Motiv Flex Fuel Installation Guide

I am Jacks N54

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Sep 10, 2018
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It is only there for V8, 9, and 10 OTS maps. You must also select a pump map on the OTS map selection screen.

@Jake@MHD, that's why I'm confused. I am using the v10 Stage 2+ map and selecting 91 octane, but the option is not there. MHD v2.41 on iOS.

IMG_0226.PNG
 

jakeg

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Apr 29, 2020
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Same with mine, it was good for almost a year then stopped working. Replaced the entire system a few times and never got it working again. Just run a set amount of E now. Well just full in currently.
Have you checked the alternator voltage? maybe the alternator under wot increases the voltage, voltage regulator maybe? I know that cause weird issues. I had the same issues with the FF module and just gave up until I got the reflex. It just crossed my mind recently, so maybe that could be the cause of it.
 

NoGuru

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Jan 9, 2018
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Have you checked the alternator voltage? maybe the alternator under wot increases the voltage, voltage regulator maybe? I know that cause weird issues. I had the same issues with the FF module and just gave up until I got the reflex. It just crossed my mind recently, so maybe that could be the cause of it.
Does not matter to me anymore as I run full E85. I did change out the brushes on my alternator a couple years ago but I am not sure that would affect it.
 

mj6234

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Nov 25, 2020
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I had this same issue - and commented on it several pages back. But at WOT my voltage would go to 4.03 (or something) showing 100% ethanol. There were 2 +12v options to power the ECA in the DME box. I tried everything, including retapping the original power line, regrounding to 3 different locations, redoing the harness connections, replacing the harness, and replacing the ECA.

What solved it for me was moving the +12v power source from the wire I was using in the DME box to the other wire in the DME box. 100% fixed and has been perfect since then.
 
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jakeg

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Apr 29, 2020
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I had this same issue - and commented on it several pages back. But at WOT my voltage would go to 4.03 (or something) showing 100% ethanol. There were 2 +12v options to power the ECA in the DME box. I tried everything, including retapping the original power line, regrounding to 3 different locations, redoing the harness connections, replacing the harness, and replacing the ECA.

What solved it for me was moving the +12v power source from the wire I was using in the DME box to the other wire in the DME box. 100% fixed and has been perfect since then.
I did that too when I had that problem. It was fine for about 6 months and then started happening again. I hope the reflex has an internal regulator but i guess well see. So far so good
 

Msoden82

Lurker
Sep 2, 2021
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This is why you don’t try to do installs after working with fuel abs huffing in fumes for a while.

Missed the important part at the top of the instructions stating to download the flex fuel pack before installing the module. I installed the module first and then downloaded the map pack after that.

Did I royally eff up my DME/cause damage? I’m waiting to hear back from Motiv on how to proceed.

Lesson learned the hard way.
 

Msoden82

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Sep 2, 2021
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That’s what I’m really hoping for. At the moment I don’t see the flex fuel choice under the OTS map options to click when trying to flash a new map.
 

Msoden82

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Sep 2, 2021
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To answer my own question, it appears that it does not matter if you install the flex fuel module and wire it up before buying the licenses from MHD. I got email confirmation from both MHD and Motiv on this.

Just buttoned the car up and fired her up and everything seems good to go. Taking her for a drive soon to verify.
 
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proboner

Specialist
Sep 13, 2020
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Hello everyone. I just installed the motiv flex fuel kit on my E93 RHD (I'm in the UK), however its throwing some error codes.
I'm sure everything is connected correctly and have double checked.
Green wire into pin 16 on small black connector, however on my car there was no wire in that location so I just added the green to the empty slot.
Orange wire to pin 25 on large black connector, which was an empty slot.
Yellow wire to pin 10 on large black connector, original yellow pin removed and connected to yellow wire male jumper.
Red wire tapped into pin 2 of green connector.
Ground wire ground on one of the ground bolt by the wheel arch.

It throws the follow four codes when I connect the motiv flex fuel module to the harness;
2CF9 - DME: Throttle-valve potentiometer 1.
2CFA - DME: Throttle-valve potentiometer 2.
2D09 - DME: THROTTLE.
2C1D - DME: Accelerator-pedal module, pedal-position sensor 1, voltage supply.

I haven't tried starting the car with these errors. If I clear them, they reappear on next scan. However if I unplug the flex fuel module from the harness and reset the codes, they do not reappear.

I have the super license and have flashed my regular pump gas map 93oct and selected 'Flex Fuel Module Installed' in options before flashing.
Checking the monitor with the engine off it reads 10% Ethanol Content and 0.78 ECA Voltage. I'm using Shell 99ron fuel which should be around 5% ethanol so not sure why it's reading 10%, maybe because its just sitting still with no flow. Fuel lines should be pressurised as I installed the ethanol sensor and fuel line first and started the engine to make sure there were no leaks before wiring in the harness.

Had a quick google and skim of this thread, I will read through all the pages now in case there is anything I missed.
I noticed that another user NoGuru on page 15 had tapped into pin 8 for power instead of pin 2 on the same green connector, could this make a difference?
I also noticed that another user Prolifik123 page 17 had similar codes and was advised to repin the harness. Is this just a case of removing the pins, cutting back and crimping new pins, or do the actual wires need replacing also?

Thanks for any help guys
Posting this for anyone else who potentially runs into this issue, because I had it as well. Turns out some of the wiring harnesses Motiv includes with this kit are wired incorrectly. You need to make sure the black wire from the Flex Fuel runs to the black wire on the pigtail connector, and the brown wire from the Flex Fuel runs to the white wire on the pigtail connector.
 

