Engine error: decoding, reasons. How to reset an engine error?

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Probably, every owner of a car with an injection engine has encountered various errors in the operation of this unit. Such a trouble is reported by the corresponding sign on the instrument panel - "engine error". Many will immediately go to the service station for diagnostics, while others will go with this problem. But the third group of people will definitely be interested in the reasons and deciphering the codes.

ECU in cars

The operation of the mentioned part is invisible, but this unit starts immediately after the driver turns on the engine.

In some car models, the electronics control the parameters even after the car has stopped.

Each ECU on any car is equipped with a special controller, which, when various malfunctions are detected, responds to them by lighting up the indicator - "engine error". Each error has its own code and remains in the computer's memory. Some problems not onlyare completely saved, but the time of their detection by the system is also fixed. This option is called "freeze frame".

Engine error - causes

There is only one light on the dashboard that reports errors. However, they may have many reasons. You can find out without special equipment or a trip to the service station.

Lambda probe

The oxygen sensor is part of the exhaust aftertreatment system. He checks how much oxygen is not burned in the engine cylinders. The lambda probe also monitors fuel consumption.

Various malfunctions of the named sensor do not allow the ECU to receive information from it. Sometimes this element gives incorrect information. Such breakdowns can increase or decrease fuel consumption and reduce engine power. On most modern cars, there are two to four such sensors.

Among the reasons for the failure of the described element is its contamination with used oil or oil soot. This reduces the accuracy of information retrieval for adjusting the fuel mixture and determining the optimal fuel consumption.

Fuel filler cap

Most drivers, when an error occurs, always think about the existence of very serious problems. But few people think to check if the fuel system is tight. But this very tightness can be easily broken by an insufficiently tightly closed gas tank cap. And this is a fairly common situation!

And where does the engine error? The point is that atIf the cover is not hermetically closed, air enters the system, which increases fuel consumption. The diagnostic system gives an error because of this.

Catalyst

This part makes exhaust gases cleaner. It converts carbon monoxide and other harmful substances into environmentally friendly compounds. When the catalyst is not working, the problem can be measured not only by the icon on the instrument panel, but also by a significant decrease in power.

DMRV

The mass air flow sensor measures the amount of air needed to prepare the optimum fuel mixture. The sensor is constantly communicating with the ECU. If this element is faulty, then the level of carbon dioxide in the exhaust gases increases, the power of the power unit and the smoothness of the ride decrease. We can also observe weak overclocking dynamics.

Spark plugs and high voltage wires

Candles are one of the main parts in a car, after the engine. If they are out of order, then the spark is not supplied correctly. A broken part may not spark at the right time or not ignite the fuel at all. If you have problems with spark plugs, you may feel jolts during acceleration.

What you need to know about the Check Engine lamp?

Some drivers try to clear the engine error by disconnecting the battery. These manipulations really allow you to get rid of the problem. However, the lamp may light up again after a while. This means that no typical reason for this situationdoes not look like, and it turns out that it is necessary to perform a deeper diagnosis.

For this, special software and hardware systems are used, which not only find any errors in the operation of the computer and engine, but also know how to eliminate them. If the error is corrected during the tests, the lamp will turn off. In some cases, to reset the error, you need to drive the car for some time. This may be due to the fact that the control unit needs time for in-depth testing and debugging the operation of all auto systems. If the lamp does not go out, you must continue to search for the problem.

Freeze Frame: Accurate Diagnosis

This is a snapshot of the main parameters of the engine and transmission system at the time of the breakdown. So, not only the indicators themselves, but also the engine error can be stored in memory. Freeze frame can help in finding out what happened in the car. This is a very useful option.

You can detect various malfunctions and quickly fix the problem. For example, if it was possible to find error P0116 in the ECU memory, then in the freeze frame you need to look for the temperatures of the coolant and air. Let the coolant temperature be 40 degrees, and the air temperature 84 degrees. This simply cannot be, and it is worth looking for problems in the engine temperature sensor or in poor contact

Self-Deep Diagnosis

Until recently, it was almost impossible for an ordinary car enthusiast to carry out self-diagnosis for a car - there was simply no available equipment. Yes, and before it was especially and not necessary - the decoding of the engine error was carried out by the way it blinksindicator.

Today, inexpensive and simple devices are offered for self-diagnosis that work via the OBD-II interface. These devices allow the car enthusiast not only to find errors in the ECU, but also to control various parameters.

To work, you will need the device itself and a laptop. The price for such devices starts from 5 thousand rubles and may vary, depending on the capabilities of the scanner.

