I know we don't like large trucks and I know its american, but how different can it be ?
On my Truck, a Dodge Ram, it has a light on the dash which when illuminated shows the words "Check Engine".
Sadly the manual is in Spanish and designed for those people who won't. not ever. Therefore there is no recommendation, fault finding or anything else suggesting a course of action.
The dealer checked the engine and there is nothing wrong (that he can find). Also, apparantly its supposed to give him an error or fault code - but doesn't. The dealer also checked the computer itself, and it seems fine. I wouldn't say that it was an exhaustive check, but its a good as I'll get out here.
The engine runs fine. Absolutely no change at all, as far as I can tell. Perfomance the same, consumption, temperature, oil pressure, CD volume - all the same.
In the course of investigation it became apparant that if the battery is disconnected, even for a brief time, then the light stays off - usually for a week or so - then it comes back on.
Weirder still, sometimes it goes off by itself and stays off for a week or so.
Transition between lit and unlit can be when the engine is switched on, or it can be when I'm driving along doing nothing in particular.
There seems to be no consistency I can find.
I'd like a solution, but at the very least I'd like to disconnect the light so it stops irritating me.
Any helpful suggestions ? Including what that light should be telling me.
I am certainly not going to follow the dealer's recommendation which is to change the computer for no better reason/explanation than "porqué no, puede ser que suceda" delivered with a disinterested shrug and some mumbled comment about gringos. Even if it does succeed, its seems a damned expensive way of turning out a light.
M.
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Mark
Sounds like an intermittent fault somewhere in the engine management system. With some cars simply turning off the ignition after an intermittent fault resets the system and the light goes out. Sometimes eg Vauxhall you have to drive for about half an hour to get such a fault to log on the computer. Unfortunately it sounds like you've done this, so it could be difficult to sort this. Any help available on the net via American web sites?
Regards
john
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I think these US vehicles, and from this year, european vehicles run OBDII diagnostics, mainly to monitor the emission control devices. Therefore when the light shows, it has to be taken in. The ecu also makes a note of the date, so when MOT time comes, they can find out how long you've been driving it about like that, and they are looking at the possibilty of prosecutions. Why yours is lighting, who knows, but are you sure the garage is running the correct OBD unit?
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Dave - you have it spot-on
We have had many instances of 'ghost' EOBD codes (Faults that are not really there)
We just erase them and all is well
I suspect the garage does not fully understand the OBD (On Board Diagnostic) system and may not be using the correct fault reading equipment
In Canada, driving with the MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) on is an offence and the police check for the light when they stop check cars!
It will only be an matter of time before that becomes law over here.......
Removing the bulb will not be that easy - it will be an LED on a PCB, but again, will be fairly easy to disconnect/disable.
It may, however, have implications later in the vehicles life
I think it would be best to try and sort this problem out sooner rather than later, before you damage the catalyst......
Rgds
David
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Hi
If your Dodge is later than 96' it will definately have OBDII. There should be a standard (12?) pin connector somewhere. If you do a web search on OBDII, some american sites I think you can a reader so you can access the codes.
Vehicles in general have a 'engine problem light' This is basically lit if there is any engine management fault. Commonly this could be triggered by 50-100 different things!
I don't know about dodge, but it is common for some faults to occur for either a number of times (e.g. 10 times within 30 days) or a fault to occur constantly for a period of time (e.g. the fault lasts for more than 1 minute). Also if the fault doesn't occur for more than say 30 days the fault is 'reset'.
The reason that the fault goes away when the battery is disconnected is that many american cars have 'cheap' ECU's with no power off memory. They use the cars battery to back up the memory even when the ignition is off. Disconnecting the battery wipes the faults stored.
Solving the problem will be tricky, but here are some suggestions:
a) Can the dealer swap an ECU and test to see if the same problem occurs, if so then the original ECU is OK.
b) Get hold of the diagnostic manual from dodge (in english!), or ask the dealer for a photocopy of his. Look through all the diagnostic codes and eliminate the obvious ones - e.g. 'no spark ignition'.
c) Keep a log of when the fault occurs and when it goes away. If a fault happens on day 1 and then dissappears on day 31, you know that the fault has only occured once and has been reset after a period of time The diagnostic manual should give you this timing information.
d) I suspect you will have to become more expert at diagnostic codes than the dealer! Sadly dealers generally lack the knowledge of electronic diagnostics, any dealer that can go further to plugging a reader in and getting the code is very rare!
e) Finally, don't rule out the possibilty that the software in the ECU has a 'bug' in it. This is not as uncommon as you might think. Only safety critical software has to be tested 100%. Only a 'good' manufactuer would also test non critical stuff 100%.
