Decat, but no dash light

[Austin-182]

Hi Guys, can anyone shed any light on this

Ive had my decat on for a year now and luckily i dont have theight on my dash.however,ocasionally if i start the car and leave it for a few mins before driving or if i have been driving then leave the engine running for 5 mins when stopped, the engine management light comes on. It will stay on for a while, maybe a couple engine starts after but then the next time i start the engine it goes back off.
Whats the difference between a solid light and a flashing light?

I only get 30 mpg, does this sound rite? Short drives mainly but even if reset and do a 20 mile journey i never get over 33mpg

 

[MicKPM]

30mpg sounds a little too low and you should be seeing 36-38mpg on the clockset with normal driving around town. As for the MIL states, a flashing MIL denotes a fault with the injection or ignition has been detected that has potential to damage the CAT. A solid MIL denotes a problem with the general engine management has occured.

 

[Austin-182]

What could you sugest to solve the low mpg figure Mick? When iget the light like explained above, its a solid light i get.

 

[Andyman]

Sure it tells you in the handbook about the light sequence faults.

Could be the lambda ?

 

[Austin-182]

Dont know mate, thats the reason im asking in the first place?

 

[MicKPM]

I'd start with a full diagnostic session chap... Not a code reading session.

 

[Austin-182]

It doesnt have any running problems though? Some people say the mpg is normal

 

[MicKPM]

If you're happy then fine, keep driving it, but just because it seems to be running fine and there's no warning lights it isn't scientific proof that it is right and a proper diagnostic session isn't just plugging in the CLIP and looking for fault codes.

I had a customer come in with his Megane F1 for its major service two weeks ago that also had no running issues but I told him it was down on MPG and wasn't running quite right and so needed some bits to get it back to 100%. He was sceptical at the time but actually called me yesterday to thank me and to say he's now seeing near on 40mpg cruising up and down the motorways as opposed to the 32mpg he assumed was normal.

Mick

 

[Austin-182]

Whay did you change onit to get an increase in mpg then Mick? Lambda?

 

[MicKPM]

Lamda is but one of many sensor the ECM uses to decide how to run the engine and any sensor not functioning within spec will cause it to make decisions based on incorrect values which results in poor running. Yours may be faulty but then again it might not so changing any of these sensors without first consulting the live data and more importantly understanding the values is foolish as it more oftern than not results in customer money being wasted. It could even be something as daft as a leaking exhaust joint causing poor MPG and/or power delivery all of which should be checked as part of the diagnostic check but you tend to find these days that all garages are interested in is plugging in a Solus Pro and code reading which doens't always give an accurate answer.

We employ CLIP, a 4-channel oscillescope and a gas analyser to perform our diagnostics and prove a fault exists before changing anything... not a bad service for £45

Mick

PS: Two important rules in business; #1 - Never tell people everything you know. #2 -

 

[Rob669]

That sounds really useful and it's just what I need. I seem to be destroying ICVs currently (either that or the old ones I've got lying around were duff anyway!) and I've got a bad CAT smell. If you were close to home (Chippenham) I'd be getting mine booked in now.

Cheers

 

[Austin-182]

Anyone in the north east with a CLIP?