TEMS System Components.

[Guyana00]

I wanted to know the complete components I would need to get if I wanted to add TEMS to my cars. I've read through almost every TEMS thread I found which I'm glad I did because I found some interesting things. I've found that I need:

-Control
-Actuators
-Cluster

..but I also read something unclear about a computer. I'm not sure if there is a computer that I'd need to get as well.

I haven't checked in the trunk for the plug-in to see if my specific car is compatible yet, but I'm still curious and would like to know because this will most likely not be my last or only Supra that I have now.

Thanks, anything else relevant that you think I, or anyone who may read this in the future should know is also appreciated :)

[jetjock]

Yes, you'll need the box.

[Kckazdude]

Add dash harness, main harness and both rear body harnesses to the list as well.

[suprabad]

I'm curious, why the interest in installing tems?

Don't get me wrong I think they're great, but the problem is that no one makes a really good shock for tems. Yeah, I know Tokico Illumina's. They suck. I blew out 3 sets (the seals seem to be weak).

I replaced them a couple of years ago with KYB Gr2's (surprisingly good) and I now have Koni yellows (a little hard for dd). I hated to give up the adjustable suspension and would go back to it in a heartbeat if someone would make a decent shock for tems. I doubt it will ever happen, but you never know, maybe some manufacturer will take pity on us MkIII owners and produce a good tems replacement shock.

[Guyana00]

I'm curious, why the interest in installing tems?
Don't get me wrong....*snip*

It's just a preference for me, I want to use the car for daily driving. So basically I'd like to use it in normal mode most of the time and sport/firm when I feel like...doing other things.

Basically the ability to change while driving when I feel like it....and change back. It's not necessary, I don't have to have it...but I want it.


JJ: Thanks for confirmation

Kck: Meaning if my car isn't wired for TEMS already correct? Because I thought some cars come wired for it and some don't. I don't plan to do this....add TEMS to a car without the wiring.

[figgie]

Kck: Meaning if my car isn't wired for TEMS already correct? Because I thought some cars come wired for it and some don't. I don't plan to do this....add TEMS to a car without the wiring.


actually no. All supras are wired for them. toyota just tapes them out of the way, you would have to dig for them under the front quater panels.

[Kckazdude]

actually no. All supras are wired for them. toyota just tapes them out of the way, you would have to dig for them under the front quater panels.

Seems to be another variation in years then. My car with a July 87 production date didnt have any TEMS connections in it anywhere.

[suprabad]

So what are you going to do for shocks?

Old tems will be worn out. New ones cost a fortune, which is hard to justify since they cost more than a good shock.
Tokico Illumina's...well I already gave you my thoughts on those.

So...?

[IJ.]

A bud here bought new genuine shocks for $50 a pair, might be worth checking with the dealer.

Toyota are odd with pricing sometimes.

[Davismj711]

I plan on replacing my 126,000 mile stock shocks here soon. I had planned on the Eibach springs with the Tokico shock. If their reliability is suspect, I take it that the stock shock is as good or better and more reliable ??

[IJ.]

If it were me I'd take my shiny new TEMS units to a shock specialist and have them revalved +20%, then with the controller adjustment it would allow you to run uprated springs without the soft setting pogostick dramas.

[SWD Fredester 3]

Why not go to Tein with their EDFC set up. It has 16 settings hard to soft
that provides a lot of variation, same principal as TEMS, IMO much better.

[IJ.]

EDFC isn't really active TEMs is to a degree as it'll change settings based on braking and steering input.

[jetjock]

^ Yep. Function (relevant input device):

1) Anti-squat (TPS)

2) Anti-dive (brake lights, speed sensor)

3) Anti-roll (steering sensor)

4) High speed firm (speed sensor)

[IJ.]

Pretty techie for it's day ;)

I've been thinking about getting the EDFC actuators and using the MoTeC to drive them to get the above functionality on my Koni's.

[YotaRob]

Dont be too harsh on the Tokico Illumina's, if you look closly on a factory shock for tems, on the body is stamped Tokico! my 2cents.

