EFI and Electronic Ignition Initial Start Up Questions

T

Tom Katzenberger

Well-known member
Jun 26, 2019
795
287
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Early Merry Christmas to all,

What are some considerations with regard to initial startup after EFI and Electronic Ignition installation? How long does it take to get the fuel to
the throttle body?

Any additional thought and tips are very much appreciated.

I just started the Onan after the Bovee electronic ignition installation and WOW does it run smooth.

Thank in advance,
Tom K.
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
 
It should take a couple seconds if...

As far as initial setup, etc.... Which system do you have, and did it come with instructions?
--
Bill Van Vlack
'76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath, Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o mid
November 2015.
 
On an EFI the pump will run for 10 seconds at a time, so youll need to jump
the pump and pull the fuel up to the throttle body,
If it was not a fresh engine, one can pour some fuel and prime as once the
distributor turns with the engine on, the pump will come on full time.

On Wed, Dec 8, 2021 at 7:11 PM Bill Van Vlack
wrote:

> It should take a couple seconds if...
>
> As far as initial setup, etc.... Which system do you have, and did it
> come with instructions?
> --
> Bill Van Vlack
> '76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath,
> Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o
> mid
> November 2015.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Jim Kanomata ASE
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Thank you Jim. The lines are new stainless and they are dry.

The Kit is a Howell EFI supplied by Jim. It didn't start right away and I didn't want to burn up the starter. I cranked once for about 5 to 10 seconds
and called it a night. I also didn't want to doubt my original work and reset the distributor with the #1 piston at top dead center.

If it take several attempts I will continue.

Thanks all,
Tom K.
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
 
The pump should run on ign on AND run while cranking.
You DO need to have the start sense wire for that to happen tho.
If you don't have the starter sense wire connected the fuel pump wont run and I doubt your engine will ever start
________________________________
From: tomkatz3
Sent: Thursday, December 9, 2021 6:48 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: [GMCnet] Re: EFI and Electronic Ignition Initial Start Up Questions

Thank you Jim. The lines are new stainless and they are dry.

The Kit is a Howell EFI supplied by Jim. It didn't start right away and I didn't want to burn up the starter. I cranked once for about 5 to 10 seconds
and called it a night. I also didn't want to doubt my original work and reset the distributor with the #1 piston at top dead center.

If it take several attempts I will continue.

Thanks all,
Tom K.
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
 
Fuel pressure is up. I cranked twice for about another 10 seconds each. There was not even a miss fire. I will check electric at the plug and maybe
re-set the distributor.

Thanks Keith
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
 
If you have a check engine light, when you first turn on the ignition
switch, it should light. If it does not, your ignition is not working. It
should go out immediately after engine start. Go back, check every
electrical connector on every sensor. Insure that you have followed the
installation instructions precisely. Pay particular attention to the
connection from the ignition module to the coil-in-cap. As well as the
ignition wire to the coil-in-cap. Check all your fuses on the computer.
Check all your grounds. Randy Van Winkle is a huge help on the Howell
System. Perhaps he will comment here?
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

> Fuel pressure is up. I cranked twice for about another 10 seconds each.
> There was not even a miss fire. I will check electric at the plug and maybe
> re-set the distributor.
>
> Thanks Keith
> --
> Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
> Kingsville, Maryland,
> 1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
> Fuel pressure is up. I cranked twice for about another 10 seconds each. There was not even a miss fire. I will check electric at the plug and
> maybe re-set the distributor.
>
> Thanks Keith

If you have fuel pressure which should be constant somewhere between 16 to 18 psi. If you have that kind of pressure and it stays consistent during
cranking then the fuel pump must be running. I would first check to see if the injectors are spraying fuel. If they are then you may have an issue
with the spark system. Are you getting any trouble codes?
--
Randy & Margie
'77 Eleganza II '403'
Battlefield, MO
 
> > Fuel pressure is up. I cranked twice for about another 10 seconds each. There was not even a miss fire. I will check electric at the plug and
> > maybe re-set the distributor.
> >
> > Thanks Keith
>
> If you have fuel pressure which should be constant somewhere between 16 to 18 psi. If you have that kind of pressure and it stays consistent
> during cranking then the fuel pump must be running. I would first check to see if the injectors are spraying fuel. If they are then you may have an
> issue with the spark system. Are you getting any trouble codes?

