EGI Relay Buzzes

[DreamN]

Well, this problem started the moment I installed a 180SX Kouki Gauge Cluster in my '93 Coupe. Issue that I'm having is that when I insert my key into the ignition cylinder and turn it into the first position (forget what marking is on the ignition cylinder) the EGI relay will continuously buzz. Once I Turn to the second position it'll stop. There is no buzzing while I start the engine or when the engine is shut off and key is out of the ignition.

At first when I installed the cluster I obviously suspected faulty wiring done by me and redid the wiring all over again. Constantly double checking if any mistakes had been made. I installed it again and still had the buzzing. Seeing as how my car still performed the same at the time and I didn't have any other issues I just learned to live with it.

Since I've installed the gauge cluster over time cold starts have been incredibly difficult. It can take several tries to start my car. It'll crank, but just won't start easily. I've tried my EGI Pump relay in place of the EGI relay and I still get buzzing.

Does anyone have any input on this? Could a minor wiring mistake in my cluster be causing this?

[junn]

ive had a simmilar problem like this....but when my car was off it would buzz...so what i did was just took the ground off my battery over night and it fixed itself

[DreamN]

Pretty sure this one isn't just going to fix itself. Thank though.

[DreamN]

anyone? still having this issue and it's bugging the hell out of me.

[projectRDM]

What happens when the cluster is unplugged? Try that first, take it out of the equation to verify it really is the problem. If so, plug one plug in at a time, narrowing down the fault in the wiring. Once you have the plug that's causing the problem, trace each pin on the printed board to see if there's a loop somewhere, sometimes a bulb can be shorted out and backfeed current, similar to a light bulb shorting to ground and thus grounding the light circuit.

[DreamN]

^ dude, i've been waiting forever for you to chime in lol. never thought of testing out just one plug at a time. sweet. I'll be doing this tomorrow.

now, my question for you is; would this buzzing relay be affecting my cold starts? pulled ECU codes yesterday and 11 came up. I believe that's the crank angle sensor. I'm hoping it's just the plug that's loose. If not, would this cause difficult cold starts or starts in general?

this weekend I plan to do the following if the the rest pans out

From the EF (Engine Fuel) & EC (Emission Control System) section - Diagnostic Procedure #4 / Hard to Start or Impossible to Start when Engine is Cold:** Fuel Pressure - Squeeze the line coming out of the filter and to the engine when cranking the car. You should feel pressure. No = Check the fuel pump and it's circuit. Yes = Continue
** Check Air Regulator - When pinching the Air Regulator hose, does the engine speed drop? No = Check Air Regulator and circuit. Yes = Continue.
** Check IAA valve. When pressing accelerator pedal fully, can you start the engine? Yes = Check IAA valve and circuit. No = Continue.
** Check Injector - Remove crank angle sensor (distributor) from engine. Be sure to note the location and orientation of the rotor before taking the CAS out of the engine. It needs to go back the same way (Crank angle sensor harness connector should remain connected) Disconnect ignition coil harness connector. Turn ignition switch on (Do not start engine) When rotating crank angle senor shaft (distributor), does each injector make an operating sound? No = Check injectors and circuit. Yes = Continue
** Check Ignition Spark - Disconnect ignition wire from installed spark plug. Connect a good known spark plug to the ignition wire. Place end of spark plug against a suitable ground and crank engine. Check spark. No Good = Check ignition coil, power transistor unit, and circuits. Yes = Continue
** Check Spark Plugs - Remove spark plugs and check for fouling, etc.
** Check ECU Harness Connector
** Check ECU Power Supply and Ground Circuit.
** Try a known good ECU (The ECU may be the cause of the problem, but this is rarely the case!)


anything else I should look?

[projectRDM]

^ dude, i've been waiting forever for you to chime in lol. never thought of testing out just one plug at a time. sweet. I'll be doing this tomorrow.

now, my question for you is; would this buzzing relay be affecting my cold starts? pulled ECU codes yesterday and 11 came up. I believe that's the crank angle sensor. I'm hoping it's just the plug that's loose. If not, would this cause difficult cold starts or starts in general?


anything else I should look?

Crank angle sensor doesn't exist, so that can't be it. Crank position sensor, yes, but only on an S14. They mean to say cam position sensor in that segment. I'm not sure what code 11 is, double check it. The relay could easily be causing a lot of problems, basically when a relay buzzes it's switching on/off at a high rate, either by an erratic signal or as I mentioned by an incorrect signal going to one leg of the coil. So the ECU is being triggered repeatedly. I'm surprised it doesn't give more issues.

[windshieldwiper]

One side of the coil is receiving constant 12v+ so I would assume there is a weak ground signal coming from the ecu that causes the relay to buzz.