[jetjock]

Pretty techie for it's day

It was. Hell, I wish I had anti-roll. It'd keep me from falling out of this chair. Anti-squat would be nice too ;)

[Guyana00]

The four functions jetjock were what made TEMS appeal to me more. I read about it, in another thread from when I searched (also posted by JJ in that thread).

I also read about doing a 'mod' to the system allowing you to keep the system in a constant firm mode using a toggle switch (or the more expensive blitz/hks ones).

As for shocks, it will depend what's available to me and for what price, considering quality as well of course.

Umm...what else, the EDFC...I'm aware of TEIN's EDFC. 16 settings, it's kind of overkill for me, the active response is also part of the cool factor drawing me towards the stock system. Basically what would be ideal is three settings, maximum stiffness ("firm, with the toggle switch), normal, and something in between...and the something in between works even better because of it's adaptability for when the driving conditions call for it.

IJ, thanks for the tip....I'll be opening up another tab any moment now to discover something new, revalving :icon_razz.

figgie: As for the wiring, in a previous thread about TEMS, Jeff Lange had stated that some wiring harnesses included connectors for TEMS and some were without TEMS, so I'm believing so far that if my car has no connector shown that I wouldn't be able to dig into anywhere to find one. It would be great if I could though. If you have any proof, or something solid, from Toyota or another reliable source that would back you up then I'd be more inclined to believe you. So far though, Jeff is rarely wrong when he posts information, and to me is a very reliable source. Maybe you were just mistaken.

Edit: Added below.
7-03-2006, 3:29 A.M.

If you look up the harnesses, you will also see that some are listed (W/TEMS) and some are not.



There are GE manual W/TEMS and GE manual W/O TEMS harnesses for example.



Not all cars had the wiring for TEMS.

[suprabad]

If it were me I'd take my shiny new TEMS units to a shock specialist and have them revalved +20%...


It's my understanding that the OEM tems shocks are not rebuildable, re-valveable, or serviceable in any way. Sorta like a bic lighter; once they're used up there's nothing you can do with them but toss 'em.

I wanted to rebuild my tems shocks years ago and have them re-valved exactly as IJ described, but was told it couldn't be done. I still have them in my garage.

Anybody know why the stockers are not rebuildable? I've never heard any clear explanation for this.

[IJ.]

If something has been "built" it's rebuildable ;)

[SWD Fredester 3]

Good thread, as usual I'm learning something new every day. If anyone
is interested, I'm pretty sure I still have the TEMS controllers some where
in a box. Also the harness hook up is still in my car, don't know what is
involved in removing it but that could be done. It would clean up the engine
bay wiring a bit.

[figgie]

figgie: As for the wiring, in a previous thread about TEMS, Jeff Lange had stated that some wiring harnesses included connectors for TEMS and some were without TEMS, so I'm believing so far that if my car has no connector shown that I wouldn't be able to dig into anywhere to find one. It would be great if I could though. If you have any proof, or something solid, from Toyota or another reliable source that would back you up then I'd be more inclined to believe you. So far though, Jeff is rarely wrong when he posts information, and to me is a very reliable source. Maybe you were just mistaken.


Nope

not mistaken. As for proof. No can do! I have a main electrical harness pulled form the car but it is a complete rats nest due to my project (ie all taping that toyota used is gone).

Like I said. The option lies on you to do.

Pull the Front wheel well panel (passenger side). It is easy to follow the electrical harness as it is held in place by holders that are tied to the chassis and runs parallel to the rear windshield washer line that feeds the nozzle towards the rear. White connector, folded on itself and taped down.

Good luck.

[Kckazdude]

Nope

not mistaken. As for proof. No can do! I have a main electrical harness pulled form the car but it is a complete rats nest due to my project (ie all taping that toyota used is gone).

figgie, some cars did not come with TEMS equipped harnesses. I have opened 2 main harness now that did not have TEMS connectors on them. Both were 87 NA cars that didnt have the sports package.

[suprabad]

If something has been "built" it's rebuildable ;)


That's what I was thinking too, but I keep hearing that they're not rebuildable. I always felt like that just doesn't sound right. Where does this "can't be rebuilt" school of thought come from?

