Alky Problem

steelhead · 07-22-2006, 07:50 PM

Okay, I am baffled
I am running an SMC alky kit and the pump will stop working complety after 30mins or more of constant driving. Every time for the last week that I go on a prolonged drive (usaually on the highway) the pump goes dead. I still have a green light on the controller, but I press the test button and no spray. I confirm by stopping and holding the rpms at about 3k and hitting the test button again to see if it will bog the engine, but nothing. It doesn't seem to matter what the ambient temp is. The only constant is the prolonged drive.

If I then stop for about 5 or 10 mins the pump will operate again. WTF

Does anyone have any idea what is going on or had anything similar happen?

Thanks

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

hippy · 07-22-2006, 08:26 PM

I haven't had anything similar happen, but the guy in this thread seems to have the same problem. Not sure if he found a solution.

peace

steelhead · 07-22-2006, 08:44 PM

Thanks but when it happens the pump is not even trying, it is dead like someone flipped a switch off.

hotrod · 07-22-2006, 09:14 PM

It sounds like a thermal cut off safety in the pump (some pumps have them to prevent overheating).

Is the pump mounted where it gets very hot during a long drive?

Larry

steelhead · 07-22-2006, 09:24 PM

^^^ Thats what Steve at SMC was thinking but now he is not sure as it is happening on cool days. It just started happening last week and I have had the kit for a year now and never had this problem before.

Edit: The pump is mounted on the washer bottle under the hood.

hotrod · 07-22-2006, 10:20 PM

Is the circuit feeding the pump protected with a circuit breaker?

If you have a VOM (volt meter) try to test if there is voltage at the + terminal of the pump when it is supposed to be running but fails to run. If there is, than the pump is toast, if not then your circuit is going dead for some reason and you need to check for shorts or opens and bad switches fuses/circuit breakers for a start.

If you don't have a volt meter, simply wire a light bulb in parallel with the pump, if it comes on but the pump is dead then its a bad pump. If it fails to light, when the pump is coming on your not getting any current to pump and you have a wiring problem.

Larry

STi Crazy · 07-23-2006, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhead

Okay, I am baffled
I am running an SMC alky kit and the pump will stop working complety after 30mins or more of constant driving. Every time for the last week that I go on a prolonged drive (usaually on the highway) the pump goes dead. I still have a green light on the controller, but I press the test button and no spray. I confirm by stopping and holding the rpms at about 3k and hitting the test button again to see if it will bog the engine, but nothing. It doesn't seem to matter what the ambient temp is. The only constant is the prolonged drive.

If I then stop for about 5 or 10 mins the pump will operate again. WTF

Does anyone have any idea what is going on or had anything similar happen?

Thanks

Sorry to hear about your problems with the SMC kit. I have the same system but have the Spec C tank. Hopefully it won't have the same issues.

Thought you'd like to know the the ACPT is installed and it's perfect for track use (as I thought) - especially throttle response through the corners and keeping the revs up exiting.

So while not a "power" mod in terms of adding HP, makes the car run "quicker" if you know what i mean! Plus, it's a great supporting mod later should I want more power!

Good luck with the alky!

Can't wait to install mine and get retuned.

TSUNAMI_STI · 07-23-2006, 07:29 AM

i have the same kit and until now all is working great, i live in puerto rico which is hot 90% of the time and never had that problem. you can try using some sort of thermal shield to protect the pump or what i did was eliminate the rubber trimming from the hood and raise the hood using washers or spacers about 1/4 - 1/2'' at the hinges to eliminate lots of the engine heat.

my 2cents

klattery · 07-25-2006, 10:56 AM

The SMC kit has a spray light that showns when the pump is spraying at 30psi or more. If I read you correctly, the spray light comes on when you push the test button before your extended run, but no longer comes on after the extended runs?

If so that would seem to indicate some kind of short caused by the heat. So I'd look at what hotrod says to identify where the short occurs.

steelhead · 07-25-2006, 02:06 PM

[quote=klattery]The SMC kit has a spray light that showns when the pump is spraying at 30psi or more. If I read you correctly, the spray light comes on when you push the test button before your extended run, but no longer comes on after the extended runs?
QUOTE]

Correct. I am taking the pump out and sending it to SMC so they can test it, and then move forward from there before I pull any more hair out trying to figure it out.

