gone into limp home mode

[trackdayclio]

still being a complete newb to the forum and Clios in general, i presume its called limp home mode.

been away for a week, got back yesterday. nipped to the shops, all was ok until the light came on UNDER the petrol light in the middle of the clocks (2002 RS CLIO 172).

now the car will not rev passed 3krpm, i presume there is a way of reading off fault codes etc? the ecu light is also on.

please dont shoot me down for not using the search, im currently on my mobile as im not at home.

Thanks in advance

 

[trackdayclio]

sorry, forgot to mention, the light looks like what i can only describe as a heart beat on a heart beat monitor

 

[shadowsun]

Aye, Clio's do have a limp mode. Use the forum search, I remember seeing other posts about it.

 

[trackdayclio]

please dont shoot me down for not using the search, im currently on my mobile as im not at home.

bummer...

 

[shadowsun]

bummer...

Wasn't shooting you down mate, just trying to help, didn't know if you'd looked or not.

 

[trackdayclio]

ahhh reet, sorry, the connection will crap itself if i try and do anything technical lol i can barely see what i'm typing here! lol

 

[shadowsun]

Ok, searched for you. From the advice I can see it looks like using a code reader would be a good place to start - maybe go to Renault if you don't have one. May give you an idea as to why it's doing it. I'm guessing it could be a number of things.

 

[trackdayclio]

many thanks for your help mate

i'll try and have a peek at it later or tomorrow, but i'm doing some photography for the BTCC at Donington Park

 

[shadowsun]

Alright for some! When you are back at your PC have a dig around on here since I know others have had the same limp mode problem. The car will only go into this mode if it's a fault I believe. The reader hooks up beneath the ashtray. It could be an old fault flagging up or a sensor could have failed etc... Regardless a reader *should* point you in the right direction. Once you have the error code you can post on here and someone should be able to shed some light as to why the car is doing it. Good luck!

 

[rexe]

Sorry oli, Only just logged into Cliosport

Only thing you can do matey, has been mentioned.. get it onto a Diag and see whats up with the stupid french thing. Failing that get that battery disconnected i doubt it will do anything as they are a lot more modern than the ole xe's etc.

If you can find somebody with a RS tuner, that will list the problems for you as well, i think its been mentioned the OBD port thing or whatever they call it, is under the ashtray . Hope you get it sorted matey without too much hassle...

 

[jesus]

If you can find somebody with a RS tuner, that will list the problems for you as well, i think its been mentioned the OBD port thing or whatever they call it, is under the ashtray . Hope you get it sorted matey without too much hassle...

Would that work on a 1.2?

 

[rexe]

Try it jamie, ive not got a 1.2 so have no ideas fella.

 

[trackdayclio]

OK went out just now, started her up, and the light (heart beat light) wasn't on (bonus!), and revved it, no limp home mode...

Went out for a drive, revs all the way to 6.5k (whilst cold obviously), so that's weird.

However the ECU light is still on in the bottom right hand corner, so still need to get it plugged in at Reno, but at least she can get to work tomorrow (I hope lol)

 

[Russ.]

Could be coil pack playing up?

 

[shadowsun]

Any update? Sounds weird that it's on and off like that?

 

[trackdayclio]

No real update as such.

I disconnected the battery as per Rex' instructions but then figured out we didnt have the radio code... great... any ideas on how to get it? lol

The car is booked in to get the bonnet catch fixed and their '25 point FOC safety check', but they said they won't do diagnostic check.

They quoted £90+VAT for diagnostic check, and they will knock half off that IF we have the work carried out by them...

Does anyone else know if you can just buy a fault code reader of some sort, so we can find out ourselves whats causing the ECU light to stay on?

Thanks in advance

 

[nick172sport]

http://www.k-tecracing.com/show_product.asp?id=2400

 

[trackdayclio]

Fantastic - thanks everso much for that link.

Am I right in thinking you have to have some software etc for it to work? or is it as simple as it sounds, just simply plug and play?

 

[nick172sport]

Order it, recieve it, plug it in, and bobs your uncle, you know what's wrong

 

[Russ.]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNIVERSAL-OBD...9|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1308|301:1|293:1|294:50

even cheaper

 

[trackdayclio]

hmmm the K-Tec one is a 'U380' designed for Clio 172s and 182s, whereas the eBay one is a 'U480' and doesn't say if its for any car/ make/ model in particular.

Anyone know if there is a difference?

 

[Russ.]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/U380-OBD2-EOBD-OBD-2-diagnostic-code-Reader-Scanner-UK_W0QQitemZ280346047142QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment?hash=item280346047142&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1689|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

U380 ^

 

[trackdayclio]

Sorry Russ... thats fantastic nice one!

