VRIS System

Diagnose and Fix

Firstly, this is an overview of where the VRIS system is on the 2.5 litre engine:

Note: The left hand solenoid (black plug) operates VRIS#1 and the brown plug on the right opens VRIS#2. (sometimes both plugs are black)

VRIS#1 Testing

Most people who suffer from a non-operating VRIS#1, usually experience a large power hike at 4500rpm and a lack of low down power. This is due to VRIS#1 not opening and closing when it should!

This should be fairly simple to test. VRIS#1 should be open at idle. When your car gets to approx 4500rpm VRIS#2 opens.

With the engine off, locate this butterfly. Use the photo’s as guides. When located, you can see the off position (the butterfly is resting on the stop bar) – this means it’s closed:

Now start the car and let it idle…..go inspect under the bonnet. What is VRIS#1 doing? It should now be open and look like this:

If it is not, then you will need to do some testing to find out what is or isn’t working.

With the engine off, swap the solenoid plugs over (see above pictures). This will make the right hand butterfly open at idle instead of the left. This will tell if the solenoid for VRIS#1 isn’t operating correctly.

Start the car and check what’s happened.

Has the butterfly opened???

Yes – the VRIS#1 solenoid isn’t working properly as suspected. Replace. (How to, further down in this document)

No – then suspect the solenoid. These are obsolete new, but replacements can usually be found on the www.ukpoc.co.uk forums.

VRIS#2 Testing

You know where VRIS#2 is located by looking at the above pictures….. (located on the back right of the IM). Closed it looks like this:

Nice and easy to see. Now you need to do the paper test!!

Put a piece of paper between the butterfly and the stop position.

Go for a drive. The VRIS#2 operates at 4500rpm and only at WOT (wide open throttle)…..so give it some welly when your testing. Stop the car, and see what’s happened.

Did the paper disappear??

Yes – Well then it’s operating as it should be…well done you, go put your feet up and have a cup of tea.

No – Your VRIS#2 solenoid could be not working properly.

If, no and the paper still remains you need to:

1.  Remove the brown plug on the solenoid (see pic above)

2.  Put the brown plug on the left hand solenoid

This will now make the left butterfly open at 4500rpm.

Do another paper test, but put the piece of paper in the left hand butterfly.

Go for another test drive using WOT and make sure you rev higher than 4500rpm. The car will perform oddly and without great performance as you have messed around with the VRIS. Do no fret; this is for test purposes only. No damage will occur.

Stop the car and check the results.

If the paper went, you now have it confirmed that the VRIS#2 solenoid is not working. It will need replacing.

If the paper did not go again suspect the solenoid, IF however NEITHER paper tests have worked, suspect a vacuum leak, check all the small vacuum hoses are secure and not split on the back of the inlet manifold.

Changing the non-working solenoid

You can use the solenoid by the fuel pressure regulator as it’s only used for hot starting but this is entirely up to you – you may want to purchase a new one.

Unclip the solenoid on the back of the IM. You might want to remove the bracket which holds them in as they can be a bit fiddly to remove. Unclip the dead solenoid, and clip into place the new one. Attach the vacuum pipes and electrical connectors on the top of the IM.

Perform the above tests again and hopefully all should be working fine. You should have no big power hikes at 4500rpm anymore, just a change of engine note and a possible small increase; it should be a bit smoother across the rev range.

Happy motoring.