Steptronics

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Pmill52
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Steptronics

Post by Pmill52 » Tue Nov 03, 2015 3:35 pm

Hello Guys.

Going to open up a can of worms now with this question.
How rare are steptronics?
I have one on a 2001 plate with ;) 62,000 miles from new and was wondering how many exist?
Any input on the subject guys?

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Rob Bell
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Rob Bell » Tue Nov 03, 2015 4:34 pm

Speak to Dave, the vehicle database registrar - he's put together a comprehensive database which should be able to tell us exactly how many were made. :)

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Kasper
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Kasper » Wed Nov 04, 2015 11:19 am

Driving one brings you in the world of steppy owners, I have one too and yes they are a bit of a white rabbit. But on the other hand I know several who have one. MGF and TF date from the time driving an automatic car does not equal driving a sporty car.
Apart from the typical CVT engine behaviour I always feel very happy driving the steppy in a convoy of MG where it shows to be very agile and well behaving when driving in shift mode.

Wondering why there are so few steppies. ;(
MGFvvc - 90FVBG - charcoal - you might think it is original - (1996 nr:8204)
MGTF 120 - 57RNJ7 - BRG - every day is an MG day - (2005)
MGC CGT - SJ08DY - tartan red - 1985 restauration fairly original - (1968 nr: 4137)


http://www.MGF.be

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Rob Bell
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Rob Bell » Wed Nov 04, 2015 2:02 pm

I really enjoyed test driving the one that Mykel eventually bought :)

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Mykel
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Mykel » Wed Nov 04, 2015 4:36 pm

And so do I to this very day! The box is great to drive in everyday traffic and only very rarely do I shift the gear lever to the left to go in sports or manual mode. Maybe for overtaking (sports mode, better throttle response) or when on twisty roads (manual). But tbh, when I go on a tour in the summer, I’m usually taking the TF. Gear shifts are much quicker on the manual box and you have better control when going into slide mode. :lol:

But for commuting or work commitments, the Steppy is just great. Mine has done almost 88,000 miles now and is still on the first box and it works perfectly. But now the somehow rattling, slightly grinding noise from the torsional springs starts to get annoying and there is also a slight whine from the main bearings, so next year she will be in for a major overhaul, I’m afraid.
MGTF:
2004 TF 135 in Monogram Spectre, black leather, RHD
MGZR:
2001 ZR 160 in Solar Red, LHD, LPG conv
Classic:
1972 MG Midget MkIII RWA in Blaze Red
MGF Register regional rep for Germany -- germany@mgfregister.org

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adrianclifford
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Re: Steptronics

Post by adrianclifford » Wed Nov 04, 2015 5:30 pm

Rob Bell wrote:Speak to Dave, the vehicle database registrar - he's put together a comprehensive database which should be able to tell us exactly how many were made. :)
Rob, that would now be me. I took over at the last committee meeting :thumbsu:
Bilstein shocks, Piper 4-2-1 manifold, Daytona, Vader cold-air induction, custom Z and F Stage 2 re-map, Electric boot release, braided hoses, Blue Magnecor leads, Technozen relays, Stage 1 head, BMW Angel Eyes headlights, "MG" puddle lights.

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Kasper
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Kasper » Thu Nov 05, 2015 12:07 pm

Might be a bit unclear reading my first posting: like you I'm very pleased driving the steppy on a daily base. I handle the car in about the same way as Mykel does. Apart from that I learned that keeping up with other MG's is much more fun driving the steppy in Manual mode.
MGFvvc - 90FVBG - charcoal - you might think it is original - (1996 nr:8204)
MGTF 120 - 57RNJ7 - BRG - every day is an MG day - (2005)
MGC CGT - SJ08DY - tartan red - 1985 restauration fairly original - (1968 nr: 4137)


http://www.MGF.be

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Rob Bell
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Rob Bell » Thu Nov 05, 2015 6:34 pm

adrianclifford wrote:
Rob Bell wrote:Speak to Dave, the vehicle database registrar - he's put together a comprehensive database which should be able to tell us exactly how many were made. :)
Rob, that would now be me. I took over at the last committee meeting :thumbsu:
That'll teach me to miss a committee meeting! :oops: :oops: :oops:

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Tipper
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Tipper » Thu Nov 05, 2015 6:54 pm

For an overview of Steppy numbers you could look online at 'howmanyleft'. If you search for Steptronic (for MGFs) and another search for Stepspeed (for TFs) you will get lists of all MGs and Rovers with the CVT gearboxes. More than I thought.