You can purchase and install an on-board computer, or rather, just a console for it. Then it will be possible to find out the code of a particular malfunction without leaving the salon. The issue price is from 3,000 rubles, however, this is not an ideal solution. You can also purchase an OBD-II wireless adapter and decode codes directly from your smartphone. The cost of such a solution is from 1,000 rubles.

Where is the diagnostic connector located?

Since this interface is a standard, its location is also unchanged. It may be located in different places depending on the make and model, but no further than a meter from the driver. The standard configuration is 16 contacts in two rows.

Often, the diagnostic connector is located at the bottom of the dashboard in the driver's seat. In some models, it may be hidden near the fuse panel or under the ashtray. For example, in a Volkswagen car, the mentioned connector can be found under the center console cover.

How to connect and use?

Connect the scanner in order:

• the first thing they turn offignition;
• then the device is connected to the diagnostic socket;
• now you need to turn the ignition back on;
• after that, the software will establish a connection with the adapter, and you can start working.

A wide variety of software can be used for the troubleshooting process. On the network you can find various, both paid and free programs. For the first time, you can use free software that can read the current data, find errors, and tell you how to reset the engine error.

You can use software products such as:

• OBD-II Scan Master;
• Torque for Android.

There is also an excellent MotorData ELM software. It works with most adapters and is completely free for home use.

How to decode scanner error codes?

Without deciphering the codes, there is no point in diagnosing. That is why, in addition to the selection of equipment and software, it is necessary to pay attention to this topic, especially if you do not want to pay for the work of specialists from service stations. So, there are general principles that can help decipher this or that error. The software issues a code in the form of a letter and four numbers. The letters represent:

• B – body;
• С - chassis;
• P- gearbox or engine;
• U - data bus.

The first digit in the code is 0. This is the common code for this standard. The second and third - the year of manufacture of the car. 3 is a reserve digit. The second digit in the code is the type of problem thatwill tell you how to remove the engine error:

• 1-2 - problems in the fuel system or in the air supply system;
• 3 - various problems in the car ignition system;
• 4 - additional control;
• 5 - idle;
• 6 - ECU circuits;
• 7-8 - transmission.

The fourth and fifth digits are the serial numbers of the errors. It makes no sense to list all the error codes, because there are a lot of them. You can find out more on the manufacturer's website. For foreign cars, the codes are mostly standard.

For example, the Ford Focus engine error - P0171-0172 tells the owner about too lean or, on the contrary, too rich fuel mixture. Error P0219 indicates too high speed. All this information is available and easy to find. On its base will make it easier to repair cars.

Diagnostic procedure: Ford

Let's look at the procedure for diagnosing some cars. In a Ford, the first step is to turn on the ignition. It is not necessary to start the engine at all. Next, on the dashboard, you need to find the reset button for the daily run - you need to press and hold it.

Then, without releasing the button, the lock turns to the second position. In this case, it is necessary to monitor when an inscription appears on the odometer screen, indicating that the test has begun. At this point, the button can be released.

That's how in a Ford car, the engine error displayed on the dashboard will tell you where to look and wheremalfunction.

Diagnosis Opel

On vehicles of this manufacturer with a manual transmission, you must simultaneously hold the gas and brake and hold them in this position. Then the ignition is turned on, the pedals are not released. After a while, an engine error code will appear on the screen (“Opel Omega” is checked in the same way).

If the car is equipped with automatic transmission, then the order will be slightly different. The ignition is turned on, the foot is set on the gas and brake and held there. Then the automatic transmission switches to "D" mode.

The ignition is turned off and the brake can be released. After that, simultaneously press the brake and gas and hold again. You can turn on the ignition.

When holding the pedals, an engine error will appear in the form of ECN codes. The first four digits in the code are the type of malfunction, the other two are the breakdown value. If there are five digits, then zero is added to the beginning to decrypt. The table of codes and breakdowns can be found on the manufacturer's website. You can also use the diagnostic connector.

VAZ

For self-diagnosis of the VAZ, you can also use the diagnostic connector, but it is permissible to do this with the help of the car. To do this, hold down the odometer button, then turn the key to the first position, then the button is released. After that, arrows will jump.

Then the odometer is pressed again - the driver will see the firmware number. When pressed a third time, a diagnostic code can be obtained. Any error of the VAZ engine in the car will be presented in the form of two digits, andnot four. You can decipher them according to the corresponding tables.

The above information can help experienced and novice motorists to better understand their car. Mistakes occur from time to time, but the main thing is to be able to eliminate them in time. Previously, there were no such options in Soviet cars, and the driver could not know what the engine was "swearing" at. Today, there are many opportunities for diagnostics, repair, condition monitoring. And with the help of modern software, nothing is easier than figuring out how to reset an engine error from the ECU memory.