you just got ripped off son and he got a free ECU! Never was, never is and never will be a signal from any ECU operating that!

 

Lint, this worry must be universal because I have had it the entire time. Hoping the original working ECU, lost and starving, made it back to the hands of its prior owner.

 

Yea, I got it back, thanks for your concern. I'll get it back on eBay again soon.