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Author Topic: What does the aerodon car need?  (Read 17770 times)

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GTRS Fiero

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Re: What does the aerodon car need?
« Reply #30 on: October 16, 2019, 09:32:40 pm »
I still suspect the IAC.  You may try removing the IAC, then checking the pintle and throttle passages.

GTRS Fiero

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Re: What does the aerodon car need?
« Reply #31 on: October 16, 2019, 09:53:21 pm »
I checked it before replacing the CTS and it did extend and contract. I've just about lost interest in both of my vehicles with OBD1. My OBD2 cars are so easy to sort with the extensive data on my OTC scanner. Maybe its just my OBD2 cars ride and handle so much better!

I always figured that the computer is just a tool.  I still fix problems, with or without the tool.  As I tell my techs, "the tool does not make the tech".

I have owned and driven newer vehicles with better handling, more power, etc.  Boring.  The Fiero is pure, simple, and fun.  It's designed for car people, who love the feel of the road, and who enjoy the thrill of driving.  It's a driver's car.

My Fiero is very comfortable, and has a good ride, but isn't a Cadillac--nor was it meant to be.

Were the IAC passages in the throttle body clean?

GTRS Fiero

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Re: What does the aerodon car need?
« Reply #32 on: October 16, 2019, 10:08:05 pm »
I don't know about your scanner, but the ALDL software will run on your computer, and shows a bunch of diagnostic dsta.

Thinking logically, the engine needs the following: fuel, compression, air, and ignition.  Of course, if there is a short, or the battery dies...

You're losing one of those things.  WinALDL will tell you if it's fuel, air, or ignition, to a degree.  Compression is unlikely.

You could try unplugging the CTS, which will likely make it run rich, but should make it stay running.  The CTS should not make the engine stop stalling, unless there is a fuel delivery problem.
« Last Edit: October 16, 2019, 10:25:09 pm by GTRS Fiero »

GTRS Fiero

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Re: What does the aerodon car need?
« Reply #33 on: October 16, 2019, 10:30:45 pm »
The software is free.  You can get the software and the cable here:
http://www.moates.net/aldu1-and-cabl1-p-127.html

or here:
http://aldlcable.com/

I used this one:
http://www.reddevilriver.com/aldl.html

Simple.

GTRS Fiero

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Re: What does the aerodon car need?
« Reply #34 on: October 16, 2019, 10:33:49 pm »
My Toyota Prius handles better than any Fiero I've ever driven. Seriously

That wasn't my experience.  I found the Prius sluggish, cramped, unresponsive, and somewhat unstable.  The steering felt numb, and the ride was harsh.

Here is a quote from Car and Driver.  I just picked a year at random.
Quote
Saving Fuel, Skipping Fun

Like the size-regular Prius, the Prius C uses an Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine mated to two electric motors and a planetary gearset that acts as a continually variable transmission. In this smaller Prius, the engine is downsized to a 1.5-liter inline-four making 73 hp. Add in the 60-hp drive motor, and total system power is 99 peak horses, one fewer than in the (nonhybrid) Mazda 2. The electric motor, which produces peak torque instantaneously, ought to make the Prius zippy off the line, but strangely, it doesn’t. As we mentioned in our first drive of the Prius C, this is a car that resists all efforts to increase forward velocity. Floor the accelerator pedal, and it seems as though nothing happens. Our test-track numbers—0 to 60 mph in 10.9 seconds and the quarter-mile in 18.1 seconds at 76 mph—are certainly on the slow side (consider that our long-term Mazda 2 managed 60 in 9.2 seconds and the quarter in 17.0), but more than that is how slow the C feels. We’d characterize it as “painfully.”

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15118531/2012-toyota-prius-c-instrumented-test-review/

They continue:
Quote
Corners As If It Were On Ludes

Nor does the Prius C reward momentum conservation, something that’s valuable when cornering. Tire grip is slight, and the suspension leans over in protest during directional changes. No fun here, it seems to tell you. The brakes are similarly frustrating, offering a combination of spongy, nonlinear feel and little perceived stopping power, although the C’s 70-to-0-mph stopping performance of 175 feet is actually respectable for a small car.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one.

