No reverse...

[KHP955]

Hello All,

After many months of procrastination I have finally got back on with the Landy.  After sorting out the flat battery by warming it up enough for it to take a charge (!), I now have a problem with the ECU.

I have replaced the little dash switch for foward/reverse with a more Series1 like cranked gear lever and a pair of microswitches.  Now, when I put the lever into the forwards position the motors turn.  When I let off the pedal and go into reverse, the ECU clicks when the pedal is depressed, but the motors don't turn.  I tried the remote control as well and it behaves the same...forwards but no reverse.  The ECU also clicks when the lever is on neutral.

Anyone have any ideas?  Do I need a new ECU?  I've checked the wiring up to the little circuit board and all seems in order, so I don't think I've made any school boy errors!

Pease help!

Antony

[brian]

Hello Antony,  I am not familiar with your type of control lifted from an invalidity carriage, but if the motor turns to power the car in one direction but not the other, then the problem lies with the reversing changeover relay.
What you can hear I think, is the relay pulling in when the power is applied, this means either one of the leads has parted from the relay connection, or the relay contacts are burnt out.
Your first point of call is a close look inside the speed control.  If you can operate the control with the cover off, you may be able to identify the faulty component by touching the tops of the relay while oprating the control switch, you should feel the relay that's clicking.  Once you have identyfied the relay that is operating but not providing any movement, look for for a displaced wire.  If there is no obvious disconnected wire, if you have a multimeter, set to DC volts and put onto the heavy wire terminals and operate the controls again you should be getting a voltage on the terminals.

Regards,

Brian.

[KHP955]

Hello Brian,

Thank You for your reply and your help.  The ECU I have is the standard Toylander one for the 24volt system which I am using with the speed control throttle.  I think you're right about the relay, but I'm not sure about opening the box up just yet.  The power leads out of the ECU to the motors must be OK in themselves as the motors go forward. 

I did think it might be down to a drained pair of batteries, but I am not really convinced.  I have left them on charge now and will have another go tomorrow.  Unlikely, but you never know.

Antony

[Richard]

Has it worked since you changed the switches Antony?

BW's Richard

[KHP955]

Hi Richard,

I am sure it has, but I am not completely certain.  I must have checked it when I modded it but now you ask I am not so confident.  As I say I have checked the wiring from the new switches to the little white circuit board and all seems ok, so I think the wiring itself is ok.  I wondered if I could have shorted the board on the metal gear lever while everything was flapping about?

The ECU definately reacts when the throttle is depressed in reverse, just the motors don't.

Antony

[Richard]

In your installation instructions are a few checks you can do and a clean up tip.
Sometimes this cleaning does the job if not it has shorted.
BW's Richard

[KHP955]

Hi Richard,

It worked!!  I have got the landie back on its wheels with all lights fitted and the fantastic grille in place and we've been out and about today.  I wish I had fitted some form of emergency brakes as my little girl still hasn't got the idea of lifting off when I'm yelling "off! off!", but there seems to be little harm done...

HAs anyone seen the Land Rover article in Classin and Sportscar this month?  That centresteer prototype might make a good project for someone!

Cheers and Thanks very much for the tip!

Antony

[KHP955]

Hello Richard,

After an hour or so of messing around today, it seems to have happened again,  Is there something I need to do to protect the contacts?  I have been charging the batteries with the wires all still conncted...is that having an effect?  Or is it that driving backwards is alsways done more gingerly than driving forwards?

Anyway, 4 very excited children all drove the Landie today from 2 to 8.  A real success!

Cheers,

Antony

Or of course, perhaps I just didn't clean the contacts enough?

[Richard]

I would check all connections and clean all eight points; make sure the jack plug has good connections and is fully home. Is the heat sink mounted with an air gap off the body? What is the connection behind the dash to the main switch like? Is the safety cut out switch [used when pushing] fully home on switching on? How old is the battery?
Richard

[KHP955]

Hi Richard,

All was done a couple of weeks ago and reliability has been the result.

Lights are next.

Thanks for all the help.

Antony

[Richard]

Talking of lights, how about surface mounting, flashing indicators, tail and stop lamps in same lamp & side lights. Well I bit the bullet and invested a large heap of Sainsecoorrisondile vouchers in tooling and stock. I have had some good feedback so far too. Need to find a LED for the dashboard; one with flying leads.
BW's
Richard