DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Looking at Plan B if all else 'USA' fails.

DTA make an ignition only ecu, much as you may describe the XDi unit.

£420, made 1 hour away.
Have a lot of questions to Alex Chard over there tomorrow, but I do hope it will be positive.

The Clewett ecu is $650 plus all the tax/shipping so an easy £650 when in my garage.
It also took weeks to get it.

It would make more sense if I can to keep all the peripheral bits from the $1650/ £1650 'kit' if it will talk to the DTA. (model T2i)
I am also in control of my destiny.

[img]Product overview

The T2i is the ideal choice for historic, carburetted engines. It has wideband lambda monitoring and logging to help tune and diagnose fuelling issues with carburettors. It has flat-shift for dog-engaged gearboxes and can run engines up to 12 cylinders with distributors or 4 cylinders with wasted spark. It even has launch control and boost control!

Does your mechanical fuel pump need replacing or upgrading? Not a problem, the T2i can safely control electronic fuel pumps so you can upgrade safe in the knowledge that if you have a smash and the engine stops, the pump will stop too.

T-Series engine control units are powered by an all-new, automotive specific, multi-core processor. They feature Bosch lambda controllers for maximum accuracy, multiple safety redundancies, high resolution map tables, fully configurable I/O and up to 32MB of logging at up to 500 Hz with compression algorithms for fast log downloads. The PC software has a user-friendly, responsive
design for better readability on high resolution monitors using high scaling (DPI). It features a full oscilloscope for crankshaft/camshaft signal analysis and allows firmware to be upgraded without special cables or separate software.[/img]

Do you know of anyone with whom you can swap your box in place of their known working ECU to see if it works in their car? Also, just a thought as you don't have a monocoque - does the box need to be earthed?

No, not really Rob.
Hot66 has a perfectly running 6 plug Clewett in his 911 for a decade now, no troubles.

All this could be my crap skills, as already questioned on this (and other) threads, but we are where we are.

Who would risk a great runner with a part this 'troublesome'?

I know Emerald's ecu will do it, just £1000...

911hillclimber wrote:Who would risk a great runner with a part this 'troublesome'?

I know Emerald's ecu will do it, just £1000...

If it was a Motronic I'd gladly swap it into my car to see if it runs - just one big connector under the seat! No idea how easy it is with the Clewett though.

£1k is painful. Ouch http://www.megasquirtuk.co.uk/ms2v3.html.

Im sure you'll get there in the end. It'll probabally turn out to be something stupid . As I said earlier , Mike fitted my system to the car which comnsists of the coil packs on the firewall and control box where the CDI would normally be located.

Genuinely it's been a fit and forget system for me.

I've always found with nearly all the problems on my car over the years its been the simple answer rather than my predicted doom and gloom all has failed an d need rebuilding thoughts. Mike historically has managed to make me take a deep breath and take a step back.

If unfortunetly the box is at fault then yes I'd expect Richard Clewitt to cover the postage costs etc etc

Thank you James.
Clewett has said he will not cover those costs 2 days ago.

Spoke to a leading engine management supplier based in the UK today and told the tech director my situation.

He feels it is the ECU.
Hoping to have the sensor tested this week using a scope to rule that out.
This can be done on the engine with everything turned off.

Good news?
They have an ecu that can pick up the Clewett coils and parts, just substitute the ecu/looms
They are in stock, looms 2 weeks.
Bad news:

Over £1000.

Uncharacteristically, Clewett has failed to email me back.

Through all this pantomime he has always emailed next day.



He could be sorting a deal with Electromotive which may take a day, he has been their dealer for 30 years and are listed as a preferred source for fixing problems.

I think i know where this is going.

On the Electromotion site I've found a small section along the lines of hints and tips to trouble shoot this thing.

Last paragraph there is a bit on System Failure where the ecu crank sensor circuit in the ecu can fail.

There is a link to allow repair(!) but that link has been taken down!!



My conversation with DTA went well, but £1100 to replace the USA ecu, double the price of a new ecu from Clewett.



I'm screwed whichever way I turn.

And the game goes on.
Clewett have said they and Electromotion will receive my ecu for examination and or repair if I wish to send it back, at my cost.
They have no new ones for 4 weeks.
I will have to pay to get one back and pay duties etc.

If it is faulty I pay, if it is good I pay.

I have 2 choices.
Do as they say and take the costs, about £300
Change the ecu for a UK unit for £1200 which is 3 weeks.

Clewett makes it sound like they are doing me a favour.

Beware Clewett.

You won’t have to pay duty on return as it will be goods returned for warranty repair

If it is faulty I’d be insisting on goodwill to cover all extra postage costs at minimum .. I can’t see how they could refuse that

Thanks James, good to read.
I've never been in this 'trapped' situation before over anything.

In my professional career of 50 years i was always focused on the Customer, even if they were wrong, rude or offensive.
A way was found. You took it on the chin, and as a supplier to people like B&Q your got thumped many times.

Here it is all one sided and seems to be resistive all the way, the cost in money time and loss of racing the car.

I hope this week to find out by the visit of 2 professionals to the car if they can find the fault, of my making or a faulty part from Clewett.

I have no practical choice, I have to pay.
If the ecu is faulty I have no faith that they would admit it, they can just say, 'tested, found to be perfect,customer fault, pay for the testing'

Pay or you don't get it back.

Anyway, enough.

This project has been an utter disaster and that is my fault, choosing to do it. I really hoped it would be great, it is just ugly, and I need to change that.

The only aspect of this pantomime has been the superb support from DDK members and several other forums where this farce is copied.

I’d take things one step at a time Graham

Firstly, as you’re doing with your visitors, try to determine whether unit or installer is the problem.
Assuming unit fault, return (even at your cost) for repair / replacement as postage is less than a new unit
When finally working, then argue the postage costs.

It is poor customer service and high risk reputationally for Clewitt not to see you right if it is a unit fault., but I can understand their reluctance to pay to check, as I guess most problems are customer created.

Their terms and conditions state no shipping paid under any circumstances.

If tomorrow we find I'm at fault then i save everything, so that is the stark reality.

Graham you are too hard on yourself.
You have done a brilliant job and documented it fully.
One way or another the problems will be identified and once you are running ok it will just be well documented history and a very useful source for anyone else that wants to do something similar.

It doesn't seem like a disaster looking in from here. I hope when you're lifting that cup at the end of the season you'll realise what a triumph it has been.