Variocam Solenoid testing with 12V question....

[Johnny5]

I remember reading somewhere cant remember where but to test if your solenoid is working is to put 12v power to it. Does anyone know which is the power on the actual solenoid? From looking at the wire one is Red with blue stripe and other is gray and red stripe on it. Any feedback on the wiring or which wire Im putting the power to would be great.

Motors currently out of the car so no way of testing that way. Its a 98 5 Chain

Thanks in advance

[blue62]

Originally Posted by Johnny5

I remember reading somewhere cant remember where but to test if your solenoid is working is to put 12v power to it. Does anyone know which is the power on the actual solenoid? From looking at the wire one is Red with blue stripe and other is gray and red stripe on it. Any feedback on the wiring or which wire Im putting the power to would be great.

Motors currently out of the car so no way of testing that way. Its a 98 5 Chain

Thanks in advance

So if the wiring diagram is correct your looking at bank 1
The Red with Blue stripe goes to ground.
The Gray with Red goes to the DME/ECU

I have read that a simple 9volt like used in a smoke alarm will work also.
If the solenoid works you should hear it click when powered.

Hope this helps

[Johnny5]

Originally Posted by blue62

So if the wiring diagram is correct your looking at bank 1
The Red with Blue stripe goes to ground.
The Gray with Red goes to the DME/ECU

I have read that a simple 9volt like used in a smoke alarm will work also.
If the solenoid works you should hear it click when powered.

Hope this helps

That’s exactly what I needed to know thank you kind sir! You are correct that is for bank 1. I’ll try it with a 9v tomorrow. You wouldn’t happen to know bank 2 wiring would you? Don’t have the color on me at the moment.

Thanks again.

[Stl-986]

it sounds like you are trying to provide power at the wiring in thr trunk with the DME connected.

DONT, you can fry the DME

disconnect the actuator wiring at the engine. You can do it with the engine off and just give power/ground to the actuator. If you hear it click, it's working. You can also do it with the engine running and if the car idles like crap when you give it power it's working.

[blue62]

Originally Posted by Stl-986

it sounds like you are trying to provide power at the wiring in thr trunk with the DME connected.

DONT, you can fry the DME

disconnect the actuator wiring at the engine. You can do it with the engine off and just give power/ground to the actuator. If you hear it click, it's working. You can also do it with the engine running and if the car idles like crap when you give it power it's working.

He states that the engine is out of the car.
So I am assuming he has no wiring running from the engine back to the DME.

[blue62]

Originally Posted by Johnny5

That’s exactly what I needed to know thank you kind sir! You are correct that is for bank 1. I’ll try it with a 9v tomorrow. You wouldn’t happen to know bank 2 wiring would you? Don’t have the color on me at the moment.

Thanks again.

On bank 2 the Red with blue stripe is ground same as bank 1.
The other wire runs back to the DME/ECU.

[Stl-986]

Sorry, missed that part.

[Stl-986]

Sent you a PM

[Johnny5]

This is a motor I picked up and just doing all the basics before throwing it into the car so no DME will be connected. The wiring harness was cut so using that to connect to the battery.

[Johnny5]

Originally Posted by Stl-986

Sent you a PM

Will check it out thanks

[elgyqc]

Originally Posted by blue62

... I have read that a simple 9volt like used in a smoke alarm will work also.
If the solenoid works you should hear it click when powered.

Hope this helps

I tried with a 9V and got nothing... with 12V worked.