*goes off to order one*

 

[trackdayclio]

w000t. ordered... looked through his previous sales to see whats the least he'll take for it as its 'best offer'

£18 is the least, and accepted. Should be here in a day or two

Now... where the bloody hell is the plug socket haha

 

[Russ.]

Lol plug socket is under the ashtray mate. Just pull the ashtray out and its there. Theres a little cover over it to stop crap getting in it just pop that off n plug in.

 

[nick172sport]

Let us know how you get on!

 

[trackdayclio]

Awesome, I can't thank you guys enough - and making me feel welcome into the club (altho I'm not a member quite yet!)

Just to keep you all amused tho, after me going for a blat in it, and it being fine (ie: revving fine) albeit the ECU light being on.

My misses has just been out to nip to the shops, to find it idling at 2krpm lol damn thing.

I'm pretty sure it's leaning towards with TB itself or the pedal thingybobby lol :rofl:

 

[trackdayclio]

OK so it went into Renault today, but only for the bonnet catch recall which they carried out FOC took them all of 27 minutes, rather impressed.

Also carried out the 25 point health check on the car.

Front brakes: 15% worn
Rear brakes: 25% worn
Coolant 'advises' replacing
Brake Fluid 'advises' replacing
ECU light illuminated on dashboard
Side light bulb inoperative
Play in dogbone mounts
Exhaust rear silencer hanger split

Still awaiting the fault code reader so I can see what it's problem is lol

 

[shadowsun]

Radio code SHOULD be inside your hand booklet that should have came with the car. Failing that phone your local Renault dealer and they should be able to find the code from your Reg number. They will ask you some questions - but just explain that you've been there recently etc... to have the bonnet recall done so you should be on their system. I had to do this to get the code for my trusty old 1.2.

 

[DanDennehy]

Got my fault codes read ...

P0120 Throttle pedal position sensor - guess this is the throttle sensor problem that lots of people have had

P0325 Knock sensor/circuit malfunction (Bank 1 or single sensor) - don't know what that one is :dapprove: anyone got any ideas?

 

[trackdayclio]

Shadow - cheers bud, when she was in for the recall, she asked about the code, and they said only the dealership that sold the car will have the code, or they could reset it for £35+VAT... so we're gonna try and track down the dealer that sold it.

Shouldn't be too difficult, as the person we bought it off, bought it brand new back in 2002.

Got my fault code reader today... so was waiting for the wife to come home from work, she walks through the door to tell me that the ECU light isn't on anymore ROFL, will it still hold the codes and let me know what was wrong with it?

Dan - glad you finally know what was up with yours - did you read them off yourself? or take it somewhere? Going out now to try and read ours, I will report back

 

[trackdayclio]

Do I have to start the car when the fault code reader is plugged in? or just ignition on jobbie?

 

[trackdayclio]

Never believe the wife when you ask 'have you checked the paperwork for the radio code'... two minutes of looking for it, and oh look, a business card with the words 'radio code' on it lol - sorted that.

Secondly, read off the fault codes, only had 1 stored, thankfully... code is:

P0120 - TPS / Pedal Position Sensor Circuit A Malfunction

 

[shadowsun]

Hmmm... maybe someone can shed some light on it? I can't find any further information on P0120.

 

[trackdayclio]

No nor me, I've searched the forums and found nothing else out.

I presume it's the actual pedel itself, as opposed to the throttlebody... but still unsure!

I have erased the codes, and will see if it comes on today on her journey to work or not!

 

[trackdayclio]

Journey to and from work, went without a hitch by all accounts, lol, so until it happens again, we're happy!

 

[shadowsun]

Game on. Keep an eye on it

 

[DanDennehy]

Cleared my codes too ... did 200+ miles OK ... then next day, check lights came back again and been there since ... :dapprove:

I *think* P0120 is the throttle pedal sensor (potentiometer) problem that has been mentioned a few times now, for example in this thread http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=388860&highlight=limp+home

 

[mwn11]

My girlfriend has had this problem, took it too some independant renault specialists and they said sometimes silcon on the plugs can cause the throttle sensor to not read propperly. Also they checked the voltages across somewhere and maybe changed something not sure. and it hasnt happened again. a good tip if this happens is turn your engine off for two minutes then try again. always worked for her.

 

[HOMERV6]

I have exactly same problem on / off limp mode which corrects itself { or did }. Waiting for a code reader to arrive. my mate believe it or not said his radio code came up on his !! Maybe you decode it ?
Naaaa can't borrow his as he is away { my luck }
Anyhoo his was the coil pack and dirty connector to ECU.
When its sorted i'll post the codes for various faults cos i'm like that