Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: The Barge Captain on 05 September 2006, 15:24:38

Title: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: The Barge Captain on 05 September 2006, 15:24:38
 :-[Please somebody help me
I've no multirams working at all on my 97 2.5. The diaphrams are ok (done suck test). Ive read MarkDTM's FAQ on the subject but still no wiser. Looking at the wiring diagrams i'm assuming K34 (relay injectors) is working ok or the thing wouldn't run. This seems to be the feed to the two solenoids as well as the fuel tank vent valve.
What is the black roundish box thing in front of the engine with the vacuum hoses feeding into it?

I'm getting error codes 59 (inlet valve 1 voltage low) and 73 (air flow sensor). I'm wondering if code 73 is being caused by the multiram not working properly
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: TheBoy on 05 September 2006, 16:25:49
That error means the rear multiram isn't working electrically (eg, unplugged).

I assume the electrical plug is in.

You can test if its the solenoid of the wiring by swapping the solenoid with front...

AFM errors often pop up if there are other errors...
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: nigsey1600e on 05 September 2006, 16:47:54
I shall be whatching this thrtead with interest as i have made a few posts about my multi rams not working either i have also do the suck tests and found both diaphrams ok.

the black box at the front of the engine is one of the two vacum reservoirs the should be behind the pollen fillter under the scuttle.
 
i dont i think i can flash any fault codes out on mine as it being a facelift,  i have ran out of ideas on mine so i might have to take mine to a vx specialist not a dealership i dont need a new ECU ;D
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: The Barge Captain on 05 September 2006, 23:22:52
ok, so if the rear multiram is unplugged/faulty, will that inhibit the front one from working?and do the two reservoirs derive their vacuum from the t off by the brake servo?
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: TheBoy on 06 September 2006, 09:48:53
The two multirams are independent. Both driven from the vaccum system connected to the vac pipe from plenum to brake servo...
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 07 September 2006, 09:57:57
Quote
I shall be whatching this thrtead with interest as i have made a few posts about my multi rams not working either i have also do the suck tests and found both diaphrams ok.

the black box at the front of the engine is one of the two vacum reservoirs the should be behind the pollen fillter under the scuttle.
 
i dont i think i can flash any fault codes out on mine as it being a facelift,  i have ran out of ideas on mine so i might have to take mine to a vx specialist not a dealership i dont need a new ECU ;D

Or drive it up the A46 and I will have a look at it.....
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: nigsey1600e on 07 September 2006, 18:32:00
Quote
Quote
I shall be whatching this thrtead with interest as i have made a few posts about my multi rams not working either i have also do the suck tests and found both diaphrams ok.

the black box at the front of the engine is one of the two vacum reservoirs the should be behind the pollen fillter under the scuttle.
 
i dont i think i can flash any fault codes out on mine as it being a facelift,  i have ran out of ideas on mine so i might have to take mine to a vx specialist not a dealership i dont need a new ECU ;D

Or drive it up the A46 and I will have a look at it.....

cheers for the offer mark that would be a great help as i have ran out of ideas on how to sort this out might even be working for all i know but i deffinatly can not get either ram to move via hand throttle when, where, and what time would you want me round  :) :)
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: The Barge Captain on 11 September 2006, 14:45:38
OK, bit of an update.  The plug to the rear multiram was disconected however, putting this back on didn't help. As stated before, the diaphram is ok, and the solenoid has a coil resistance of 40 ohms which would seem about right and when bench tested switches ok. There is vacuum going to the solenoid.

However, there is permanently 12volts being fed to the solenoid no mater what the engine is reving at.  So the fault must lie elsewhere.
By the way, the front multiram valve is working ok - probably wasn't reving it high enough to get it to work before.
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: Phil on 11 September 2006, 16:39:57
Quote
OK, bit of an update.  The plug to the rear multiram was disconected however, putting this back on didn't help. As stated before, the diaphram is ok, and the solenoid has a coil resistance of 40 ohms which would seem about right and when bench tested switches ok. There is vacuum going to the solenoid.

However, there is permanently 12volts being fed to the solenoid no mater what the engine is reving at.  So the fault must lie elsewhere.
By the way, the front multiram valve is working ok - probably wasn't reving it high enough to get it to work before.


I managed to get my rear one working sunday, the front one always worked at high revs, the back didnt.

If you look at the front solenoid there is a pipe from the vacum tank to the solenoid then a 'T' piece that goes to both multi rams.

This 'T' needs to be in the TOP of the front one not the side. If it goes in the side the front works the but the rear doesnt.