Benjiman

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May 2, 2021
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Ah mate I have just checked mine and the black wire goes to the red wire, not the black wire like you said it should! Can't believe I didn't notice that myself! How did you figure it out?
It's raining atm so I can't go install it right now and check if it finally works, hopefully I'll get a chance tomorrow. I will report back with the results.
Gone direct port methanol injection now so don't really need it anymore, but would be nice to have.
Thanks a lot for updating the thread with your advice.
 

proboner

Specialist
Sep 13, 2020
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Ah mate I have just checked mine and the black wire goes to the red wire, not the black wire like you said it should! Can't believe I didn't notice that myself! How did you figure it out?
It's raining atm so I can't go install it right now and check if it finally works, hopefully I'll get a chance tomorrow. I will report back with the results.
Gone direct port methanol injection now so don't really need it anymore, but would be nice to have.
Thanks a lot for updating the thread with your advice.
I reached out to Motiv to diagnose. They know it's an issue with bad product, but apparently don't want to do simple quality control or make people aware of it. Instead they'll take your money and let you flounder for weeks/months (in your case over a year! What a fucking nightmare!) trying to figure out their mistake, yourself.

All you have to do to fix it is repin the connector, it's super easy and takes like 30 seconds. Motiv even sent me this link detailing how to do it, it's towards the end of the video:

To note, I'm still having issues with mine though. It reads a nice stable 32% ethanol driving around normally but jumps to 100% when going WOT, making it useless for tuning. Reached out to Motiv again for advice, but this time they told me the issue is my PR coils and the only way to fix it is to replace them... despite many other members running PR coils and Flex Fuel without issue. But apparently mine can only be fixed with different coils? Frustrating to say the least.
 
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mj6234

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Nov 25, 2020
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I reached out to Motiv to diagnose. They know it's an issue with bad product, but apparently don't want to do simple quality control or make people aware of it. Instead they'll take your money and let you flounder for weeks/months (in your case over a year! What a fucking nightmare!) trying to figure out their mistake, yourself.

All you have to do to fix it is repin the connector, it's super easy and takes like 30 seconds. Motiv even sent me this link detailing how to do it, it's towards the end of the video:

To note, I'm still having issues with mine though. It reads a nice stable 32% ethanol driving around normally but jumps to 100% when going WOT, making it useless for tuning. Reached out to Motiv again for advice, but this time they told me the issue is my PR coils and the only way to fix it is to replace them... despite many other members running PR coils and Flex Fuel without issue. But apparently mine can only be fixed with different coils? Frustrating to say the least.
I had the same issue of 100% at WOT, but stock coils. I moved the power source for the ECA to the other +12v in the DME box and has been fine since.

Before doing that, I ran +12v from the battery post to the ECA to test and immediately saw the issue disappear. Try that and see if it helps you. If it does, might need to just try other switched 12v to the ECA until you find one that works.
 

proboner

Specialist
Sep 13, 2020
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Yes, I saw your post previously and tried moving to the other wire on the green connector, but unfortunately it only made things worse. Ethanol was all over the place when driving normally and still jumped to 100% at WOT. I like this direct to the battery idea, I'll definitely have to give it a try!
 

fmorelli

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Yes, I saw your post previously and tried moving to the other wire on the green connector, but unfortunately it only made things worse. Ethanol was all over the place when driving normally and still jumped to 100% at WOT. I like this direct to the battery idea, I'll definitely have to give it a try!
Note if you decide to run from the battery, one can get plugs for the distribution box (if you decide to go permanent), and fuse, etc.
 

Benjiman

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May 2, 2021
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@proboner I repinned the connector and everything seems to be working!
Can't believe it, I originally purchased a used one from eBay, didn't work so reached out to Motiv, sent them some pictures. Couldn't get it working so sent that one back to eBay as believed it was faulty, purchased a new one direct from Motiv shipped to the UK, credit to them they did give me a discount. That one still didn't work, we tried everything, in the end just thought there must be something wrong with my DME and it will probably never work.
Then you come along and bam its working! Thank you so much for posting, really appreciated!
Haven't managed a proper WOT yet as mid custom tune and weather hasn't been great.
Did you get round to trying 12+ direct to battery post? Also try changing ground if you haven't. Hope you get it sorted.
Happy New Year everyone
 

proboner

Specialist
Sep 13, 2020
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@proboner I repinned the connector and everything seems to be working!
Can't believe it, I originally purchased a used one from eBay, didn't work so reached out to Motiv, sent them some pictures. Couldn't get it working so sent that one back to eBay as believed it was faulty, purchased a new one direct from Motiv shipped to the UK, credit to them they did give me a discount. That one still didn't work, we tried everything, in the end just thought there must be something wrong with my DME and it will probably never work.
Then you come along and bam its working! Thank you so much for posting, really appreciated!
Haven't managed a proper WOT yet as mid custom tune and weather hasn't been great.
Did you get round to trying 12+ direct to battery post? Also try changing ground if you haven't. Hope you get it sorted.
Happy New Year everyone
Yeah, tried going direct + and - to the battery and neither one cured my 100% reading at WOT. Bought some new ignition coils that Motiv claims will fix the issue, but I remain skeptical.
 
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Benjiman

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May 2, 2021
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Yeah, tried going direct + and - to the battery and neither one cured my 100% reading at WOT. Bought some new ignition coils that Motiv claims will fix the issue, but I remain skeptical.
Hopefully the new coils sorts it for you, let us know.