For the actual figures, here are some from a quick search:
Quote
Test Results:

Acceleration:
0-30 (sec): 3.5 (w/ TC on 3.6)
0-45 (sec): 6.3 (w/ TC on 6.4)
0-60 (sec): 10.1 (w/TC on 10.2)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 9.8 (w/TC on 9.8)
0-75 (sec): 15.3 (w/TC on 15.3)
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 17.4 @ 79.7 (w/TC on 17.4 @ 79.9)
 
Braking:
30-0 (ft): 30
60-0 (ft): 117
 
Handling:
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.83 (0.80 w/ESC on)
RPM @ 70: None indicated
https://www.edmunds.com/toyota/prius/2016/long-term-road-test/2016-toyota-prius-performance-tested.html

For comparison, the Fiero's specs:
Top speed   126 mph
0 - 60 mph   7.5 s
0 - 100 mph   26.4 s
Est. 1/8 mile   11.7 s @ 73.9 mph
1/4 mile   15.9 s @ 85.1 mph
skidpad      .84g
Some Fieros were tested as high as .86g on the skidpad.

But we need not dwell on the Prius' shortcomings on a Fiero forum.

GTRS Fiero

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Re: What does the aerodon car need?
« Reply #35 on: October 16, 2019, 10:38:33 pm »
My Toyota Prius handles better than any Fiero I've ever driven. Seriously

Although my 87 Duke 5 cylinder car drove very well.

 The Aerodon car is lowered and on KYB's. It will beat you to death on rough roads.

 I'm very seriously considering selling the Aerodon car and getting my 88 on the road. It has stock suspension and will probably ride better.

The '88 has a far better ride than previous year Fieros.  That having been said, I owned previous year Fieros, and they weren't terrible.  I suspect that the KYB shocks are a big part of your problem.  You can get better shocks.  Lowering on KYB's seems to be ill-advised, unless drop spindles were used.  You may try Monroe shocks.

I have replaced all the suspension in my Fiero.  It rode fine, previously, but the new bushings made a world of difference in the handling.  If your bushings are bad...

GTRS Fiero

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Re: What does the aerodon car need?
« Reply #36 on: October 16, 2019, 10:43:02 pm »
Did you decide to purchase the red devil river because of price or functionality? I trust your judgement and will purchase an interface based on your knowledge of the system. I really need to sort out Aerodon and if I fix my 88 I will still need to access the 1993 computer that runs the 3800 SC Series 1. Thanks for your input.

The function is in the software--not the cable.  I wanted simplicity.  I'm afraid I didn't pay attention to the price.  That setup made sense to me.  The first link seemed overly complex, but was the one recommended to me by Ryan Gick.  Regardless of which cable you use, there are some quirks to the software.  I don't have a stock ECU, anymore, so can't go through the exact stuff.  I remember having to pick particular engine settings.

GTRS Fiero

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Re: What does the aerodon car need?
« Reply #37 on: October 16, 2019, 11:14:43 pm »
I don't know what a Prius C is but mine hauls tail. I haven't experienced anything the articles mentioned. 50 miles to the gallon and as fast as most cars on the road.

Some vehicles feel faster than they are.
Quote
2019 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e
BASE PRICE   $29,750
0-60 MPH   9.8 sec
QUARTER MILE   17.3 sec @ 79.5 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH   125 ft

Those specs put the Prius well behind every vehicle I own.  Actually, I expected better.