It only takes a very light blip of the throttle to get the rear one working  :)
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: nigsey1600e on 11 September 2006, 16:51:34
i dont supose could could post a few pics of your mulitram pipe work so i could compare it to mine would be a great help ;)
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: Phil on 11 September 2006, 19:04:28
Quote
i dont supose could could post a few pics of your mulitram pipe work so i could compare it to mine would be a great help ;)

This is a pic of the front solenoid:-

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/Stoneshed/multiram.jpg)

The black pipe to the 'T' comes from the vac tank, to the top of the solenoid then off th the back of the back solenoid.

The white tube comes out the side to the front multi ram valve

The other thin black tube comes from the rear of the engine in to the front vac tank.

HTH
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: The Barge Captain on 13 September 2006, 14:44:29
Checked the plumbing - all ok so what next?
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: Sir_Mixalot on 13 September 2006, 16:36:28
Just went and checked mine on suspicion of not working - can't see any action.  Stood and revved the engine hard up to the limiter and no movement on either multiram valve.  Even took off the vaccum hose leading to each of them and revved it and felt no suction either at idle or at high revs.  I am sure they are wired correctly and i know there is negative pressure since everything else works fine (brakes, cabin heater controls, ...).  Posted up some quick pics, they seem to match the ones from Phil - am at a total loss.

(http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/1258/1ck3.th.jpg) (http://img188.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1ck3.jpg)     (http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/7908/2ct0.th.jpg) (http://img188.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2ct0.jpg)     (http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/5919/3up5.th.jpg) (http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3up5.jpg)

I tried to fashion a clip out of toilet paper and sellotape to leave on the multiram valves to see if they open and close when driving around (i.e. under load), but didn't have much luck - anyone else tried anything like this?
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 14 September 2006, 08:57:00
Interstingly, the feed and output to the vac tank on yours appears to be the wrong way round(difficult to tell exactly from the pics)

The feed from the rear of the engine should go into the right hand connector on the vac tank as this has a one way valve on it.
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: The Barge Captain on 14 September 2006, 14:55:04
My problem appears to be that the solenoid is not being switched electrically. Using a multimeter across the plug, there is 12 volts across the pins at all times. Now this could be that the connection back to the ECU is being permanantly grounded, or there is an ECU fault, but no management light on at present
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: Sir_Mixalot on 14 September 2006, 18:38:10
marks dtm calib - both the connectors on my vaccume tank are more or less in a line (i.e. no left/right).

what else would be a symptom of the two being the wrong way round (appart from non-working multirams) as everything else seems fine on the car? - gonna go out now and swap them over anyway see it it makes a difference.

cheers.
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: Sir_Mixalot on 16 September 2006, 13:39:09
Tried to swap them but no joy - the two pipes have different connectors on them ("longer" connector has a thinner join on it, probably only a couple of mm in diameter).

Will try to get a photo of the vac tank from face on with a camera with a flash to put this to rest once and for all.
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 16 September 2006, 13:47:53
Other item worth checking is that the vac pipes are connected to the solenoids correctly.

The feed should be on the end and the output on the side, the valve vents the output to atmosphere when the valve is closed to let the vaccum escape so if you get it wrong the vac leaks and the actuators dont operate.

Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: STMO123 on 16 September 2006, 21:16:50
Had a proper look and found out why mine are not working today. When I had my cambelt changed recently whoever removed all the intake stuff at the front must have lost patience and yanked it out(or forced it back in).

The plastic bit on the side of the solenoid must have got caught and snapped off. so, instead of admitting he'd made a mistake and replacing it(not a big job by the look of it) the f***er GLUED it back on. It was'nt even superglue or something thin, it was like epoxy and had blocked everything up.

Of course, I wont be able to prove he did it, but, this is the same garage I wrote about a good while ago, who said they didn't want to do any more work for me. Wonder why?
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 17 September 2006, 19:32:12
Easy enough to get a replacement as they are the same on the front and rear multiram plus the air injection valve.
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: STMO123 on 18 September 2006, 13:35:38
Just fitted a new solenoid valve. Multirams are now working fine. I took it for a spin and there is definately a big improvement at the bottom end of the range, eg. when taking off. Still not much improvement at mid range though, shall have to investigate further.
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: The Barge Captain on 18 September 2006, 14:06:43
Any advice yet on a constantly switch solenoid?
Title: Re: Help - No Multirams!
Post by: STMO123 on 18 September 2006, 14:19:58
Quote
Any advice yet on a constantly switch solenoid?

As Mark said earlier, front and back are exactly the same. Only thing I could suggest is that you swap them over and see if conditions remain the same. If so, I would say that the solenoids themselves are OK and that would indeed point to an electrical problem.
Sorry I cant be of any more help.