how to get 200mpg in your ranger/broncoII

[motaaa]

i read the guide on how to install a tripminder (mpg meter) in a ranger
http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/winter2009/tripminder.htm
and as far as i know, my bronco II has all the necessary connections for it, so i installed it and it shows i get 60 when idling, that seemed ok, so i took it for a spin to see if it acually worked, and to my amazment the faster i went, the more mpg i got!
it maxd out at about 260mpg @65mph

its either the VSS or the "fuel data" pin i added to slot #34 on the big ECU plug.
do i have the right VSS hookup? i have it on VSS+ theres also a VSS-
is pin 34 on my 87 BII actually the "fuel data" or "output data" signal?
according to another writeup i found, "All Ford products using EEC-IV computers have a fuel flow signal that comes from pin #34 of the EEC computer."


has anyone done this? what do you guys think my problem is..

 

[piotrsko]

it sounds like you have either a wiring problem or you will need to make an inverter out of an op-amp

what happens if you hook up to the VSS- ?? seconnd question: is the input buffered? I would hate to fry a PCM

 

[motaaa]

why would i need an op-amp/inverter?
how can i check if the signal is buffered or not?
havent tried VSS-

 

[motaaa]

im pretty sure its the "output data" pin because i drove it around more and it reads i've traveled 12 miles but when i go to the "gallons used" option it says 0.0gallons

 

[piotrsko]

an op amp has several states, including inverting output. IE, if the signal is high the op amp outputs low. It would basically change stuff to be backwards.

I am concerned that the VSS- pin is a ground which might fry something instead of being a reciprocal input. for grins, put a 20mfd (or bigger) capacitor in line and see if it gives you better readings when you do the VSS- pin.

 

[motaaa]

I am concerned that the VSS- pin is a ground which might fry something instead of being a reciprocal input.

thats what i was thinking. do you know if pin 34 on the EEC is the right pin for this? because im getting a distance traveled reading but no fuel data, it says ive used zero gallons so i think the vss is ok.

 

[motaaa]

bump.
anyone have a ecu pinout?

 

[jay jigless]

You can get 260 miles per gallon! Sign me up!!!!!!
What the h*ll did you do to get that much on one gallon of gas?

 

[motaaa]

bump!

 

[Dave99]

anyone figure this out yet? i have a 93 3.0 with an auto and im experiencing the same thing with 255mpg and 0 gallons of gas used displayed on the unit. double check all my connections and everything is solid so im wondering if pin 34 is the right on for the 3.0. HELP!

 

[locovaca]

anyone figure this out yet? i have a 93 3.0 with an auto and im experiencing the same thing with 255mpg and 0 gallons of gas used displayed on the unit. double check all my connections and everything is solid so im wondering if pin 34 is the right on for the 3.0. HELP!

I'm working on something similar. I'm doing another digital dash swap, this time in my 93 5 speed and am not getting anything out of Pin 34 as well. Worked fine on my 2.3, so it might be an issue/difference with the 3.0 computer. I'll try to remember to update this if I find something.

 

[Dave99]

yeah ive spent hours trying to figure out how to test for a signal from #34 and have come up with nothing...i still think its a different pin but i dont want to do around drilling out the connector till i find fuel flow pin.

 

[locovaca]

I did some researching last night. It doesn't look good for us

First, I compared a bunch of EEC-IV pinouts across different models and engines. It looks like most of them use the same pins for the common items (MAF signal, tach, etc.). Additionally, I did not see any other EEC-IV computer that output the Fuel Flow/DOL on a different pin.

Then I looked at the 3.0 Aerostar, which DID have a Digital Dash option. They output the signal on Pin 34. In fact, the Aerostar computer was looking like it would be a possibility to swap until I found the one difference: the Aerostar 3.0 only ran one Oxygen Sensor, in the collector pipe, instead of one for each side. Otherwise, pin for pin, they are the exact same. In fact, you probably could put the Aerostar computer in and it'd work as-is somewhat, but I think you'd get some screwed up emissions unless you swapped over the exhaust manifolds and collector pipes too.

I posted a thread over at EECTuning to see if they had any ideas. http://eectuning.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17563&p=92789#p92789

I don't want to go through the expense of trying different computers but it looks like there were at least 4 stock computers for the 93 3.0 MT (and 5 more for the AT). I don't know what the differences were, not sure who would. Additionally, I found a TSB for hard starting issues where Ford said to replace the original computer with a new 94 unit with a different flash for the fuel calibration. I haven't pulled the computer to see if I have one of the later units but I might invest in one anyway as I match the TSB criteria anyway (hesitation in cold temperatures for the first mile or so)

I double checked my connections again last night. While running I'm getting about 8.75 DC volts on the pin but definitely no pulses, at least that my DVM would report.

Man, I wish I had an EEC breakout box right about now...

 

[n_grimm]

After reading this topic I started researching the Tripminder to see what the fuel data signal is supposed to be and I came across this: http://ecomodder.com/wiki/index.php/MPGuino It is an open source mpg gauge that connects to an injector and the VSS. Probably not what you are looking for but at $55 for pre OBDII vehicles at least it's an option if you can't make the Tripminder work.

 

[Dave99]

i wonder if the output even has a pulse to it, it could just output the amount of flow as a voltage reading, but most likely not as it doesn't work...i hope a ford tech chimes in on this. that little mpg thing is pretty cool! if all else fails ill go with that, im just committed to the tripminder after cutting out my dummy vent and running the wires (assuming it would work) plus i like the stock look of it