Engine light has come on after a driveshaft change!

29th May 2010, 18:40

On my x reg mk2 vtr after changing the passenger driftshaft today on the way home after a 30 mile drive i noticed the engine management light had come on.

No loss of power, not overheated, no missfire, no irratic idle etc.
All seems fine.

Turend car off twice took key out, loacked the car and turened it back on and its still there,

Could disconnecting the battery then reconnecting do anything?

All help really appriciated

Dean

29th May 2010, 18:57

Hi Dean,

You'll need to get the error codes read. My guess it will be the catalytic converter and/or the oxygen sensors.

There are a number of drive cycles (starts, stops, getting up to temperature, higher speeds etc) that need to be completed before the warning light comes on. Possibly the 30 mile drive was enough to complete all cycles.

If you disconnect the battery for long enough you will reset the ECU and the light will go off. It will come on again once the drive cycles are again completed if the problem still exists.

>>

Lighting occurs at the end of 3 consecutive driving cycles.

Description of a driving cycle :
Starting the engine
Driving period during which a possible malfunction is detected
Stopping the engine
The diagnostic warning lamp goes out after 3 consecutive driving cycles during which the monitoring system no longer detects a malfunction. The fault changes to intermittent.

The engine management ECU can then erase the intermittent fault, if during 40 heating cycles this fault does not appear.

Description of a heating cycle : duration of vehicle functioning sufficient to cause engine temperature to rise by at least 22 °C after starting, and to reach a minimum temperature of 70 °C.

29th May 2010, 19:05

Cheers man.

Ill disconnect my battery over night tonight and then connect it back in the morning and see what happens then.
Ill report back in anything comes from this.

The 30mile journey did include stop starts, getting up to temp and motorway driving so its completed everything as youve said.

If the light goes off and comes back on ill get the codes read, unless there are laptop leads i can buy and the software for the same/ish price as going to citroen

29th May 2010, 19:07

i was replying to your first un editted part, ill have a drive later in it, then come home, then im driving to work tomorrow then on the drive home and see what its saying.

29th May 2010, 19:09

Hi Dean,

Do have a look around. You are looking for an EOBD (or OBDII Onboard Diagnostics II) code reader. There are handheld units or as you say leads and software. Not sure if you'll find a free copy for your laptop.

MOst decent garages or even a friend of a friend may have a code reader. You do not need to have the code read by Citroen.

I am sure others will recommend the readers they have or that they use.

Some kind soul may offer to read them for you if you update your location...

29th May 2010, 19:15

This one gets mentioned occasionally: http://www.scantool.net/

29th May 2010, 19:17

Ive just updated my location.

Im in Cleethorpes in north east lincolnshire.

Cheers for the heads up BobC and ill have a look at that link.

29th May 2010, 19:18

Dean,

I think I understand your second post. All I meant was that the 3rd cycle just might have coincided with you going for the 30 mile drive and not the driveshaft change. You do not need to complete the cycles on the same day/trip.

Bob

29th May 2010, 19:20

The OBD reader port is located under the fusebox behind a panel in the lower passenger dash area.

29th May 2010, 19:25

Ahh cheers Bob, i get you.

I have a relay under there clicking at the minute as well, looked and found which one it is and just need to buy a new relay now. Thats when i noticed a port of some sort which you cleared up.

Ive only had the car just over 2 weeks and im trying to iron out all the problems/things that needs doing to it.

Needs a service including cambelt etc. And then after that ill get onto improving things on it.