Engine Management Light Flashing - Car running 'lumpy' (Limp mode)

[danzman1991]

Engine Management Light Flashing - Car running 'lumpy' (Limp mode?)

Hi,

I enthusiastically drove 20 miles today when the car suddenly starting juddering when accelerating. 3 mins later the Engine Management Light started flashing.

(This one: )

The car appeared to get even lumpier after this with the light flashing when I was driving at low speeds and constantly accelerating and de-accelerating - but when I got upto 50mph with the throttle pedal in a constant position the car drove fine with the light no longer flashing. c**til I put the pedal down even slightly, where it would start juddering again)

Would really appreciate any help here and I don't know what to do

Thank you,
Dan.

 

[highwolf]

You need to get it hooked up to diagnostics and get the codes read, although the results are sometimes a bit cryptic. In my case, first just the light flashed a couple of times, then OK for about 12 months, then it came on solid occasionally, then I noticed the odd misfire (always followed by the light coming on) and next thing it's blurghhhh, spluttering and popping and 5mph max. New sparkplugs, wasn't that, but a new lambda sensor seemed to do the trick. I say 'seemed' as only done 100 miles since getting it back, but the engine is smoother than I ever remember it now so it's looking good.

 

[Gouldy]

hi dan

 

[danzman1991]

You need to get it hooked up to diagnostics and get the codes read, although the results are sometimes a bit cryptic. In my case, first just the light flashed a couple of times, then OK for about 12 months, then it came on solid occasionally, then I noticed the odd misfire (always followed by the light coming on) and next thing it's blurghhhh, spluttering and popping and 5mph max. New sparkplugs, wasn't that, but a new lambda sensor seemed to do the trick. I say 'seemed' as only done 100 miles since getting it back, but the engine is smoother than I ever remember it now so it's looking good.

Thank you for your reply.

The Engine Management light came on solid a month or so ago and I was going to replace the Lamda Sensor, but it went off and has stayed off so I didn't bother, so I'm thinking it's likely to be this..?

Also, I don't have a code reader, so is that something only Renault Dealers/Specialists can do?

I've never had a car go into Limp Mode, so I'm still not sure where it is that, or whether there is something just severely wrong with the cylinders or something!

 

[danzman1991]

Good evening!

 

[Jonny1*2]

Where are you mate ?

 

[highwolf]

Took mine to an independent garage. I think you can do it yourself if you've got the right stuff but I'm not a mechanic, I don't know what you'd need. As long as the garage has diagnostics they'll be able to do it. Sometimes it's a long job to pinpoint the problem, though, but you need to do it otherwise you'll find your paying for spark plugs, sensors, coil packs, injectors and whatever the heck else without addressing the problem. And mine didn't go into limp mode, it went into 'barely alive crawling along the ground like a crippled zombie' mode.

 

[danzman1991]

Where are you mate ?

Kent, 30 mins away from Canterbury

Took mine to an independent garage. I think you can do it yourself if you've got the right stuff but I'm not a mechanic, I don't know what you'd need. As long as the garage has diagnostics they'll be able to do it. Sometimes it's a long job to pinpoint the problem, though, but you need to do it otherwise you'll find your paying for spark plugs, sensors, coil packs, injectors and whatever the heck else without addressing the problem. And mine didn't go into limp mode, it went into 'barely alive crawling along the ground like a crippled zombie' mode.

I'll have to try and find somewhere with a diagnostic machine then! Thank you!

 

[Jonny1*2]

Sounds lambda related mate. Get it plugged in. If it is lambda, a normal snap on code reader would do.

 

[danzman1991]

Sounds lambda related mate. Get it plugged in. If it is lambda, a normal snap on code reader would do.

I just went out and connected the battery up, in the vain hope reseting everything would work! It didn't

It is definitely misfiring quite frequently, so having said that does it still sound lamda related? Or more likely plugs and leads?

It does just need to be plugged in really! But want to make a list of what it could be, how to check it to exclude that from my list before I run out of ideas and then go and get it plugged into a machine..

 

[Jonny1*2]

Could be anything fuel related really mate. Hard to say. Could be something simple like blocked injector, but it's likely to be either coilpack, lambda or spark. Get diagnostics done to isolate the source ,and then have a play. It will be something simple i'd imagine.

