16v - Single plug to 3 plug

[CarlosVT]

Hi guys,

I've got a single plug vts engine but I've got a 3 plug vtr. What's needed to convert the engine to a 3 plug?

- 3 plug loom
- 3 plug unlocked ecu
- Are the engine sensors the same or will I need 3 plug sensors?

Anything else needed?

Also, if I was to fit the engine as a single plug would I need to convert the whole shell to a single plug? Including interior loom, etc?

Thanks in advance!

[Saxovch22]

The easiest way would be to get s single plug interior and engine loom and swap yours over although that would mean you would have to use analogue dials.

I know the plug for the injector loom is different and the coolant temp sensor is different.

Also coilpack is different too

[Olly]

id suggest it to be much easier to get a 3 plug engine loom personally lol
theres about 3 sensors the same on the engine. injectors are the same, but will need injector loom and most sensors. ecu.

[LeeM]

The easiest way would be to get s single plug interior and engine loom and swap yours over although that would mean you would have to use analogue dials.


this would be much MUCH harder!
to put a 3 plug loom on a single plug engine and have it all factory original you'll need to change the small injector loom, the coilpack, the alternator, throttle position sensor, coolant temp sensor, front oil sensor, and get a second lambda with wiring.

[CarlosVT]

The easiest way would be to get s single plug interior and engine loom and swap yours over although that would mean you would have to use analogue dials.

I know the plug for the injector loom is different and the coolant temp sensor is different.

Also coilpack is different too

That would mean stripping EVERYTHING to fit a single plug interior loom, that would be a massive pain lol.

Thanks for the input mate.

id suggest it to be much easier to get a 3 plug engine loom personally lol
theres about 3 sensors the same on the engine. injectors are the same, but will need injector loom and most sensors. ecu.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking lol thanks for the info mate, just looking for a 3 plug loom and unlocked ecu at the moment!

this would be much MUCH harder!
to put a 3 plug loom on a single plug engine and have it all factory original you'll need to change the small injector loom, the coilpack, the alternator, throttle position sensor, coolant temp sensor, front oil sensor, and get a second lambda with wiring.

I agree! Thanks for that mate. Do I really need a new alternator though? :n: and does the second lambda go under the car? I'm looking to get a decat anyway so might just blank the second lambda out, shouldn't affect anything should it?

[CarlosVT]

Can anybody else confirm what's needed? :)

[LeeM]

I've told u everything mate. Even if you're runnin a decat you need the lambda plugged in or you'll get an error code

[saxokid100]

I've told u everything mate. Even if you're runnin a decat you need the lambda plugged in or you'll get an error code

Agree.......:y:

[Simon]

Doing the same ATM

you need

Loom
Unlocked ecu
Coil pack
Injector Loom
Alternator
Oil level sensor
Green and Blue temperature sensors

Not sure on the inlet manifold & throtle body sensors as I bought a complete 3 plug inlet

Also get a new crank sensor, only because a lot of people have issues with not starting after an engine conversion

[CarlosVT]

I've told u everything mate. Even if you're runnin a decat you need the lambda plugged in or you'll get an error code

Ok mate, cheers :)

Doing the same ATM

you need

Loom
Unlocked ecu
Coil pack
Injector Loom
Alternator
Oil level sensor
Green and Blue temperature sensors

Not sure on the inlet manifold & throtle body sensors as I bought a complete 3 plug inlet

Also get a new crank sensor, only because a lot of people have issues with not starting after an engine conversion

Simon, thanks for that mate. Really appreciate it :y:

I'll start searching for those bits!

[blackie_2k5]

or you could search for crossover loom and convert your 3 plug car to single plug, this will also leave you with the option of running a preadtor stand alone ecu plug and play if wanted in the future :y: ..... for the price of vts loom and sensors etc and all the fook on, you could source the crossover loom and run it all pretty much plug and play

[LeeM]

inlet and tb sensors are the same iirc

[CarlosVT]

or you could search for crossover loom and convert your 3 plug car to single plug, this will also leave you with the option of running a preadtor stand alone ecu plug and play if wanted in the future :y: ..... for the price of vts loom and sensors etc and all the fook on, you could source the crossover loom and run it all pretty much plug and play

Mate, that would be so much better as definitely planning on standalone ecu later on! Would the crossover loom plug straight on to my 3 plug interior loom though? And which one would be the crossover loom, how can I tell? Really appreciate your help mate :y:

inlet and tb sensors are the same iirc

Will look in to it, thanks again :)

[blackie_2k5]

crossover looms were found on 2000 model and there abouts cars, member TIPSY on here had one not long back, they plug straight into 3 plug interior loom, youll know youve got one if its ecu side is single plug and interior side is the round type which looks the same as the one on your car ;)

[adzvtr]

might have a cross over single plug loom, its the bigger round multi connectore i believe??
will have a look, if it hasnt been chopped to cater for my rewire lol.

