EFI Test Bench

[eagle mark]

Inspired by dave here's my new test bench. I had most everything laying around except a batterey so I got a lawn and garden tractor batterey for $26.

I even hooked up an old fuel pump to check that circut is running. Drill for the distributor, spark plug clamped to the intake, O2 sensor with a ground.

Next step may be a tank I can mount the TBI unit on to hold some fluid and plumb the fuel pump presure and return to it. The injectors fire now dry. Don't know if this would add anybenifit?

also thought about making a glass jar for the O2 snsor and get a reading dry then put in one drop of gas to see if I can get readings that way.

One thing for sure is it's way easier to get a JY harness ready for a vehicle this way.

 

[dave w]

Looking good!

Couple Rules I do with my test bench.
1. Absolutely NO GASOLINE, Never Ever!
2. Always connect just one spark plug to the ignition coil wire. Never connect a plug wire to the distributor cap. (This prevents stray Electrostatic Discharge, which will damage the ECM) I know this from personal experience!
3. Fusses are your FRIEND, have a fuse on the main test bench power wire.
4. Never leave the test bench power on, when your not there working on the test bench.
5. When you smell something burning ( like wire insulation) KILL power to the test bench. I'd like to say I've never burned a wire, but I have. In my defense, the root cause of the burned wire was because of (IDIOT) wiring done to harness by the previous harness owner. If you ever see a black wire with a red stripe, it just might be a power wire not a ground wire!

Be Safe,

dave w

 

[eagle mark]

I like the no gasoline rule! But I am still thinking of a glass jar with one drop of gas for the O2 sensor? But then it would have to be a heated O2 sensor... then... BOOM! OK no gas...

OK hooking the fuel pump to TBI mounted on a tank with (what fluid) would work? something that won't blow up but pump to check fuel presssure... maybe I should stop here ay?

I do have this srt up with clamps on the batterey for safety and ease of turning off. Also used the GM fuseable link wires that are usually found on a GM system JY pull for the power wires. I already saw yours with one spark plug from coil and that made sense.

Black with a red stripe is usually 5 volt reference signal so yeah that would be a bad ground.

So far first system is running fine! No smoke!

 

[dave w]

I use the test bench to do electrical / electronic testing.

I use a 12V car heater blower motor to verify the fuel pump circuit is working. I hook up the 12V car heater blower motor to the wires that are going to power the fuel pump. With the distributor spinning the 12V car heater blower motor should spin.

I don't check fuel pressure with my test bench.

An idea I have for testing a heated O2 sensor would be to place the heated O2 sensor in the tail pipe of a running vehicle? I've never tried placing a heated O2 sensor in a tail pipe. I think some Wide Band O2 sensors are placed in the tail pipe of vehicles?

I think a better idea is get a 0 - 5 VDC power supply and set the output to 0.50 VDC. Then adjust the 0 - 5 VDC from 0.90 to 0.30 volts to verify the scan tool shows the voltage changes. Just make sure the 0 - 5 VDC power supply is never set above 0.90 volts. Connect the "Ground" of the 0 - 5 VDC power supply output to the same "Ground" of the test bench.

The most practical purpose for my test bench is to verify the used EFI parts I got from a local Craigslist seller or salvage yard are good. Sometimes I use the test bench to "Prove" a part I'm selling is a working and functioning part. The test bench is an excellent tool to test, Ignition Modules, Ignition Coils, Spark Plug Wires, ECM's, Wiring, MAP Sensors, TPS Sensors, Coolant Temperature Sensors, and even IAC Motors (Sort of). Hooking up a Noid Light to the injector wires is another good use the test bench. When the Noid Light flashes when the distributor is turning, then the ECM injector driver circuit is likely good.

dave w

 

[eagle mark]

There's a fan speed switch in an old computer case I have that might do the O2 trick. I will have to check it with a multimeter. Come to think of it, it also has a power supply and computers run 12 volt, 5 volt and I think 3 volt so I might have been able to use it instead of buying a batterey...

On the bench I also used a vacuum pump just like you had pictured for the MAP.

To turn on and start I used a old 'Hot wire gun" for starting engines. It has the start trigger and also an on swicth. So that also take care of the crank signal and turning system on (key on).

 

[eagle mark]

An idea I have for testing a heated O2 sensor would be to place the heated O2 sensor in the tail pipe of a running vehicle? I've never tried placing a heated O2 sensor in a tail pipe. I think some Wide Band O2 sensors are placed in the tail pipe of vehicles?

dave w

I have seen this clamp for a wide band O2 sensor in the tailpipe as well. But I wonder if the heated wideband O2 sensor is differant? They use them on a dyno... from my test bench to tailpipe in shop is still about 20 feet though...

 

[dave w]

Very good thinking and creative solutions.

dave w

 

[eagle mark]

Been getting a lot of ECM and parts ready in my nice warm shop.

Test bench now outfitted with a JimStim Stimulater that the megasquirt guys use and it's perfect for the GM stuff as well.

Set up wiring, switches and lights so I know if SES is on, power is on, key on, fuel pump running.

Using the AutoProm to emulate and record data while testing.

Learning to use the Osiliscope for the problem areas.

Also just bought Jet Dynamic Spectrum OBDII tuner for Vortec and LS engines.

Can't wait till it gets warm enough to get working on my projects in the garage...

 

[dave w]

So I'm wondering? When a CK5 member builds their own EFI test bench, do we (CK5 members who have built an EFI Test Bench) provide a Certificate of some kind? It certainly takes some "Homework, Time, and Expense" to get an EFI Test bench functional! I think in many ways, being able to build an EFI test bench is very similar to building / starting / tuning your first engine.

dave w

 

[eagle mark]

We should get a dam trophy!

For me it was well worth it because I do so many non Chevy engines with these TBI systems. For me to have it wired correctly and all parts tested before the person installs it is invaluable! People usually get an entire junkyard system and I refurbish it and do a final tune.

I am heavily involved in the off road community around here and a member of North Idaho Trail Blazers, former director for Idaho for Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association and still the 4x4 chair for Kootenai County OHV advisory Board.