Missing Vacuum Solenoid

[1batt4u]

Hi all,

So I have been taking apart things on the engine. Gonna give it a super clean, then paint, then put all the new parts on with new S/S bolts!

Going over the engine I noticed I am missing the Vacuum Solenoid http://www.delorean.com/store/p-6687-solenoid-vacuum.aspx or http://www.specialtauto.com/delorean-parts/images/vacuum-solenoid-switch.jpg

2 hoses go to that vacuum solenoid, one coming from the "Thermal Control Valve" the first from the left, and the other hose that goes into the vacuum solenoid is from the "Vacuum Advance" on the distributor. Since I do not have a Vacuum Solenoid, who ever had the car before, connected the hose from the Thermal Control Valve directly to the Vacuum Advance on the distributor.
Can someone please post a picture(s) of theirs, where/how it is mounted, and which electric wire goes to that, coming from where so I ca find it easily!!

Thank you!!

[WelmoedJ]

The manual page D:08:01 shows how the vacuum hoses and electrical connection should be set up.

When holding the vacuum solenoid with connections to the left hand side and the electrica connection top this is how the vac hoses have to be connected:
upper vac hose: thermal control vavle
lower vac hose: vacuum spark advance
The electrical connection is a single wire, should be hanging around somewhere.
It is the connection to the throttle microswitch (to ground the solenoid when the switch closes).

[Ron]

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?1156-Vacuum-Hose-Diagram

[1batt4u]

Thank you all, but I know all this, I just need pictures, real pictures of where exactly the vacuum solenoid is mounted on the panel, and I want to make sure I have the correct wire. I found one single black wire coming from the left side of the engine bay, just want to make sure it is it!!

Thank you!

[content22207]

Vacuum solenoid is grounded through the idle microswitch (that's where a black wire is). Solenoid is Green in and Black/Blue out to the switch.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[WelmoedJ]

It is mounted at the back of the air mixture unit (the most middel bolt there that holds bottom and tomp of the mixture unit together).
Hopefully helps this.
I don't have a picture but this description should enable you to find the correct position.

[TTait]

4712

It bolts to the air plenum assembly forward of the fuel distributor - I think those are allen head bolts similar to the ones mounting the idle speed motor.

There are two wires, blue/black and green that terminate at a small nylon connector that plug onto the terminals of the solenoid. The two wires are within a single black sheath and there is a somewhat unwieldy rubber boot with two rubber ears on it over the nylon connector. To connect it up it helps to slide the boot down and expose the nylon connector, plug it in, the push the boot back up.

[Bitsyncmaster]

4712

To connect it up it helps to slide the boot down and expose the nylon connector, plug it in, the push the boot back up.

Agree. The same goes for the thermal time switch connector.

[1batt4u]

4712

It bolts to the air plenum assembly forward of the fuel distributor - I think those are allen head bolts similar to the ones mounting the idle speed motor.

There are two wires, blue/black and green that terminate at a small nylon connector that plug onto the terminals of the solenoid. The two wires are within a single black sheath and there is a somewhat unwieldy rubber boot with two rubber ears on it over the nylon connector. To connect it up it helps to slide the boot down and expose the nylon connector, plug it in, the push the boot back up.



Thank you for the picture!!

Here is the pictures of the wire I was talking about, and the only loose wire I see. The connecting end of it has been cut off.

http://i51.tinypic.com/wohza.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/oqkrkm.jpg

[1batt4u]

The top picture seems as if the black wire is connected to the Red wire, it is not, just noticed it looks like it is.

As far as blue/black and green wires that connect to it, I don't see any.

Confused on this!!

[content22207]

That the vacuum line for your heater core shutoff valve.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[1batt4u]

Ok, now I am confused

[TTait]

I was trying to find out exactly where this wire tied in to something you could reference, laying on top of my engine with my arm hooked down there like I was trying to get at a bra clasp - and my rechargable drop light died...

The wire is probably 12" long before it joins something else. Its probably dropped down near the bleeder for the clutch slave cyl., under the heater control valve. That said, you discovered another problem - that thing you thought was a wire is not, its the vacuum line coming from the temp dial in the center console. That vacume line runs through the center console, under the parcel shelf behind the drivers seat, and comes out of the fiberglass pontoon (not fiberglass - I know...) on the drivers side between the dipstick area and the firewall with the resistors mounted to it.

What you have there is the vacuum line that needs to hook up to the heater control valve - pictured here...

http://www.delorean.com/store/p-7669-hot-water-valve.aspx

With that not hooked up you have a very minor vacuum leak, and hot water is always flowing through your heater core. At the very least hooking up the vacuum line will improve your ac functionality.

To find that missing wire, lay on top of the engine and look for it down in that abyss - while your in there get the vacuum line hooked up again.

With any luck we might get you better instructions as to where to feel around for it - if not...
You can try removing the air filter, the rams horn (W pipe), and the throttle linkage rod from the spool to the butterfly assembly, and the two allan screws that keep the mix unit/fuel distributor in place. You may be able to move the mix unit ahead about an inch without disturbing the idle motor pipe into the base of it - it you get enough room to get a better look - take full advantage because the next steps will be to un-plumb the FE, and pull that pipe out and gain access to the area with the intake in place, and you might still have to pull the intake off before you find it.

Give it the old college try laying on the engine - twice - three times maybe. If you cant find it, go have a cold drink and try again. Pulling the intake is a longer job and it opens the door to lots of "while you are in there" stuff you don't want to address right now.

[content22207]

An alternative is to simply plumb spark advance directly to ported vacuum, as Volvo and Renault did on their own concurrent engines (neither Volvo nor Renault used a cutoff solenoid themselves -- that is something Renault came up with for the DeLorean only).

Bill Robertson
#5939

[1batt4u]

I already have everything off. So it is easy to look for it, if it is still there! All parts are off, except for the engine itself. Gonna clean/wash, primer, paint, pt on the new parts I bought.

I will take a look!!

Thank you guys

[TTait]

Should be a cinch to find then...

[1batt4u]

Well I looked but nothing. I also found another device with its wire cut off. The device, is black, square, mounted Left(Driver) side of the valve cover, right in back of it. Trying to figure out what device it is from the delorean parts page, but no luck.

[Kenny_Z]

You mean this?
http://uploads.m-cgi.com/kennyz/Delorean/box01.jpg
I think this is the diagnostic port.

I couldn't find my solenoid either. It had been disconnected from the vacuum advance and left to dangle by the electrical connection. I'm surprised it never fell off the car. I found it dangling next to the transmission.

[1batt4u]

Yes that is the device. Mine is just cut off!!

I am plannig on passing by PJ Grady. I will ask him about the vacuum solenoid.

Thanks again guys!!