Good luck
Andrew
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Andy wrote:
> If your Dodge is later than 96' it will definately have
> OBDII.
1999.
>There should be a standard (12?) pin connector
> somewhere. If you do a web search on OBDII, some american
> sites I think you can a reader so you can access the codes.
Ok. I'll investigate getting access to a reader. However, El Mecanico assures me that he is getting no codes at all, rather than simply one he can't fix. I will. however, follow it into the workshop and insist on being shown.
> I don't know about dodge, but it is common for some faults to
> occur for either a number of times (e.g. 10 times within 30
> days) or a fault to occur constantly for a period of time
> (e.g. the fault lasts for more than 1 minute). Also if the
> fault doesn't occur for more than say 30 days the fault is
> 'reset'.
Now, this makes sense. I have never been able to work out ANY consistency at all on when this light goes away. It arrives fairly erratically, but it does seem to happen in stop/start traffic with the aircon on full on a hot day. engine under load but not getting much in the way of revs.
> a) Can the dealer swap an ECU and test to see if the same
> problem occurs, if so then the original ECU is OK.
I'll ask. The issue is going to be that even currently I could drive for three or four weeks without seeing the light. It could be a long time before I know that this fixed the error.
> b) Get hold of the diagnostic manual from dodge (in
> english!), or ask the dealer for a photocopy of his. Look
> through all the diagnostic codes and eliminate the obvious
> ones - e.g. 'no spark ignition'.
I can do this. BTW, Spanish is not an issue. Or, as it happens Portuguese, French, Italian - but that's just me showing off.
I'll start with finding out how many codes there are.
> c) Keep a log of when the fault occurs and when it goes away.
> If a fault happens on day 1 and then dissappears on day 31,
> you know that the fault has only occured once and has been
> reset after a period of time The diagnostic manual should
> give you this timing information.
Very sensible, very worthwhile and stretching my organisational abilities to the absolute limit. Nonetheless I'll give it a go.
In a previous note there were a few comments I really didn't understand.
re: illegal in Canada.
Why ? Is this because its detecting emissions or something ? Is that why I should worry about the cat' as well ?
re: damaging the car in later life.
Firstly, I've had this fault on and off for 6 months or so. I wish I'd realised it could be warning of something harmful to the vehicle, but I was working on the basis (after the first wasted trip to El Mecanico & Don Idioto -his boss) that if it was likely to be damaging to the vehicle, then I would have been able to detect some change in behaviour or performance.
Was I totally wrong ?
Thanks so far.
M.
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It's interesting to see that it may occur at standstill with the a/c on, as this is when idle, high refrigerant pressure, and poor a/c performance can occur.Take a look at the list below though, and you can see that all sorts of things can happen, and these are only the a/c related ones.
Error Code Code Description
P0115 Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Malfunction
P0116 Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Range/Performance Problem
P0117 Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Low Input
P0118 Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit High Input
P0119 Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Intermittent
P0217 Engine Overtemp Condition
P0480 Cooling Fan 1 Control Circuit Malfunction
P0481 Cooling Fan 2 Control Circuit Malfunction
P0482 Cooling Fan 3 Control Circuit Malfunction
P0483 Cooling Fan Rationality Check Malfunction
P0484 Cooling Fan Circuit Over Current
P0485 Cooling Fan Power/Ground Circuit Malfunction
P0505 Idle Control System Malfunction
P0506 Idle Control System RPM Lower Than Expected
P0507 Idle Control System RPM Higher Than Expected
P0530 A/C Refrigerant Pressure Sensor Circuit Malfunction
P0531 A/C Refrigerant Pressure Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
P0532 A/C Refrigerant Pressure Sensor Circuit Low Input
P0533 A/C Refrigerant Pressure Sensor Circuit High Input
P0534 Air Conditioner Refrigerant Charge Loss
P0562 A/C pressure sensor low voltage(Chrysler)
P1114 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Circuit Intermittent Low Voltage
P1115 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Circuit Intermittent High Voltage
P1116 Engine Coolant sensor out of range
P1117 Engine Coolant Sensor intermittent
P1461 A/C pressure sensor circuit voltage low
P1462 A/C pressure sensor circuit voltage high
P1469 Low A/C cycling period
P1474 Low fan control primary circuit
P1491 Cooling fan relay circuit
P1504 Idle air control circuit malfunction
P1530 A/C head pressure switch circuit(GM)
P1530 A/C clutch circuit malfunction(Ford)
P1651 Cooling Fan Relay 1 Control Circuit Oldsmobile Only
P1651 Cooling Fan Relay 1 Control Circuit Chevrolet Only
P1652 Cooling Fan Relay 2 Control Circuit Oldsmobile
P1652 Cooling Fan Relay 2 Control Circuit Chevrolet
P1654 Air Conditioning (A/C) Clutch Relay Control Circuit
B1200
Climate Control Pushbutton Circuit Failure
B1238 Over Temperature Fault
B1239 Air Flow Blend Door Driver Circuit Failure
B1242 Air Flow Recirculation Door Driver Circuit Failure
B1249 Blend Door Failure
B1250 Air Temperature Internal Sensor Circuit Failure
B1251 Air Temperature Internal Sensor Circuit Open
B1252 Air Temperature Internal Sensor Circuit Short To Battery
B1253 Air Temperature Internal Sensor Circuit Short To Ground
B1254 Air Temperature External Sensor Circuit Failure
B1255 Air Temperature External Sensor Circuit Open
B1256 Air Temperature External Sensor Circuit Short To Battery
B1257 Air Temperature External Sensor Circuit Short To Ground
B1258 Solar Radiation Sensor Circuit Failure
B1259 Solar Radiation Sensor Circuit Open
B1260 Solar Radiation Sensor Circuit Short To Battery
B1261 Solar Radiation Sensor Circuit Short To Ground
B1262 Servo Motor Defrost Circuit Failure
B1263 Servo Motor Vent Circuit Failure
B1264 Servo Motor Foot Circuit Failure
B1265 Servo Motor Coolair Bypass Circuit Failure
B1266 Servo Motor Airintake Left Circuit Failure
B1267 Servo Motor Airintake Right Circuit Failure
B1268 Servo Motor Potentiometer Defrost Circuit Failure
B1269 Servo Motor Potentiometer Defrost Circuit Open
B1270 Servo Motor Potentiometer Defrost Circuit Short To Battery
B1271 Servo Motor Potentiometer Defrost Circuit Short To Ground
B1272 Servo Motor Potentiometer Vent Circuit Failure
B1273 Servo Motor Potentiometer Vent Circuit Open
B1274 Servo Motor Potentiometer Vent Circuit Short To Battery
B1275 Servo Motor Potentiometer Vent Circuit Short To Ground
B1276 Servo Motor Potentiometer Foot Circuit Failure
B1277 Servo Motor Potentiometer Foot Circuit Open
B1278 Servo Motor Potentiometer Foot Circuit Short To Battery
B1279 Servo Motor Potentiometer Foot Circuit Short To Ground
B1280 Servo Motor Potentiometer Cool-air Circuit Failure
B1281 Servo Motor Potentiometer Cool-air Circuit Open
B1282 Servo Motor Potentiometer Cool-air Circuit Short To Battery
B1283 Servo Motor Potentiometer Cool-air Circuit Short To Ground
B1284 Servo Motor Potentiometer Airintake Left Circuit Failure
B1285 Servo Motor Potentiometer Airintake Left Circuit Open
B1286 Servo Motor Potentiometer Airintake Left Circuit Short To Battery
B1287 Servo Motor Potentiometer Airintake Left Circuit Short To Ground
B1288 Servo Motor Potentiometer Airintake Right Circuit Failure
B1289 Servo Motor Potentiometer Airintake Right Circuit Open
B1290 Servo Motor Potentiometer Airintake Right Circuit Short To Battery
B1291 Servo Motor Potentiometer Airintake Right Circuit Short To Ground
B1849 Climate Control Temperature Differential Circuit Failure
B1850 Climate Control Temperature Differential Circuit Open
B1851 Climate Control Temperature Differential Circuit Short To Battery
B1852 Climate Control Temperature Differential Circuit Short To Ground
B1853 Climate Control Air Temperature Internal Sensor Motor Circuit Failure
B1854 Climate Control Air Temperature Internal Sensor Motor Circuit Open
B1855 Climate Control Air Temperature Internal Sensor Motor Circuit Short To Battery
B1856 Climate Control Air Temperature Internal Sensor Motor Circuit Short To Ground
B1857 Climate Control On/Off Switch Circuit Failure
B1858 Climate Control A/C Pressure Switch Circuit Failure
B1859 Climate Control A/C Pressure Switch Circuit Open
B1860 Climate Control A/C Pressure Switch Circuit Short To Battery
B1861 Climate Control A/C Pressure Switch Circuit Short To Ground
B1862 Climate Control A/C Lock Sensor Failure
B1946 Climate Control A/C Post Evaporator Sensor Circuit Failure
B1947 Climate Control A/C Post Evaporator Sensor Circuit Short To Ground
B1948 Climate Control Water Temperature Sensor Circuit Failure
B1949 Climate Control Water Temperature Sensor Circuit Short To Ground
B1966 A/C Post Heater Sensor Circuit Failure
B1967 A/C Post Heater Sensor Circuit Short To Ground
B1968 A/C Water Pump Detection Circuit Failure
B1969 A/C Clutch Magnetic Control Circuit Failure
B2119 Compressor Failure
B2175 A/C Request Signal Circuit Short to Ground
B2211 Low Coolant Lamp Output Circuit Short to Battery
B2416 Climate Control Recirculation Actuator Out of Limits
B2426 Passenger Solar Radiation Sensor Circuit Open
B2427 Passenger Solar Radiation Sensor Circuit Short to Ground
B2428 A/C Post Heater Sensor #2 Circuit Failure
B2429 A/C Post Heater Sensor #2 Circuit Short to Ground
B2470 Interior Fan Control Circuit Short to Ground
B2471 Interior Fan Control Circuit Open
B2510 Main Blower Motor Relay Circuit Short to Battery
B2513 Blower (Fan) Circuit Failure
B2514 Blower (Fan) Circuit Short to Vbatt
B2515 Heater Blower Relay Circuit Failure
B2516 Blower Control Circuit Failure
B2518 Compressor Overtemp Fault
B2539 Aux A/C Mode Position Reference Circuit Short to Ground
B2540 Aux A/C Mode Position Reference Circuit Short to Battery
B2543 Aux A/C Control Switch Reference Circuit Short to Ground
B2544 Aux A/C Control Switch Reference Circuit Short to Battery
B2559 Aux A/C Blower Motor Relay Circuit Short to Battery
B2560 Aux A/C Blower Motor Relay Circuit Short to Ground
B2561 Aux A/C Blower Speed 1 Circuit Failure
B2562 Aux A/C Blower Speed 1 Circuit Short to Ground
B2563 Aux A/C Blower Speed 2 Circuit Failure
B2564 Aux A/C Blower Speed 2 Circuit Short to Ground
U1020 Invalid or Missing Data for Air Conditioning Clutch
U1021 Invalid or Missing Data for Air Conditioning Clutch
U1178 Invalid or Missing Data for Climate Control
U1179 Invalid or Missing Data for Climate Control
U1230 Invalid or Missing Data for Electric Defrost
U1231 Invalid or Missing Data for Electric Defrost
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bloody hell.
How many codes are there in total ??
I am not so worried about the future of this thing. It charges up and down mountain roads carrying large amounts of building stuff. If there is actually anything left to sell by the time I've finished with it, then it will be a testimony to its build quality & longevity.
However, I don't need it to die prematurely so it is a cause for concern.
Unless there is something that could cause damage, but not actually show in performance or behaviour, then that LED is deadmeat.
I reckon I'll follow the earlier suggestion and make El Ridiculo show me the read out. If there's a code then I'll take it from there. If there isn't, then I'll buy some wire cutters.
Also, btw, there aren't many police checking your dash lights in the Andes Mountains.
Mark.
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Just another opinion ,
you say this fault light seems to come on in traffic , i think what you are getting is a lambda fault caused by the engine eating dirty traffic air we get a lot of these faults in volvos that are very sensitive to dirty air the lights pop on just by following a smoky lorry i say kill the light with the nearest hammer you can find
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