Solenoid test.

[Bobbit]

After suffering a knackered solenoid i did some searching on how to test for a faulty one. Found a good bit of info but you need to have several specialised parts and bits from the car that were quite tricky to get too, so i had a bit of a think and came up with this.

Parts required:
Mityvac and some of the pipes and connectors it comes with,
12 volt supply,
pressure/boost gauge
pressure chamber.

Firstly getting the correct connections (ignore this if you have spare 6mm silicon piping) to allow the mityvac to force pressure into the solenoid and pressure chamber.
You will need the short lenght of 6mm piping (this on mine was quite stiff), both lenghts of larger diameter piping (should be about 8-10mm diameter) and the 2 largest connectors that are tapered. Parts pictured below:

Now to get the solenoid connected. Connect the smaller pipe (6mm)to the nipple at a right angel on the solenoid and then one of the connector to the nipple just next to this one, see below:

To connect the solenoid to the pressure chamber you will need to use the 6mm pipe and connect this to the solenoid and then to either nipples on the pressure chamber. Then connect one of the larger diameter pipes to the other nipple on the pressure chambe and then connect the gauge to the other end.


Now connect the other larger diameter pipes to the mityvac (where it pushes air out) and then to the remaining connector on the solenoid. Hopefully it should look like this:


Now all you need to do is apply a 12 Volt supply to the solenoid, it should then click and allow the pressure from the mityvac to the pressure chamber. now you will need to pump the mityvac until the pressure gauge reads approx 10-15psi (use the pressure you car is running or go slightly higher). The set up should hold the pressure until you disconnect the 12V supply, and when you disconnect it you should hear a woosh immediately. If there is no immediate whoosh of air then the solenoid is knackered.

Hope this helps anyone with solenoid probs.

[Bobbit]

this should be the last pic:

[ro284]

All i get is --Image not availiable\'
Bob

[Bobbit]

Damn, was working before, I\'ll try again then. Bum!

[Bobbit]

pic one:

[Bobbit]

pic 2:

[Bobbit]

pic 3:


pic 4:

[ianelvar]

Nice write up. Could do with being put in the technical stickies section.

[Bobbit]

Cheers bud. If someone could move it that would be great, if they do can you remove the extras pics as i fixed the prob with the first ones, Thanks!

[Rixio]

You have PM

[DMDRIFTING]

Very nice, very helpful! Nice one Bobbit!

[jurgen]

hello mate,

any chance you can call me 07958166871..


chris was after something from you (you mentioned something to him at my unit ref solenoids )

[Bobbit]

Will do bud, think this was the thread i was on about but think there was something else too.

[gear1275]

what symptoms would a knackered solenoid give?
only curious because i havent driven my car for a week and its playing up!
if i am driving along using full pedal, when the revs reach around 3k, the car stops revving and pops and splutters. however, if i am gentle with the accelerator, it will rev all the way to 8k with no problems. also, if i put my foot down higher in the rev range in any gear i also get the samr problem?
any help would be greatly recieved thankyou.

[Bobbit]

Doesn\'t sound like a solenoid prob bud, when did you last change the plugs?