[CarlosVT]

crossover looms were found on 2000 model and there abouts cars, member TIPSY on here had one not long back, they plug straight into 3 plug interior loom, youll know youve got one if its ecu side is single plug and interior side is the round type which looks the same as the one on your car ;)

Sounds good. I now need a crossover loom! lol. Only problem is, I don't know what my 3 plug interior loom connection looks like so I wouldn't know what a crossover single plug loom looks like.

might have a cross over single plug loom, its the bigger round multi connectore i believe??
will have a look, if it hasnt been chopped to cater for my rewire lol.

I don't know mate but if you do have one, please sell me it! lol.

[blackie_2k5]

pm tipsy see if he still has one, if not adz may have his, if not im sure youll find one if you look, try wanted section :y:

[CarlosVT]

Legend, thanks for your help mate. I'll PM TIPSY and adz can you let me know if you find yours? :)

[LeeM]

crossover loom still wont be plug and play. dials and rear lights wont work.

[CarlosVT]

Would they definitely not work? What would I need to make them work?

[LeeM]

i put a crossover engine in my 3 plug vtr, nothing worked properly. and a single plug loom whether its crossover or not doesnt have the fan connectors on so youd have to get a seperate fan and rad loom and put a temp sensor in your radiator.
for a full factory fit get a 3 plug loom

[LeeM]

also, yours is an x reg. you sure its a 3 plug?

[adzvtr]

if your car has the big round plug, found near the right hand side of the radiator, then yes the cross over loom will work fine.
if your car has the small round plug then the original single plug will be ok.

[LeeM]

if your car has the big round plug, found near the right hand side of the radiator, then yes the cross over loom will work fine.


it really wont. i put a crossover engine in a 3 plug vtr. the multiplug itself plugs in but half the wires dont match up

[CarlosVT]

also, yours is an x reg. you sure its a 3 plug?

Well, here's mine engine bay mate..

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5333140728_f7f76c4125.jpg

That's a pain if the crossover doesn't work :n:

[adzvtr]

it really wont. i put a crossover engine in a 3 plug vtr. the multiplug itself plugs in but half the wires dont match up

just done it m8, and the only thing we had to modify was the wiring to the fan, thats it, everything else works fine. rear lights dash the lot.
one other thing you can try is put a set of vts clocks in.
we havent done this yet, but will be as want the oil temp guage working.

[CarlosVT]

Is that definitely the case mate? As I don't really fancy buying a crossover loom, single plug unlocked ecu, etc and find out it doesn't work? :n: What did you have to do to get the fan working? I'll be getting VTS clocks too.

[LeeM]

random, but it definately didnt work on mine. half the wires on the multiplug didnt match the pins on the plug on the car. i ended up changing to a 3 plug. seems theres even more to it

[CarlosVT]

I don't know what's best to do now? lol I would definitely prefer single plug as it's so much easier to find a unlocked ecu/get one unlocked, easier to remap and I'd love a pred standalone later on but not sure the crossover idea will work now?

[LeeM]

Give it a try, 50/50 chance! Just get a loom, see if it matches up and if it doesn't sell it on.

[CarlosVT]

I think I'll stick with the 3 plug, makes life easier.

[adzvtr]

i think on the cross over its a gamble. could work, may not.
so many different combinations.
for an easylive just go with the 3 plug.
we used a mk1 vts rad with the sensor in it, and took the fan signal from the bottom blue cable. that was all that was needed.

[readie]

i would find a rallye enthusiast and get him to rewire it! lol as they have to rewire their plugs IIRC i recently got a large three plug loom redone into my single plug for not alot really like £60 which is much cheaper than the cost of replacing all those bits!

[CarlosVT]

I decided I'll just stick with the 3 plug loom and ecu for now! Do I need a fuel return for the VTS conversion or should I already have one?

[adzvtr]

youll want a return plumbed in, as the vts rail houses the return. vtr doesnt.

[CarlosVT]

Ah ok, thanks for that mate. Could I get a return from any vts?

[blackie_2k5]

hmmmmm, never heard of your probs lee, everyone ive spoke to only have issues with the fan..... im gonna remove everything from a p reg vts and put it in my 03 vtr on a crossover loom.... so couldnt really get any further apart in terms of the age of the cars, willl report back and update as i find out :y:

[adzvtr]

ye m8 any vts return will do it, you wanna use all the vts fuel pipes from tank to fuel rail.

[CarlosVT]

hmmmmm, never heard of your probs lee, everyone ive spoke to only have issues with the fan..... im gonna remove everything from a p reg vts and put it in my 03 vtr on a crossover loom.... so couldnt really get any further apart in terms of the age of the cars, willl report back and update as i find out :y:

That would be good mate, let us know how you get one :y:

ye m8 any vts return will do it, you wanna use all the vts fuel pipes from tank to fuel rail.

Ok mate, thanks for that :y: