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Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:23 am
by julzzychan
Dear all,

I am pretty sure this problem has been raised previously by our members and i have also consulted lot of gurus about this.

But i would like to raise here to ask more so i can get a complete set of clue of WTF is happening from our fellow libertarians' expertises.

Questions are as follows,

1. Anyone has issues dealing with flashing cruise/sports and engine faulty light by replacing Oxy Sensor?

2. any recommendations here? Garbo suggests auto electricians to have ECU reset and oxy sensor replaced. I wonder if this will reset the tune as well so i need to take back and retune.

Cheers for the help!

Julz

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:02 pm
by bass_straitener
The most likely problem is that you have got a CEL (Check Engine Light)

You've changed your dump and exhaust and had a tune. Therefore most likely code will be a P0420 catalytic converter inefficiency CEL.

From memory this code relates to 200 interations where the O2 sensor has noticed differences outside of factory set parameters either side of the catalytic converter.

Options:

- Clear it yourself using either Tactrix or ECUDatascan or similar. I can do it for you if your near Blackburn to get you driving with S# etc again.
- Take it to workshop or electrician possibly to clear the code.

This will not reset the tune back to factory or anything like that.

Either way you should contact your tuner and advise them this has occurred. It might me more dyno/tuning time or the hack option of simply removing the code so it never comes back again.

You may have a faulty O2 sensor as sometimes removal and refit when changing the exhaust can damage them. But don't go buying a new one straight away as they're not cheap.

Cheers

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 5:51 pm
by SH30RB
same/similar thing just happened to me 30 mins ago.

CEL came on, and my cruise control was flashing.

only mods i have done that could cause it is my cat back exhaust :?

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:07 pm
by julzzychan
SH30RB wrote:same/similar thing just happened to me 30 mins ago.

CEL came on, and my cruise control was flashing.

only mods i have done that could cause it is my cat back exhaust :?



Simon,

as noticed and suggested by bruce. Also another member in forum Patrick has suggested to replace O2 sensor by auto electricians or to have your car check by a tuner to read the code.

once the code is read they would be able to find a solution to it. mostly is the sensor was damaged or misplaced during the changing or exhaust system under the engine bay.

Please drive conservatively as well while driving with both lights on and flashing. Take it to them asap

Cheers,
Julz

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:10 pm
by SH30RB
thanks julzzy,
ill have to take it in to an auto electrician next week some time.

i did the work myself changing the exhaust over.

just how bad is driving the car when the CEL is on/cruise flashing?

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:06 pm
by julzzychan
SH30RB wrote:thanks julzzy,
ill have to take it in to an auto electrician next week some time.

i did the work myself changing the exhaust over.

just how bad is driving the car when the CEL is on/cruise flashing?



Hey Man

well theres not risk driving dangerously with CEL on and cruise flashing, the reason CEL flashing is the ECU does not read some of the parameters from your new exhaust system. all the read is the stock piping from your engine bay stretched to your end of exhaust system.

but don't take this 100% as I am no tuning maniac so the code is different esp your car is a 3L H6 whilest mine is a 2.5 Turbo. different make of engine would have given different parameters and readings to the ECU, hence a faulty CEL occured when you have new addition to the car.

Subaru has faulty in that part for pre facelift and facelifted models. this is a common problem from Subie.

Let me know what happen or whats wrong from your end :)

Cheers,

Julz

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:17 pm
by Kekotic
SH30RB wrote:just how bad is driving the car when the CEL is on/cruise flashing?


Your entire car will blow up

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:32 pm
by SH30RB
chaotic2050 wrote:Your entire car will blow up


:cray: :cray: could have broken the news to me slowly kieran

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 4:26 pm
by SH30RB
took it into the mechanics this arvo, 10 mins later and the problem seems to be fixed.
no flashing cruise light or CEL light permanently on.

although i did find out i was running too lean because of my exhaust.

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 4:36 pm
by Kekotic
What did they charge you?

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 4:45 pm
by SH30RB
$30.

too much? or does that sound about right?

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 4:49 pm
by Kekotic
I guess that's not terrible, but all they are doing is plugging something in and pressing a button to clear it
And it might come back again.
Normally an ECU reset will fix most CEL's

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 4:59 pm
by SH30RB
this is true, $30 to push a few buttons...
if it does come back, i might take it to someone else to get their opinion.
hopefully it doesnt come back tho.

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 11:57 pm
by sbv
Hi Simon,

Had exactly the same on my car this week (must be the weather or something... :P)

Happened this morning to be talking to the guy who will be doing my tune in a month or so and he checked and cleared it for nothing (took about 30 secs). Was the normal oxygen sensor issue, which he said will be fixed with the tune. If not, it might be a new sensor for me...

...Out of interest he said to grab one of the diagnostic tools he used from repco for $100, which would be good to have handy. I noticed you can get the same one on ebay for about $80. Obviously the idea is not to just clear the code if/when it comes up, but if its something like this that is likely to be fixed with my tune in a few weeks, then it should be fine. Can use cruise/s# etc for the time being too.

Hopefully you dont see it again mate!

Re: Faulty Engine light+Flashing Sports/Cruise

PostPosted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 12:07 am
by Kekotic
Josh if you are going to spend the money, get this.

viewtopic.php?f=46&t=16085

At least you will have something cool with boost / whatever gauges you want and it will only be a couple hundred more.
But honestly if you considering spending $100 on some POS Repco thing you may as well get something semi-worthwhile like an ECU Datascanner which will provide you full time usage instead of spending $100 on a tool that only lets you clear codes, the ECU Data scanner functions as an ECU read out with gauges, also a GPS, and it can read and clear codes. for $215 extra that's a good deal.