Mechanical to Computer TDI...

[avocado]

A year ago I installed a 1Z TDI engine into a Suzuki Sidekick. It is an awesome little vehicle with the TDI, but I am now starting to think it would be a LOT better with a computer controlled injection pump.

My mechanical pump works great, but I would like to look into putting on a pump from a ALH or AHU car. I would get more power, better drivability, way better mileage and more smooth engine operation.

I understand that this would require a good bit of wiring work. Does anyone know how easy it is to strip down the harness and just have the bare essentials needed for the IP?  I understand that the ALH pump is better, but can I use that with a AHU computer and harness?     

Any tips?

Anyone want my MTDI pump?   

[monkey magic]

Is this a joke and i missed the punchline? 

Admittedly you could end up with a smoother running engine, maybe a little improvement in efficiency.

Not sure what makes you think you'll get more power and better drievability with an electronic setup though?

Better mtdi pump needed perhaps?

[Rabbit on Roids]

your nuts for adding complicatedness to a offroad 4x4. i would keep it simple like it is..

[avocado]

It's a fine pump...built by Tintin.  Makes good power and has no problems. 

It's just that compared to my ALH Jetta, it is lacking.  It is a bit smokey, loud and drivability suffers.  35 mpg ain't anything to scoff at, thinking I could get into the low 40's with an electronic pump. 

A few guys on the Tdiclub site have done swaps and just kept the electronic pump with good results.  Just wondering if anyone had good ideas on how to deal with the wiring on here. 

Maybe I'm crazy......Keep up with this thread and you'll find out!

[MJF]

You are not crazy. M-TDI is like installing a carburettor in late 90´s fuel injected gasoline engine 

[monkey magic]

You are not crazy. M-TDI is like installing a carburettor in late 90´s fuel injected gasoline engine 

You say it like its a bad thing, !  however lots of people do remove gas injection and replace with carbs...

Makes good power and has no problems...  It is a bit smokey, loud and drivability suffers.

??

To be fair, you've always got more chance of better MPG with electronic, but for the record, I dont think you have to suffer poor MPG and driveability with an mtdi. Sounds like perhaps the pump you have is just not set up for your engine setup?

My mtdi has clean exhaust, good driveability and when set up properly i hope to get 40MPG, in a vanagon!..

[MJF]

I'm not saying its bad M-TDI just like carbs are simple, easy to install and tune and works pretty well. But you can do all adjustments so much better with computer. A couple years ago I planned to install electric pump and ecu to my 1,6TD, but it blew and I didn´t fix it anymore.

[monkey magic]

I agree totally, wasnt sure on your angle when you said it!! Im a bit simple and i like carbs and mtdi  . Shame about the 1.6, I know people say 1.6tdi is pointless, why not just stick with 1.9. But if it were practical I bet you could squeeze great MPG out of them, as well as having good power and a good rev range. WOuld like to see a project like that pushed into action. Did you mean tdi? Or was you planning ecu pump with IDI set up? Interesting concept.

What I would enjoy doing is building (read: somebody else building for me!) a hybrid pump, with a mechanical connection to the accelerator, and a similar 'response/feel' to mtdi, but with added electronics for more refined fuelling. So if a sensor fails or the ecu dies, all you lose is the extra refinement. Anbody know if this is realistic/possible? I'll shut up now as im taking this thread off tangent with random diesel fantasies, Ill prob start another thread about this..!! 

To the OP, have you considered developing your setup more before ditching mtdi? I am biased (love mtdi) but as Rabbit on Roids says, lack of electronics surely goes hand in hand with an offroader?

Never done an electronics install myself, but you are technically minded (you did stick a mtdi 1Z in there where it didnt belong right?) so you shouldnt have much problem with wiring it in. Its all about logic really. You can mix and match pumps and ecu to a degree too from what i have read, but you have to consider immobiliser bits (transponder in key) and wiring to original clocks etc. Im surprised nobody here has chipped in to comment about this yet. Should be good info on here about it if you search..

[OM617]

Why add a computer to duplicate what your right foot already does? 

[monkey magic]

Why add a computer to duplicate what your right foot already does? 

Because it doesn't? 

[Rabbit on Roids]

dont worry about OM617, he never has much useful information to throw out there. usually just negative remarks.
he does know his stuff damn good when hes not on his high horse..

and thats pretty sad coming from my mouth..

[monkey magic]

 

to be fair to om617, it would be interesting to know how close you could actually get without electronics, I have read (probably on here) that Karl Westyman has got mtdi's running very smooth indeed (with the cummins pump if i remember rightly). Could go on but would end up derailing the thread, Im gonna start another thread about what exactly goes on inside an electronic pump..

[MJF]

I agree totally, wasnt sure on your angle when you said it!! Im a bit simple and i like carbs and mtdi  . Shame about the 1.6, I know people say 1.6tdi is pointless, why not just stick with 1.9. But if it were practical I bet you could squeeze great MPG out of them, as well as having good power and a good rev range. WOuld like to see a project like that pushed into action. Did you mean tdi? Or was you planning ecu pump with IDI set up? Interesting concept.

1,6 IDI with ecu was in my mind. I´m one of those who think building 1,6TDI is pointless

[monkey magic]

I´m one of those who think building 1,6TDI is pointless

 

Were there ever any factory IDI's with ECU's? I know they started to sneak wiring into these units towards the end of their lifes, but was there ever anything ecu driven on the scale of the TDI's?

[MJF]

Nope, all were with mechanical pump.