 

[danzman1991]

Could be anything fuel related really mate. Hard to say. Could be something simple like blocked injector, but it's likely to be either coilpack, lambda or spark. Get diagnostics done to isolate the source ,and then have a play. It will be something simple i'd imagine.

Thanks for your help mate

 

[highwolf]

My understanding (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not a mechanic!) is that if the lamda sensor is screwed it will think there is more or less oxygen in the emissions than there is, and feedback that info so the fuel mixture is altered. So if the mixture is wrong, with too much or too little fuel, you'll get the stuttering engine and power loss, and the POP! from the exhaust.

 

[danzman1991]

I've taken everything apart to get at the spark plugs today, and one of them is knackered - wobbling around in the bolt with the gap being compromised - so I'm hoping that this is the cause of my misfire!

If not, I shall get diagnostics on it. Thanks for everyones help

 

[Henry82]

I have the same problem engine light flashing checked with machine and it's says misfire could that be the lamba sensor ave changed the coil pack how do you get the plugs out

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

I have the same problem engine light flashing checked with machine and it's says misfire could that be the lamba sensor ave changed the coil pack how do you get the plugs out

Flashing engine light and misfire is usually a dying injector

 

[Henry82]

Has a 1.2 got injectors there's a blow in the exhaust

 

[Henry82]

Got told that's what could be causing the misfire or the lamba sencor

 

[Martin_172]

needs a proper diagnostic to find out what's up with it, common issues on the 1.2 causing a missifre would be coil pack, spark plugs, injectors, upstream lambda

 

[Henry82]

Ave changed the coil pack and the spark plugs

 

[Henry82]

Its saying misfire two

 

[Henry82]

Its saying misfire two

Ave changed the coil pack and the spark plugs it's saying miss fire cylinder two

I

 

[Henry82]

There's a blow in the exhaust somebody said the lamba sencor

 

[Henry82]

Had it plugged in at the garage said cylinder two misfire then changed the plugs and coil pack and the light came back

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Cylinder 2 injector

 

[Henry82]

Cylinder 2 injector

Cheers are they easy to change

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

I've never done one personally but I don't believe it to be overly difficult

 

[Henry82]

I've never done one personally but I don't believe it to be overly difficult

OK cheers

 

[Henry82]

Thanks for getting back to me

 

[Martin_172]

Get a proper diagnostic carried out instead of just pointing the parts cannon in its direction

 

[Henry82]

The garage done it for me said cylinder 2 misfire

 

[hopgop1]

Just reading the code and saying there's a misfire on cylinder 2 isn't a diagnostic, it's a symptom of an issue that could have many root causes.

 

[Henry82]

Just reading the code and saying there's a misfire on cylinder 2 isn't a diagnostic, it's a symptom of an issue that could have many root causes.

It was done with the diagnostic machine the code was stored its the injector hopgop1yes it is a diagnostic changed coil pack and spark plugs injector two in working

 

[Henry82]

It was done with the diagnostic machine the code was stored its the injector hopgop1yes it is a diagnostic changed coil pack and spark plugs injector two isn't working

 

[Cookson]

If you have the car running, you should be able to unplug each cylinder to find the one that's missing. You can swap an injector out in about 5mins, pretty sure there's only 2x10mm bolts holding the rail on

 

[Henry82]

Changed the injector in cylinder 2 and its working but the coil light came on and the car cut out and wouldn't rev rac guy said it could be a wiring fault at the ecu but he drove it up the road and it was fine

 

[Martin_172]

The garage done it for me said cylinder 2 misfire

That's not a diagnostic! That's an issue!

 

[Bluebeard]

Go to a better garage ffs.
Plugging it in and giving you “cylinder 2 misfire” is about as vague as it gets.

As Martin says, get it diagnosed properly by somebody that actually knows what they’re doing before you waste anymore time or money.

 

[Henry82]

Go to a better garage ffs.
Plugging it in and giving you “cylinder 2 misfire” is about as vague as it gets.

As Martin says, get it diagnosed properly by somebody that actually knows what they’re doing before you waste anymore time or money.

 

[Henry82]

It overheated yesterday it was one off the injectors was fucked in the first place changed it then it cut our rac guy said it could be a wire