The data relies upon accuracy of registering clerk's description of the car but gives a good idea of the numbers still on the road or SORN.
Last edited by Tipper on Thu Nov 05, 2015 10:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Rob Bell
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Rob Bell » Thu Nov 05, 2015 9:07 pm

Unfortunately the data returned is not as accurate as you might have thought sadly, but it will provide a ball park idea :D

pscan.eu
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Re: Steptronics

Post by pscan.eu » Mon Feb 01, 2016 11:34 am

Last week I bought a Rover 45 automatic ECU. Are these the same gearbox and electronics as the MGF?
If anyone has a wiring diagram which shows how to wire up this ECU it would be much appreciated.
Hopefully the protocol is the same and so once I have it working for the Rover 45 ECU it will also work on the MGF steptronic.

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Mykel
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Mykel » Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:44 pm

Yes, they are the same boxes, Philip, both mechanically and electronically. Do you have both the engine ECU and the gearbox ECU? They are interconnected and talk to each other a lot. I do have some material on the CVT thingies, will send PM.
MGTF:
2004 TF 135 in Monogram Spectre, black leather, RHD
MGZR:
2001 ZR 160 in Solar Red, LHD, LPG conv
Classic:
1972 MG Midget MkIII RWA in Blaze Red
MGF Register regional rep for Germany -- germany@mgfregister.org

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Tipper
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Tipper » Tue Feb 02, 2016 11:41 am

I thought there was a difference between the earlier Rover CVT cars and the later electronically managed Steptronic and Stepspeed cars. Not sure how much electronics is on the early cars as the gearbox didn't have 'manual' ratio selection. There is a separate ecu for the gearbox in addition to the engine management ecu which will be MEMS3.

If you change part of the system, ie either gearbox or gearbox ecu separately, then the gearbox is supposed to be reprogrammed by 'Fast Adaption' but I presume this won't apply to your investigations.

A bit of googling should find the wiring diagrams. The 'T Bar' is a good place for manuals and diagrams.

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Rob Bell
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Rob Bell » Tue Feb 02, 2016 4:21 pm

Do we need to ask Philip to see whether he can get his pscan.eu to communicate and read fault codes from the steppy ECU?

pscan.eu
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Re: Steptronics

Post by pscan.eu » Tue Feb 02, 2016 5:37 pm

I will try the Rover 45 automatic ECU and with luck it will work for the MGF as well

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Rob Bell
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Rob Bell » Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:49 pm

Should be the same, fingers crossed Phil :)

pscan.eu
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Re: Steptronics

Post by pscan.eu » Tue Feb 09, 2016 11:33 pm

I am struggling a bit with this.
The problem is wiring diagrams.
The ECU that I have has UHC100400 written on it.
For added pain some Freelander and 75 wiring diagrams refer to ECU connector C0932 although these have a Jatco gearbox and therefore totally different ECU.
I have a ZS picture showing pin 1 on C0932 (the ECU connector) going to pin 7 of the diagnostic socket.
I have a TF picture showing pin 1 on C0932 going to pin 1 C0673 "Magnetventil-Schaltverblockung (N117)"
The TF wiring shows no connection from the steptronic ECU to the diagnostic socket at all, it makes me wonder if the diagnostics are done through the BCU or something.
The MGF wiring diagrams from http://mgfcar.de/schedules/index.htm have no mention of the gearbox ECU at all.
Does anyone have any wiring diagrams that show the steptronic ECU on an MGF (not TF), 25 or 45?

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Rob Bell
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Rob Bell » Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:07 am

The wiring diagrams from mgfcar.de are for early Mk1 MGFs (like the ones I own). In 1999/2000, the wiring systems were upgraded, and in 2000 the steptronic was introduced.

I am having a look at the wiring diagrams - and I don't see a direct link to the diagnostic port (V100) on the TF figures I have. BCU, MEMS ECU, EPAS and ABS are all through pin 7. The Steptronic ECU has communication with the MEMS ECU - might be that Powertrain error codes are generated there???

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Rob Bell
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Rob Bell » Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:27 am

MY2000 EOBD diagnostic socket wiring - no mention of CVT ECU connection:
EOBD Diagnostic socket.png
The CVT ECU wiring diagram:
D123 CVT ECU wiring diagram.png
No mention of connection to the EOBD socket. What interested me though was pin 17, labeled "BBOX EMS INF", which goes to the MEMS3 ECU. Diagnostic information perhaps???? :?

Mykel - what do you think?

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Mykel
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Re: Steptronics

Post by Mykel » Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:04 pm

I’m off to a business appointment shortly, will dig into this later in the afternoon.
MGTF:
2004 TF 135 in Monogram Spectre, black leather, RHD
MGZR:
2001 ZR 160 in Solar Red, LHD, LPG conv
Classic:
1972 MG Midget MkIII RWA in Blaze Red
MGF Register regional rep for Germany -- germany@mgfregister.org

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