Technical Engine Management Light Problems

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Technical Engine Management Light Problems

beauchampboiler

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Hi there, I apologise if this has been asked before, but none of posts I found while searching applied to my exact problem.

I drive a 2007 Fiat Multipla Dynamic JTD (1.9l Diesel).
Recently, the infamous orange engine management light came on while driving with immediate restricted performance (limp mode). The restricted performance seemed to disappear after a few minutes but the light remained on, and comes on as soon as the car is started. We booked it into the dealership for a £100 (
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!) diagnosis but this won't happen until friday. In the meantime we took the car to two independent garages to get the ECU codes read for free. One garage stated that they were unable to read the codes and that we would have to go the dealership. The other said that the diesel particulate filter needed replacing at a cost of £300 (they also switched off the light, but it came back on shortly afterwards together with the brief period of restricted performance). However, a year ago we had a similar problem and a local garage (the first of the two mentioned above) cleaned the existing filter which fixed the problem. It seems rather unlikely that this problem would come back a year after a thorough clean. Our driving pattern is however, undeniably tough on the car, involving repeated short runs from cold-starts.

Do you think that the diagnosis of the second garage was accurate, and if so, is replacing the particulate filter necessary or would cleaning it suffice?
Any advice or tips regarding this problem would be much appreciated

Apologies for the long post and thanks for your help.
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P.S: I should also add that the oil light flashes for approximately 1 minute around 30 seconds after starting. The car has been serviced recently so I am not worried about this, but I thought you might need to know, in case it is related in some way.
 
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Unfortunately, and it's not limited to fiats but all cars fitted with a DPF, your driving style is causing the problem (or rather, making it worse) DPF's regenerate,or clean, themselves under the correct conditions which is normally a steady run at about 40mph in 4th gear with load on ie lights,HRW ETC. Trouble is, you need to hold this for about 20-30mins - slow down or stop and you have to start again. A dealer can do a forced regeneration but resign yourself to regular trips, we do Passat taxis for a local firm about every couple of months.
 
Unfortunately, and it's not limited to fiats but all cars fitted with a DPF, your driving style is causing the problem (or rather, making it worse) DPF's regenerate,or clean, themselves under the correct conditions which is normally a steady run at about 40mph in 4th gear with load on ie lights,HRW ETC. Trouble is, you need to hold this for about 20-30mins - slow down or stop and you have to start again. A dealer can do a forced regeneration but resign yourself to regular trips, we do Passat taxis for a local firm about every couple of months.

Tbh you're part way there, but average regen should only take about 10min and you don't need to hold speed, once started the car is capable of finishing it at idle (y)

The later systems are better than the earlier ones mind.
 
Thanks. As soon as the light came on I tried to regenerate the DPF by driving around in low gears but this didn't work. What I don't understand is why the orange DPF light hasn't come on, when this is supposed to specifically identify a DPF fault. Is spending £300 to replace it my only option now?
 
Thanks. As soon as the light came on I tried to regenerate the DPF by driving around in low gears but this didn't work. What I don't understand is why the orange DPF light hasn't come on, when this is supposed to specifically identify a DPF fault. Is spending £300 to replace it my only option now?

I doubt its your DPF, they're normally a lot more than £300 for the part (£1k plus from Fiat), even pattern parts would surprise me at that price. You sure its not a sensor or EGR?
 
I doubt its your DPF, they're normally a lot more than £300 for the part (£1k plus from Fiat), even pattern parts would surprise me at that price. You sure its not a sensor or EGR?

It could well be, but as I'm not particularly mechanically minded all I've got to go on so far is the independent garage's diagnosis. In case its relevant, the fault code was P2002. The guy from the garage wrote 'Diesel Particulate Filter EF' next to this. Is this the correct code for a particulate filter problem?

Also, limp mode came on randomly while driving today (on a dual carriageway rather unhelpfully). Before this happened I thought it was just coming on momentarily when the computer first registers the fault.

Once again, thank you all for your help and I apologise for my lack of technical prowess.
 
P.S: I should also add that the oil light flashes for approximately 1 minute around 30 seconds after starting. The car has been serviced recently so I am not worried about this, but I thought you might need to know, in case it is related in some way.

If the system is not told that an oil change has taken place the DPF will not regenerate as the sytem thinks it's old oil still in the sump. It will start to then stop, causing issues which you are experiencing, deal with this and should resolve, be aware as you have a DPF there are 2 places to reset codes.

regards

Mal
 
If the system is not told that an oil change has taken place the DPF will not regenerate as the sytem thinks it's old oil still in the sump. It will start to then stop, causing issues which you are experiencing, deal with this and should resolve, be aware as you have a DPF there are 2 places to reset codes.

regards

Mal

Ah, that seems to make a lot of sense. Is taking the car to the dealership the only option? I heard that only they can reset the oil degradation index.
 
P.S: I should also add that the oil light flashes for approximately 1 minute around 30 seconds after starting. The car has been serviced recently so I am not worried about this, but I thought you might need to know, in case it is related in some way.

If the system is not told that an oil change has taken place the DPF will not regenerate as the sytem thinks it's old oil still in the sump. It will start to then stop, causing issues which you are experiencing, deal with this and should resolve, be aware as you have a DPF there are 2 places to reset codes.

regards

Mal

:yeahthat:

bloody hell not sure how I missed that on your original post. Who did you let near your car?!

I'd recommend another oil change (as resetting the counter now will put it out of sync with the oil change) and to get the service counter reset correctly.

This is extremely important.

Still can't believe I missed this on your original post. :bang:
 
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