Online MIL Diagnosis?
Discussion
Quick bit of advice wanted please.
My 2002 S2 Elise (Standard 120bhp engine) 27kmiles with induction kit, ebay exhaust and decat with MIL eliminator acquiired a misfire on Sat afternoon on Islington High Street. I had noticed a couple of days earlier it was feeling lumpy under acceleration intermittently and cured over 3000 revs. Got steadily worse and then started backfiring when moving from standing and became more jerky like it was misfiring. MIL light came on (not flashing) shortly before my destination by Saddlers Wells. Left it to cool down whilst I went to the Foo Fighters concert (which was great) and drove back last night. MIL light still on, very lumpy, ok intermittently. Parked up over night.
Then a quick search on the forums earlier for instructions on how to reset the MIL (start up 5 times) it reset on the 5th so I went for a drive and it was instantly back to a now permanent misfire and backfiring, backfired once on start up even, its affecting power delivery and driveability and the MIL came back on which I imagine means the same fault has registered.
My friend who is a mechanic and looks after the basics so I dont have to constantly haul over to Sinclaires in Romford for every problem is going to check it over tomorrow night, before the ride to a diagnostics tool (I take it a standard diagnosis machine wont have the LOTUS code?). Just wanted to see if anyone had experienced anything similar to help us hone in on the problem. We plan to check the following
He thinks its fuel related possibly or exhaust...
1. Plugs and leads all individually checked for function and soot
2. Lambda sensor condition (assuming its on?), MIL eliminator wires etc
I have checked water and oil and oil cap.
It was in the garage Monday and had an exhaust clamp welded that had broken although I think this is not related.
Any thoughts much appreciated - I would like to get resolved before the next Ace Cafe Lotus meet in July as this kept us away from this months!
Cheers all, Stuart
My 2002 S2 Elise (Standard 120bhp engine) 27kmiles with induction kit, ebay exhaust and decat with MIL eliminator acquiired a misfire on Sat afternoon on Islington High Street. I had noticed a couple of days earlier it was feeling lumpy under acceleration intermittently and cured over 3000 revs. Got steadily worse and then started backfiring when moving from standing and became more jerky like it was misfiring. MIL light came on (not flashing) shortly before my destination by Saddlers Wells. Left it to cool down whilst I went to the Foo Fighters concert (which was great) and drove back last night. MIL light still on, very lumpy, ok intermittently. Parked up over night.
Then a quick search on the forums earlier for instructions on how to reset the MIL (start up 5 times) it reset on the 5th so I went for a drive and it was instantly back to a now permanent misfire and backfiring, backfired once on start up even, its affecting power delivery and driveability and the MIL came back on which I imagine means the same fault has registered.
My friend who is a mechanic and looks after the basics so I dont have to constantly haul over to Sinclaires in Romford for every problem is going to check it over tomorrow night, before the ride to a diagnostics tool (I take it a standard diagnosis machine wont have the LOTUS code?). Just wanted to see if anyone had experienced anything similar to help us hone in on the problem. We plan to check the following
He thinks its fuel related possibly or exhaust...
1. Plugs and leads all individually checked for function and soot
2. Lambda sensor condition (assuming its on?), MIL eliminator wires etc
I have checked water and oil and oil cap.
It was in the garage Monday and had an exhaust clamp welded that had broken although I think this is not related.
Any thoughts much appreciated - I would like to get resolved before the next Ace Cafe Lotus meet in July as this kept us away from this months!
Cheers all, Stuart
Hi, had a similar problem - I have an S2 111S. Lost power on the way up a slightly inclined motorway slip road. Ended up getting worse.
Got to work about a mile or so down the road and the car sounded really lumpy. Called the AA out to it, they were able to link up to the diagnostics and read the fault code. P0301 - No 1 cyl misfire. Had a similar problem with cylinder 4 just over a month ago. AA guy reckons it is the coil - especially as both cylinders work from the same coil.
Might be work a look, don't know how similar the standard and VVC engines are in this regard though?
Good luck.
Got to work about a mile or so down the road and the car sounded really lumpy. Called the AA out to it, they were able to link up to the diagnostics and read the fault code. P0301 - No 1 cyl misfire. Had a similar problem with cylinder 4 just over a month ago. AA guy reckons it is the coil - especially as both cylinders work from the same coil.