Do you know of anyone who has rebuilt and revalved tems shocks? I would do it right now, especially if they could be revalved to be stiffer. In fact I've held on to my old tems shocks on the off chance that maybe someone would be able to rebuild them.

Who would be a good candidate to approach about performing a rebuild on tems?

Any Ideas at all would be appreciated and followed-up on, as well as reported back to this site.

[IJ.]

I'll ask a bud if he heas a spare shock I can look at.
(Pulled mine when I got the car in 97 and installed Koni's so didn't really "look" at them)

I remember sitting at the Kitchen table rebuilding a Showa rear shock out of my CR450RB race bike that was covered in "Non Rebuildable" stickers thinking "they lied" ;)

[suprabad]

I'm in Southern California and you'd think they're would be someone out here that might be capable and willing to do this, I'm just not sure who. I'm running koni yellows also, they're pretty good (a little stiff), but I miss the tems. I always felt like a "downgraded" the car by eliminating my tems. Such a nifty option, I hate to not have it.

[IJ.]

Talking with my bud now, stock is Gas filled so this will be why they're non rebuildable.

My car's an 86.5 and from memory had Oil Tems, either that or they were 99% cootered and had filled the bodies with Oil ;)

[rtrdpenguin]

^ Yep. Function (relevant input device):

1) Anti-squat (TPS)

2) Anti-dive (brake lights, speed sensor)

3) Anti-roll (steering sensor)

4) High speed firm (speed sensor)

Wow, I always wondered exactly what triggers TEMS to go to the firmest setting. This explains why I'll be sitting in my driveway sometimes and it'll have 3 lights on... then I start rolling back slowly and it's back to 2. That was confuzzling...

[suprabad]

Talking with my bud now, stock is Gas filled so this will be why they're non rebuildable.

My car's an 86.5 and from memory had Oil Tems, either that or they were 99% cootered and had filled the bodies with Oil ;)

Forgive me as I'm a little light on knowledge with regard to the particulars of the manufacture of nitrogen charged shocks. Why does their nitrogen charge preclude them from being rebuilt?

I understand that "oil only" dampeners would be easier, but as you said "If they can be built, they can be rebuilt." I understand that nitrogen charging throws another variable into the equation, and again, forgive me for not knowing much (anything) about how nitrogen charged shocks are made, but:

a)Is there no way to recharge them? Or is it that the equipment to do so is not something that would be available outside the factory?

b)Could they be rebuilt and revalved to work without the nitrogen charge (oil only)?

Your common sense logic I quoted in the first sentence of this post makes sense to me.

It might be expensive, but if I could get them rebuilt/revalved, I would be willing to pay more than what new tems shocks would cost. It would be worth it (to me) since they could be revalved for stiffer rebound/compression and still be OEM.

[jetjock]

Wow, I always wondered exactly what triggers TEMS to go to the firmest setting. This explains why I'll be sitting in my driveway sometimes and it'll have 3 lights on... then I start rolling back slowly and it's back to 2. That was confuzzling...

Probably because you moved the gas pedal quickly, with or without the engine running. That'll put the system in anti-squat. Either that or you were seeing the tail end of the self test where the system lights all three just after the key comes on. Anti-squat (brake pedal) couldn't have been involved because it doesn't function unless the car is moving beyond a certain speed.

Fwiw stabbing the gas while watching TEMS can be used to partially test your TPS. As I said the engine doesn't have to be running.

[IJ.]

SB: The tops are welded on so would need to be parted off in a Lathe then new threaded tops with seals made and the tops of the tubes threaded to suit.

Then you need to find someone with the gear to recharge them.

My Bud wants to play around with an external bypass/needle valve/solenoid on a set of Koni's and have TEMS control them.

His car is still some way off but I'll post when and if we do this.
(My car still has the TEMS controller/wiring in place)

I thought about using the Top Adjusters on my Koni's with the Servo Control from the MoTeC to mimic TEMS but I can't see them reacting fast enough for it to be worth doing, that and you only get 1 Servo channel in the MoTeC.