CEL - Knew it was too good to last

[CitTone]

Because my wife has lost her licence for medical reasons so we depend on one car and she has let our daughter have hers....typical


CEL, no warning messages, no noises, no smoke, car drives normally (i.e. not LHM), fuel consumption looks same as ever.

Looks like a trip to the local indy to have it Tech2'd.......and my wallet lightened.

[wrighar]

mine is always P1334 (misfire on cyl 3/4).

CEL has been on continuously for 4 years now.

Spend a few quid on a ELM327 box (either USB or Bluetooth) and diagnose yourself.

£20 for a bluetooth elm box and a free app download for a smartphone (like torque) and your laughing.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/OEM-CAN-BUS-Bluetooth-Diagnostic-Interface/dp/B005PMN70S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319187907&sr=8-1

and

http://torque-bhp.com/software/torque-android-obd2-adapters/

[CitTone]

It's an '03 diesel - not so straightforward!

[paolo]

mine is always P1334 (misfire on cyl 3/4).

CEL has been on continuously for 4 years now.

Spend a few quid on a ELM327 box (either USB or Bluetooth) and diagnose yourself.

£20 for a bluetooth elm box and a free app download for a smartphone (like torque) and your laughing.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/OEM-CAN-BUS-Bluetooth-Diagnostic-Interface/dp/B005PMN70S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319187907&sr=8-1

and

http://torque-bhp.com/software/torque-android-obd2-adapters/

That code could be a few things. Often lends itself to a dodgy Direct Ignition Cassette though & or dodgy spark plugs.

P

[highflight]

Snap 03 diesel.  CEL light used to come on all the time for the manifold pressure sensor and when the EGR valve needed cleaning (although codes were for something different) 

I have a simple CAM ODB reader that I bought years ago in the states.  It is probably more basic than the usb ones today but has the magic clear button on it.  Plug it in and if no codes come up (due to them being special saab ones that the reader doesn't read) I clear all codes and wait to see if the light comes on again.  Then I go to the indy for a proper code read.  If you have the 2.2tid there's not a lot that goes wrong quickly (it's an old engine design with a chuffing big blower to make it go).  I've had mine from new and only needed to go to the dealer/indy twice.

[CitTone]

Damndamndamn.....it was on again when I left the office this arvo, drove into town, did 20 mins shopping.....and would you adam, it's gone out again.

Now, if it comes on again with a cold engine, I'm going to suspect MAF/T - sporadic and temperature related.

[CitTone]

It didn't come on again - and my MPG seems to have improved...... Now more baffled than usual (hard to credit!)

[CitTone]

Fuel usage appears to have improved by about 1.2mpg since the CEL incident.

A daft thought but, if I had a failing MAF previously, which just went down to the point that the engine management system flagged it, would it then be taken out of circuit and "replaced" with a static value in the map, rather than the car going into LHM straight away?

Just wondered because, if that was the case, no MAF appears to be better than a duff one....

[sgould]

It's a theory, and sounds possible.  But no idea if it's correct!!

[CitTone]

Blimey....if YOU don't know...who would?

[Audax]

A daft thought but, if I had a failing MAF previously, which just went down to the point that the engine management system flagged it, would it then be taken out of circuit and "replaced" with a static value in the map, rather than the car going into LHM straight away?

In the event of the MAF giving a fault or dodgy reading the car will drop into limp home mode and will limit the maximum torque values based on rpm to stop the engine blowing itself apart, this is why it's so hard to get it to rev above 3000 rpm as you are limited to 70nm of torque.

[CitTone]

Not that then.....temporarily sticky EGR perhaps...?

[Audax]

Possibly, next time I see a 2.2 of similar vintage I'll try my bluetooth scanner and see if I can read anything with it.