Might be work a look, don't know how similar the standard and VVC engines are in this regard though?
Good luck.
This was a 'normal' AA guy. I said I was surprised that he could link up to the diagnosis in the Elise. He said that there was some directive regarding all cars having to have the same connections and allow 3rd parties to have access to the information contained in the diagnosis. Kind of makes sense I guess.
Do you have access to the workshop manual as the codes contained in the log are listed. Might be helpful?
Do you have access to the workshop manual as the codes contained in the log are listed. Might be helpful?
I've got a PDF version, but all the pages are images (not text). I can see if I can mail you a copy of the relevant error code page if that helps. Can only mail attachments from home - work has a block on that kind of thing (mails with attachments)
Let me know. I'll be home in an hour or so.
Let me know. I'll be home in an hour or so.
Hi Andrew - finally got round to downloading the data from the ECU last night at 10pm. The error code we retrieved was P1302. Can you post what that translates into and if possible forward the pdf version of the document you have to the following address stuart.abrahams@hotmail.co.uk.
She has gone from bad to worse now so really anxious to find out what it is.
You have mail!
Thanks in advance Stuart
She has gone from bad to worse now so really anxious to find out what it is.
You have mail!
Thanks in advance Stuart
Ok - have just found following so thought I would post to help others in future. Time to get hands dirty this weekend!
P1301 - Misfire Level causing emissions increase (misfire on all cylinders evaluated over 1000 revolutions > 3%)
P1302 - Misfire Level causing catalyst system damage (misfire on all cylinders evaluated over 200 revolutions > 10%)
You should also have P300 or either of P301-304 active, which is misfire random (P300) or cylinders 1-4 (P301 - P304)
Possible causes listed in the handbook:
- Faulty sparkplug(s)
- Plug leads loose or faulty
- Ignition coil circuit problems
- Ignition coil problem
- Low compression in cylinder
Thanks to Arno and a previous post on exiges.com
P1301 - Misfire Level causing emissions increase (misfire on all cylinders evaluated over 1000 revolutions > 3%)
P1302 - Misfire Level causing catalyst system damage (misfire on all cylinders evaluated over 200 revolutions > 10%)
You should also have P300 or either of P301-304 active, which is misfire random (P300) or cylinders 1-4 (P301 - P304)
Possible causes listed in the handbook:
- Faulty sparkplug(s)
- Plug leads loose or faulty
- Ignition coil circuit problems
- Ignition coil problem
- Low compression in cylinder
Thanks to Arno and a previous post on exiges.com
Hi Stuart, the code P1302 translates to "Misfire level causing catalyst system damage" Not very helpful.
After finding out that I had a mis fire, I changed the coil relating to Cylinders 1 & 4 - didn't really help though. Yesterday I had to call the AA out and get it lifted to nearest Lotus garage. Will let you know how things progress.
No problems sending you the file, although it is a little over 12MB so not sure how this would work. I'll see if I can put it online - in the mean time will email you the code specific codes
Edited to add: Didn't type fast enough...
After finding out that I had a mis fire, I changed the coil relating to Cylinders 1 & 4 - didn't really help though. Yesterday I had to call the AA out and get it lifted to nearest Lotus garage. Will let you know how things progress.
No problems sending you the file, although it is a little over 12MB so not sure how this would work. I'll see if I can put it online - in the mean time will email you the code specific codes
Edited to add: Didn't type fast enough...
Edited by seetim on Thursday 22 June 08:54
Andrew - pulled the coil off mine yesterday. It was clear the plug for cylinder number three was not firing, by a process of elimination we identified the coil firing cylinder 3 was not firing so have ordered a replacement for both for monday and a new set of platinum plugs, not sure what was in there. Hoping this will resolve as it seemed pretty straightforward but reading your story I am anxious. Any idea on the part details, we read all the serial numbers down the phone to our parts guy but they didnt get a hit so its had to wait until Monday! Assuming they can get hold of it should be on Monday eve so will post again then with an update, I am hoping its a standard rover part?
Stuart
Stuart
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