07-22-2006, 07:50 PM	#1
steelhead Scooby Newbie Member#: 93576 Join Date: Aug 2005 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Michigan	Alky Problem Okay, I am baffled I am running an SMC alky kit and the pump will stop working complety after 30mins or more of constant driving. Every time for the last week that I go on a prolonged drive (usaually on the highway) the pump goes dead. I still have a green light on the controller, but I press the test button and no spray. I confirm by stopping and holding the rpms at about 3k and hitting the test button again to see if it will bog the engine, but nothing. It doesn't seem to matter what the ambient temp is. The only constant is the prolonged drive. If I then stop for about 5 or 10 mins the pump will operate again. WTF Does anyone have any idea what is going on or had anything similar happen? Thanks * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Who here has had problems running water/meth/alky??? Lets hear from you...	Gatchaman	Water/Methanol Injection, Nitrous & Intercooler Cooling	5	03-18-2007 10:44 PM
Alki silver wrx with gauge on steering column	RA	North West Impreza Club Forum -- NWIC	0	08-06-2002 09:58 PM
98 Legacy GT sedan 4sale on alki	AllWheelsDriven	North West Impreza Club Forum -- NWIC	1	06-06-2002 11:36 PM
Sighting On ALKI at 3:30pm aprox Monday	WOOTENVISION	North West Impreza Club Forum -- NWIC	0	03-25-2002 10:37 PM
Alki on Sun	RA	North West Impreza Club Forum -- NWIC	6	03-06-2002 02:48 AM

07-22-2006, 08:26 PM	#2
hippy Scooby Specialist Member#: 36528 Join Date: May 2003 Location: florida Vehicle: 2002 Impreza Wrx Silver	I haven't had anything similar happen, but the guy in this thread seems to have the same problem. Not sure if he found a solution. peace

07-22-2006, 08:44 PM	#3
steelhead Scooby Newbie Member#: 93576 Join Date: Aug 2005 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Michigan	Thanks but when it happens the pump is not even trying, it is dead like someone flipped a switch off.

07-22-2006, 09:14 PM	#4
hotrod Scooby Specialist Member#: 14141 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: 13.239@102.85 @ 5800 ft on 13T Vehicle: 2002 Impreza WRX e85forum.net	It sounds like a thermal cut off safety in the pump (some pumps have them to prevent overheating). Is the pump mounted where it gets very hot during a long drive? Larry

07-22-2006, 09:24 PM	#5
steelhead Scooby Newbie Member#: 93576 Join Date: Aug 2005 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Michigan	^^^ Thats what Steve at SMC was thinking but now he is not sure as it is happening on cool days. It just started happening last week and I have had the kit for a year now and never had this problem before. Edit: The pump is mounted on the washer bottle under the hood.

07-22-2006, 10:20 PM	#6
hotrod Scooby Specialist Member#: 14141 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: 13.239@102.85 @ 5800 ft on 13T Vehicle: 2002 Impreza WRX e85forum.net	Is the circuit feeding the pump protected with a circuit breaker? If you have a VOM (volt meter) try to test if there is voltage at the + terminal of the pump when it is supposed to be running but fails to run. If there is, than the pump is toast, if not then your circuit is going dead for some reason and you need to check for shorts or opens and bad switches fuses/circuit breakers for a start. If you don't have a volt meter, simply wire a light bulb in parallel with the pump, if it comes on but the pump is dead then its a bad pump. If it fails to light, when the pump is coming on your not getting any current to pump and you have a wiring problem. Larry

07-23-2006, 07:29 AM	#8
TSUNAMI_STI Scooby Newbie Member#: 102668 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO Vehicle: 2005 STI CRYSTAL GREY	i have the same kit and until now all is working great, i live in puerto rico which is hot 90% of the time and never had that problem. you can try using some sort of thermal shield to protect the pump or what i did was eliminate the rubber trimming from the hood and raise the hood using washers or spacers about 1/4 - 1/2'' at the hinges to eliminate lots of the engine heat. my 2cents

07-25-2006, 10:56 AM	#9
klattery Scooby Newbie Member#: 48503 Join Date: Nov 2003 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Minneapolis, MN Vehicle: 2004 STi ATP3071 Silver	The SMC kit has a spray light that showns when the pump is spraying at 30psi or more. If I read you correctly, the spray light comes on when you push the test button before your extended run, but no longer comes on after the extended runs? If so that would seem to indicate some kind of short caused by the heat. So I'd look at what hotrod says to identify where the short occurs.

07-25-2006, 02:06 PM	#10
steelhead Scooby Newbie Member#: 93576 Join Date: Aug 2005 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Michigan	[quote=klattery]The SMC kit has a spray light that showns when the pump is spraying at 30psi or more. If I read you correctly, the spray light comes on when you push the test button before your extended run, but no longer comes on after the extended runs? QUOTE] Correct. I am taking the pump out and sending it to SMC so they can test it, and then move forward from there before I pull any more hair out trying to figure it out.