Here are some other common vehicles, for comparison:
2019 Dodge Caravan 0-60: 7.2s
2019 Honda Accord 0-60: 6s
2019 Jeep Cherokee 0-60: 7.5s
2019 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab 0-60: 6s
2018 Chevrolet Tahoe 0-60: 6s
2018 Ford F150 EcoBoost 0-60: 6.6s
2019 Nissan Maxima 0-60: 5.7s
2019 Chevy Volt 0-60: 8.4s
2019 Chevrolet Impala 0-60: 6.2s
2019 Volkswagen Jetta 0-60: 7.6s
2018 Mazda 6 0-60: 6.4s
2019 Ford Ranger 0-60: 6.8s
2015 Volkswagen Beetle 0-60: 7.5s
2005 Jeep Liberty 0-60: 8.1s

I think the facts speak for themselves.  I didn't include anything particularly fast, and certainly there are more vehicles that I didn't look up.
« Last Edit: October 16, 2019, 11:17:53 pm by GTRS Fiero »

GTRS Fiero

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Re: What does the aerodon car need?
« Reply #38 on: October 16, 2019, 11:49:20 pm »
For sure, a mid-engine vehicle like the Fiero requires different driving skills than a FWD vehicle.

Some comments from Motor Trend:
https://www.motortrend.com/cars/toyota/prius/2015/
  • Dull driving dynamics
  • Prius Plus Performance Package hurts ride quality
  • Cheap feeling interior with many hard plastics

I didn't find the specs for a 2015 Prius, but the fastest 0-60 time for a 2016 Prius was 9.6s.  Actually, that was the fastest time for any Prius listed.
https://www.zeroto60times.com/vehicle-make/toyota-0-60-mph-times/

There are no published facts to support your perception.  Having never made that drive, I couldn't say.  It sounds as if you should have driven your Prius on RFTH.

I used to test vehicles for the magazines.  My goal was to beat every published performance number.  I personally tested many vehicles through 2010, and usually put up the top numbers.  We tested 0-60, 60-0, 60-120, the slalom, skidpad, and many other things.  Usually, the magazines post very accurate performance numbers.

I'm not good with humor.  Are you teasing me?
« Last Edit: October 17, 2019, 12:02:40 am by GTRS Fiero »

GTRS Fiero

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Re: What does the aerodon car need?
« Reply #39 on: October 17, 2019, 12:30:57 am »
No, I'm not teasing just reporting real world experience.

I'm not into the RFTH. I'd rather take a Fiero to a car show. You should see the people that crowd around the only Fiero that ever goes to the monthly Caffeine and Octane car show.  The guy that owns it is not in the club...Don't know why.

Maybe Prius models in GA are faster than elsewhere, but I think I'm beginning to understand why people drive their Priuses the way they do.

You could do RFTH for real-world comparison, if not to support a club activity.  Some new cars are faster than the Fiero, which makes me wonder.  If the Prius is so fast, I find it odd that no one else has noticed this.  There are ricers all over the place.  Lots of makes and models...but not a single Prius.  There are home-made electric cars, but no Priuses.  Anyway, it's easy to use modern technology to beat old technology.  To make a fair comparison, the question is, is there a Prius of the same vintage as the Fiero, that will out-perform the Fiero?  Or, we could go the other way, and compare the Fiero's spiritual successors to the Prius.  Those would be the Solstice and the C8.

Fieros are unique, were revolutionary in their time, still have a modern look, and are affordable mid-engine cars.  For a car person, that's really special.  Personally, I enjoy driving a piece of history.  Any time I attend a car show, I enjoy looking at cars that were built for function, but with character.

GTRS Fiero

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Re: What does the aerodon car need?
« Reply #40 on: October 17, 2019, 12:32:11 am »

Red Devil River has the mentioned ignition control module to coil harness.

Hmmm.  I wonder if your tach filter could be going bad?

GTRS Fiero

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Re: What does the aerodon car need?
« Reply #41 on: October 17, 2019, 08:18:45 am »
There are many things people do to their cars that are dangerous.  I can think of a word to describe those people.

The torque from an electric motor is awesome.  My aunt used to have a Prius.  "Fast" was never a word used to describe that car.  Her Volt is much faster, but by no means fast.