Re: Test Equipment

[Martin Peitz <peitz@HiWAAY.net>]

Melissa & Jim wrote:
> 
> On 24 Aug 97, Martin Peitz wrote:
> 
> > Hi y'all
> > I want to tell you about two great Test Boxes I bought at the Irvine
> > Bug Meet in CA this summer. They are both original VW for testing
> > the Fuel injection on any D-jetonic VW (type III + IV), and they are
> > GREAT! You plug them between the ECU and the wiring harness and then
> > execute all kinds of functions. Each and every fuel injection part
> > is checked separately. One of the boxes just gives you a "good - no
> > good" result, while the other gives you more details.
> 
> The one that gives all the details is not a Vw unit, it is made by
> Bosch and will work on any D-Jetronix car from Benz to Volkswagen.
> There were two models, early and late, the early one only covers
> early versions of the D.  The late one is the more desirable, I think
> it is distunguished by the upper knob calling out 4 trigger points
> (for the Mercedes V-8 D-Jetronix.)  There were various versions of
> each, the injector test switches in the best ones have a discernable
> "click" to them.  Mine does not have the click, and the switches do
> not always make positive contact.  The Bosch units are GREAT!
> 
> If the other unit you have is the one with three lights across the
> center (red, yellow, green??) then I think it was just for VW
> dealerships.  I only saw one of these once, and it struck me a pretty
> worthless, except for historical reasons.  I don't know who made
> these.
> 
> There were also a number of aftermarket units made.  I have worked on
> one that would actually run the starter.  Kind of cute.  These were
> used by non-dealerships.
> 
> These are nice purchases.  If you are satisfied with the good unit, I
> would be interested in the VW one.
> 
>  Jim
>   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>        Melissa Kepner                                    Jim Adney
>                              Laura Kepner-Adney
>                          jadney@vwtype3.org
>                              Madison, Wisconsin
>    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
I like them both.
Both are pictured and described in the VW workshop manuals (the real
ones that came in like 25 volumes, not the Bentley, which is really only
refering to one of the test boxes). The smaller one with the three
lights seems to be newer. It is more automized.
Only if you get a red light with this one you have to go to the bigger
BOSCH one. Since this one was made for VW (Mercedes+Volvo D-Jet came
later?) it only has two Distributor Contact settings.But it can be used
more universal because it gives you an actual value instead of the
yes/no lights.
BTW: The newer one was made by Grundig, which is a big german
Radio+Stereo manufacturer.
At least some of the ECU boards were made by Texas Instruments in
Germany. A colleague worked there at the time and told me about their
production problems in the beginning. They were producing up to 90% junk
in the beginning and had problems getting enough output. Maybe thats why
the D-jetronic was first available only in the US. Germany got it only a
few month later.
The real VW manuals also give wiring diagrams for each model year and
version and have an interchangability list for the FI parts.
Martin