I meant to say if the injectors are not spraying, then you might have a problem with the ignition system. If the ECM is not getting a proper signal
from the distributor it will suppress firing of the injectors. If there is a problem with the ignition system you should be getting a trouble code
set, e.g., the check engine light will be on continuously. Occasionally, it will not set a code depending on the particular issue. As Jim H said, the
check engine light will come on when you turn the key on but should go out once started. If it stays on then report back the code. Does this system
have the EBL upgrade?
--
Randy & Margie
'77 Eleganza II '403'
Battlefield, MO
 
Thank you all,

Randy,

I do have a check engine light illuminated. Fuel pressure is up. I will recheck all connections and fuses. I look forward to finding something stupid
which I overlooked. LOL. Thank you guys for all your help.

Take care,
Tom K.
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
 
You wouldn't be the first person to have forgotten to put fuel in the tank(s) after a rebuild... so just to check, you have at least 10-15 gallons in?

-Dave
1978 Transmode near Pittsburgh
________________________________
From: tomkatz3
Sent: Thursday, December 9, 2021 2:32 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: [GMCnet] Re: EFI and Electronic Ignition Initial Start Up Questions

Thank you all,

Randy,

I do have a check engine light illuminated. Fuel pressure is up. I will recheck all connections and fuses. I look forward to finding something stupid
which I overlooked. LOL. Thank you guys for all your help.

Take care,
Tom K.
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
 
Thanks Dave, Check on fuel. I just ran to Pennsylvania to get 20 gal none ethanol fuel due to the fact I don't know how long I will be under
construction.

I did find the distributor was set with the cap at the #7 position when the #1 was up on the compression stroke. I am readjusting so that the cap is
on #1 when the #1 is up on a compression stroke.

If I get it running should I use a timing light to adjust the timing or will the computer take over?

Thanks,
Tom
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
 
I think you need to decide how much initial advance you have/want and then set it with the timing light. Then tell the computer how much initial
advance you've dialed in and it should take it from there.
--
Bill Van Vlack
'76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath, Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o mid
November 2015.
 
Set the distributor at 10° btdc. Number 1 piston on compression stroke. The
computer should take it from there.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

> Thanks Dave, Check on fuel. I just ran to Pennsylvania to get 20 gal none
> ethanol fuel due to the fact I don't know how long I will be under
> construction.
>
> I did find the distributor was set with the cap at the #7 position when
> the #1 was up on the compression stroke. I am readjusting so that the cap is
> on #1 when the #1 is up on a compression stroke.
>
> If I get it running should I use a timing light to adjust the timing or
> will the computer take over?
>
> Thanks,
> Tom
> --
> Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
> Kingsville, Maryland,
> 1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
Thanks guys I set to 4 degrees, but will move to 10 degrees. We have no spark coming out at the #1 plug wire?
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
 
If you have no spark, then you also will not have injectors spraying fuel.
You definitely need to look at the ignition primary source. If you have
current present, then you more than likely have an issue with the computer.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

> Thanks guys I set to 4 degrees, but will move to 10 degrees. We have no
> spark coming out at the #1 plug wire?
> --
> Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
> Kingsville, Maryland,
> 1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
Jim,

Check engine light stays illuminated through cranking. No fuel, no spark. I re-checked the harness. 12.0v going to computer while cranking. It appears
that we have fuel pressure, so the gauge says.

I am out of ideas and into the unknown. Maybe you are correct and I may have a bad computer? I don't know what else to check. I did move the timing to
10 degrees. I believe I should have gotten a spark even a 4 degrees. what do you think?

Thanks,
Tom
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
 
ck for ignition, then check for spray pulse at port,

> Jim,
>
> Check engine light stays illuminated through cranking. No fuel, no spark.
> I re-checked the harness. 12.0v going to computer while cranking. It appears
> that we have fuel pressure, so the gauge says.
>
> I am out of ideas and into the unknown. Maybe you are correct and I may
> have a bad computer? I don't know what else to check. I did move the timing
> to
> 10 degrees. I believe I should have gotten a spark even a 4 degrees. what
> do you think?
>
> Thanks,
> Tom
> --
> Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
> Kingsville, Maryland,
> 1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Jim Kanomata ASE
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Does the ECM have the FlashII EBL add-on by Dynamic_EFI or a chip from Howell?

If EBL, have you set up the Windows software and connected the USB cable? The EBL requires a BIN file for a 403 or 455, depending on your engine. Do
you know what BIN was supplied with the kit?
--
Bill Van Vlack
'76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath, Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o mid
November 2015.
 
Jim K. and Bill,

No ignition and no spray at the port. No smell of fuel, tbi dry.

I should have a chip as I bought as the units were purchased together. I have not hooked up windows software at this time (Dynamic EFI's EBL Flash
with the whats up display). It thought it would start without it?

Thanks guys
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.
 
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