I’m staying in Rodney Bay for Christmas.
Morning
I let the engine run while boiling water for my morning coffees and to charge the batteries. Once finished, I tried to rev the engine to 1600-1800 RPM to get the turbocharger to kick in. It wouldn’t hold those revs, so I’m assuming that the fuel delivery is causing problems. The small pump is new, the high-pressure pump is relatively new, and the fuel filters are clean. I’m going to let the engine cool down then attach the VCDS system to see if there are any engine error codes. Accessing the ECU box isn’t simple or straightforward.
Therefore I’ve opened the forward and aft access panels to let some air run over the motor. While the engine is cooling down I need to find some activity that doesn’t involve the computer. I’ve still got stuff to stow and should do a bit of shopping ashore to tide me over during the Christmas store and restaurant closures.
Morning
My neighbor, Chris Doyle, departed on his catamaran Ti Kanot this morning, as did the French boat that could only reverse; I’m assuming both are headed for Martinique.
Late morning
I loaded the VCDS software onto my notebook and got the access panel through the galley sorted. After that, I hooked up the Serial-USB converter and the system didn’t work. A bit of sleuthing showed that the USB-Driver was missing and once that was downloaded and activated the program could “see” the ECU unit. I’m getting an intermittent 17656 error, which means that fuel isn’t getting to injectors in the amount and timing it should. This means that the famed TDI-Owner’s Hammer Modification might solve the problem. Or break the engine.
Lunch
The work on the engine was frustrating, as the only place I could put the notebook was on the counter that was in the sun and I could barely see the screen. And finding the mouse position was even more difficult! I’m going to make some lunch and wait for the engine to further cool down before climbing into the compartment. By then the really gusty winds and north swell should have settled. And the sun angle should have changed sufficiently to let me see the screen. My timing is bad as well, as I’d lot my license information when re-installing the software and Ross Tech uses humans to respond to these requests; and they probably won’t be at work until this coming Tuesday due to Christmas.
Afternoon
Fortified with some crackers and cheese, I went back to disassembling the engine to the extent that I can reach the 4 bolts on top of the fuel pump. The picture to the left has an arrow pointing to the furthest aft and left bolt, taken from behind. I’ve already removed the air filter and associated hoses; but need to remove more in order to get a T30 Torx to the 4 bolts.
14:10 Update
10 minutes after both the local hardware store and the chandlery closed for Christmas, my T30 Torx bit dropped into the depths of the engine bay, never to be seen again. My hopes of repairing the engine today and departing tomorrow have been dashed. Time for a Heineken to celebrate my achievement.
14:30 Update
My mirror on a telescoping pole has failed. The borescope has also failed to locate the entombed T30 bit. Somehow, I believe that gravity doesn’t apply directly to such lost items. Items don’t fall straight down, but sideways and then down-ish. Unless, of course, the bottom is clear of obstructions and easy to reach, in which case they fall straight down. Or perhaps there is a small wormhole hidden in my engine compartment that has swallowed the bit and sent it to a dimension as yet undiscovered by mankind.
Sunset
A wonderful sunset that had passed by the time I got the camera unpacked.