As relays get older the contacts inside can become burnt or soiled with carbon deposits and arcing so you could be right with a dodgy relay, it may have been stuck or the connector pins dirty/corroded and swaping it over was enough to clean it up so it would then make a good connection and work

Well the eml is still on flashing as soon as I get to 80 (private road officer) goes off after a minute even though I swapped relays. Service next week now

As mentioned a non specific misfire, so I'd still look at the plugs and leads, despite what people may claim cheap leads can break down very quickly causing internal arcing and leading to a very weak spark=misfire, and cheap white box coil packs may also not last long.

If the lamda then picks up high oxygen levels but doesn't know where it's coming from so unknown misfire error

I'll report back after a service. Thanks folks. Going to try a new thermostat and pollen filter too as the heaters aren't great and fan don't feel to powerful either

Just a quick question for anyone with a 1.2 8valve,where is usual place for the temp gauge to sit? Mine sits just off of cold when warm to between 1/4 and 1/2 when in traffic.

bub2006 said:

Just a quick question for anyone with a 1.2 8valve,where is usual place for the temp gauge to sit? Mine sits just off of cold when warm to between 1/4 and 1/2 when in traffic.

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Should be upto middle and stay there after say about 4-7mins of running depending on outside conditions

I'd say the cars running constantly cold, causing a rich mixture, which in turn is probably flowling the plugs all the time causing a weak spark

Even on a hard motorway blast - and suddenly dropping into a services it should stay in the middle

Ziggy

Mine sits just off of cold,no more than halfway between cold and a quarter. That would explain my cold heaters. Definitely sounds like thermostat and not head gasket. Not using oil or water either. Thanks ziggy

being COLD = over fuelling to compensate ( choke on effect)

COULD explain the EML at high revs + load too,

Charlie

Funny you say that as when I checked oil level earlier it was a nice golden colour so don't look too old. Will still change it along with plugs,leads and thermostat though. I did have eml flash in second gear the other morning though,accelerating out of a 30 zone. First and only time it's done it below an indicated 75 on speedo

bub2006 said:

Funny you say that as when I checked oil level earlier it was a nice golden colour so don't look too old. Will still change it along with plugs,leads and thermostat though. I did have eml flash in second gear the other morning though,accelerating out of a 30 zone. First and only time it's done it below an indicated 75 on speedo

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thermostat is simple.. best tip.. - leave rad cap ON, change stat, reseal and bolt-up stat,

THEN release cap and refill should only need 1/2 a litre of coolant,

a TORCH down side of expansion chamber will light it up like a lantern = seeing level is then simple

refit cap.. undo the bleed valve ( little black screw) on heater hose into bulk head, SQUEEZE fat rad hose until fluid comes out of bleed screw, then tighten.

run car for a few seconds, check for leaks..!!

DO keep an eye on levels for a week or so

Charlie

thanks charli. Sounds easy. I do my own repairs and always have done. I tend to bleed via expansion bottle though so a bleed valve location is handy as is a quicker way round things

i have to say - the light idea works 100%
If it seems to dissappear as your going up - its probably on the crease where the parts of the coolant holder joins

I've personally dropped all the coolant, but thats partly because first time i did it, i changed it

But it can cause a headache of bleeding after

Ziggy

right another issue come to light. Going on a run for a friend to St Albans. About 50 mile on the m1 so far and had to pull in to services. Eml come on and stayed on. Red coolant light came on and gauge dropped to cold. Fault code read p0115. Could this be down to knackered thermostat? I've got another 60 mile to go and another 110 back home! Car seems to run ok though. Thanks

P0115 = ECT (engine coolant temperature) sensor - circuit Malfunction

Circuit malfunction can be the sensor or the wiring
Very rarly its the actual Control module like autodata suggests

Seems that the temperature sensor may have been lying to you for a very long time
Its worked out that its not giving a valid reading

The car has now entered limp home mode
Its now overfuelling - to keep combustion temperature down
The fans now have come on till the fault is not detected
The EML will remain on and the Red overheat light may forwell remain on


If you going to change the thermostat - i'd throw a new sensor in there as well
give the wiring harness plug a good dose wd40 and a good clean

You should then get a nice and toasty car

Ziggy

the red light only comes on if I turn ignition off then on again. I've turned eml off clearing codes,was ok for another 50 mile and it's just done it again. Fan isn't on permanent though? Mpg is reading 57 mpg which is also very good depend on how accurate the gauges are! It's going to have to wait till tomorrow when I get paid! Thanks again ziggy. I've only owned car for a week and was worried head gasket gone bit even in traffic it doesn't get hot,pipes don't feel hot album they aren't hard either

bub2006 said:

the red light only comes on if I turn ignition off then on again. I've turned eml off clearing codes,was ok for another 50 mile and it's just done it again. Fan isn't on permanent though? Mpg is reading 57 mpg which is also very good depend on how accurate the gauges are! It's going to have to wait till tomorrow when I get paid! Thanks again ziggy. I've only owned car for a week and was worried head gasket gone bit even in traffic it doesn't get hot,pipes don't feel hot album they aren't hard either

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The head probably wont have gone
The fact the code re-occours make me think its a defo case of dont ignore it

I'd check the connection / replace the sensor, since cooling system will be partially drained, i'd get the thermostat replaced too

And then go on an see what the happens after that

Ziggy

ok I'll do that tomorrow along with full service and will let you know unless anything else happened on way home!

bub2006 said:

ok I'll do that tomorrow along with full service and will let you know unless anything else happened on way home!

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Slight loss of power is all your probably gonna get
possible a slightly lumpy engine as well

Ziggy

Hope a sensor,state and service will cure the old girls ailments

bub2006 said:

Hope a sensor,state and service will cure the old girls ailments

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Depending which sensor housing you have - some literally just screw out
Some like mine are the horrible - new housing cause there bolted in tighter

Ziggy