Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Autowirral Engine Diagnostics : ABS ; Air Bags : Code Reading

I am after some opinions from all you guy's N Gals out there with regards to your experiances with your cars and Diagnostics.

Have you had to take your car to a garage to have the engine warning lamp looked at ? Have you had to have warning lamps re-set ? Have you had your cars ECU code read ? Have you had your air bag light re-set ?

You know the type of thing, electronics....

All information appreciated, prices ? did the repair work ?

I will more than likely be visiting my local diagnostics place on monday scooby as my cars running rich as fook and i dont know what sensor could possibly be wrong. Im off to a scrapy now to get a new MAF and to halfords to change the plugs but if that doesnt help it run then it'll be on the machine on monday.
Question : If a car has been running rich for ages the plugs go black,does this severly reduce performance/spark efficiency

will reduce power not by much tho on a 1.8zetec, less money, as u use more petty.

have you checked the lamba sensor as this may not help the running? or the egr. what ecu have you replaced it with? the 1.8 or 2.0?

scooby take it ure getting a diagnostics machine. iirc correctley ford charge 50quid to check for faults and they don't always find them.

Ford want 90 quid and there isnt a nearest one in wirral is some part of liverpool (MSF/M53 ford dont hold the software for EEC 4 anymore) i aint going to ford up here either im going to a independant who have the compatable software.

The ECU in my car is a 1.8 115PS Mondeo "BLOB" ecu, ive adapted the loom as some pins are moved and the PATS needed bypassing. Its all good tho

Ive been the scrappy,bouught a new MAF,idle was better but still no power from engine at all. Then went to halfords and bought some plugs,fitted them,started it and it purred like a kitten. smooth idle,smooth rev. Smell from exhaust is less strong. but ive not moved the car yet (im resetting the ECU as its currently mapped itseld for its ****ed state) It shud pull hard in the morning,if not then its off to diag,may be lambda im thinking

Removed plugs were black and the plug in cylinder 4 was shiny (coated with fuel) so that mustnt have been burning well at all.

Why u researching this jay?

Jay has/had his own problems with cars with regards to code reading etc, I think this post is just to get peoples views and opinions on what they do - For instance if someone had a personally recomendation that would be helpful.

Just general questions to get peoples views out in the open.

when i changed my air filter and added a resiter mod from ebay i got a engine warning light on after a few days, took it to skoda and they siad it was a feuklling problem, (i took the resistor out before hand) and they cleareed it.

note drunk at time ot typing***********

u added a resistor mod from EBAY????????

I have a few cars with code problems and "MIL" lamp being illuminated.

I may be looking at buying some diagnostic gear but not sure.

Its deffo an area of interest for me.

Keep the opinions rolling

I can read the codes on mym car using a paperclip. not that i would cos i have to count the flashes. but i know my car requires a TECH1 machine not the newest TECH2. only ever had it done once by a mobile mechanic. and was ripped right off and nothing was wrong only the lambda senser but the light wasnt on in the car so it was an old fault.

i think it would be more of an option to get a chip to sort the mapping out.

what year is the engine? what year is the ecu as they have differant maps

if you have bypassed the pats then maybe the ecu isn't reading properley and getting the wrong air/fuel ratio imho opinion get the right ecu.

a change off plugs/ leads/coilpack/oil can do wonders for the zetec

Advanced will do diagnostics for ya

My engine is now fixed! started her up today and went thru the ECU reset procedure (hunts idle for 20 mins then drive thru rev range to let it sort best mixture for RPM,throttle position) and now she runs perfect. Good power,no hesitation. Ill be getting it emissions tested next week just to make sure and ill be keeping an eye on the spark plugs but i believe ive got it spot on. U sure the different years had different maps clj? all years produce same power and torque. And the ECU pins were moved round correctly,so each wire has the correct signal going down it

I agree with CJ, different maps were used am sure because every vehicle has different needs. For instance, A Mondeo is designed to carry more load than a fiesta etc. Glad your problems are sorted.

Lets get this topic back on track

diagnostic gear would be a good investment. though i am abit wary of these aftermarket ones like snap-on etc. i have heard of them picking up on faults that manufacturers don't see.......... mind you i have never used an aftermarket one. as we all know electrics is bot basic especially on newer cars (2000-onwards) and diagnostics gear might push you in the directions of an electric gremlin but it can't half be hard to find! scooby are you looking to do it on general cars or a specific manufacturer?

Im looking at doing general cars mate. It depends what equipment i invest in.

You cannot buy one kit that does all manufactures, you need seveal scanners to cover all the range. Also you need different software and cables etc.

Its damb confusing i tell you