EFI Error warning
Discussion
As far as I'm concerned during 24k miles, I have had 'EFI warning' a few times - while at high altitude crossing the alps and in torrential rain - it usually clears once conditions become 'normal' again.
'EFI FAULT' is apparently due to starting the car with your foot on the accelerator pedal - and results in a trip to the dealers to plug-in their lap top and do a 'reset'. The 'approved' starting proceedure is, I'm reliably informed: Do not touch accelerator until engine starts - you can then 'step-into the throttle'.
You will not stop the 'warning' until the dash has been re-set.
'EFI FAULT' is apparently due to starting the car with your foot on the accelerator pedal - and results in a trip to the dealers to plug-in their lap top and do a 'reset'. The 'approved' starting proceedure is, I'm reliably informed: Do not touch accelerator until engine starts - you can then 'step-into the throttle'.
You will not stop the 'warning' until the dash has been re-set.
EFI fault is caused by a number of things. I haven't heard about "the foot on pedal whilst starting" before. Normally it indicates a dodgy sensor reading. It's supposed to catch the engine running incorrectly, but the most common reason is that water (from rain / washing) causes the sensor to be read incorrectly. If the car is running OK, you should be OK, just check it goes away when it dries out.
Earlier software you can't reset the warning until the problem goes away (I think you may have to restart the engine). Later software you can just press the rtk and it goes away.
Cheers,
Andy.
Earlier software you can't reset the warning until the problem goes away (I think you may have to restart the engine). Later software you can just press the rtk and it goes away.
Cheers,
Andy.
After having a new switch on engine 2 wks ago, the last few days EFI warning light back again - today started it up and had to overide it 3 times even before take off!!! grrrrrr - back to dealer. I will quiz them in more detail and post answer here.
>> Edited by lady topaz on Monday 7th April 21:48
>> Edited by lady topaz on Monday 7th April 21:48
As often have to tickle throttle to 'hold' idle until warmed up a bit, asked dealer if that's why EFI?? Was asked if I got another code with the EFI code, before he could advise problem. He didn't think reason anything to do with tickling throttle to start but suggested before starting engine I should depress throttle half way, once and then release peddle, then turn key and start. He explained it is a way of simulating 'auto choke' - shouldn't need to tickle throttle then.
>> Edited by lady topaz on Wednesday 9th April 10:17
>> Edited by lady topaz on Wednesday 9th April 10:17
When I had the EFI warning my dealer had kittens and insisted that it should be put on a truck and sent over for examination. The basis for this was that the worst case scenario would be a fuel mix issue which could potentially pass unburnt fuel through the catalysts, rendering them useless. This would have been very costly to fix. As it was, the engine was not running as smoothly as it should, an issue they fixed and no warning light since. Its fair to say they checked for all the usual causes before the truck suggestion, ie has the car got wet etc. They also said if it ever comes on again I should stop the car and get it on the truck, it could be something very minor or very major.
Just got back from a 2 hour jaunt roaund the lakes including a mix of fast/slow driving (darn these tourists). Anyhow after a brief stop at a friends EFI warning came on when I restarted the car - no rain here for ages so can't be moisture. Keeps reappearing every time I restart too - engine seems to be running smoothly enough, no misfires and pulls cleanly. Will this just disappear and reset itself or do I have to manually reset the pod? Mines an early 2001 model...
lady topaz said: As often have to tickle throttle to 'hold' idle until warmed up a bit, asked dealer if that's why EFI?? Was asked if I got another code with the EFI code, before he could advise problem. He didn't think reason anything to do with tickling throttle to start but suggested before starting engine I should depress throttle half way, once and then release peddle, then turn key and start. He explained it is a way of simulating 'auto choke' - shouldn't need to tickle throttle then.
>> Edited by lady topaz on Wednesday 9th April 10:17
pressing throttle down to bring on auto choke on a carbed engine maybe not on a tuscan most likley cause is a sensor on the engine not making a good connection my guess would be the coolant sensor as this is the one that gives me the most problems due to getting wet whenever customers wash their cars or it rains, there is a simple cure though electrical grease on the connector
These EFI warnings buzzed up for the first time yesterday in my 3-week Tuscan ownership (2001 Y), about every 5 minutes, combined with ocassional diagnostic codes C & L.
My dealer (Gorners) have instructed me not to drive and return it to base on a truck pretty sharpish for diagnosis.
All on the nicest weekend of the year to date. No roof-off grinning for me then.
My dealer (Gorners) have instructed me not to drive and return it to base on a truck pretty sharpish for diagnosis.
All on the nicest weekend of the year to date. No roof-off grinning for me then.
EFI sometimes flashes up at random for a second or two and then disappears.
when the temp. sensor was playing up, and thus dumping fuel into the engine (was running as though the car was stone cold so basically like driving with choke out) EFI fault was regular. When this happened the car wouldn't pull. Could pull out to overtake, open the throttle and it would just die, and sit at a horribly uneven idle.
I wouldn't worry TOO much if it just flashes up and then disappears. EFI gives you a pretty spot-on mixture the majority of the time. Carbs only give you the right mixture a tiny percentage of the time and it doesn't cause too many problems.
If it happens a lot and if it comes on and stays on I would start to worry and think about detonation which could lead to valve and catalyst problems.
when the temp. sensor was playing up, and thus dumping fuel into the engine (was running as though the car was stone cold so basically like driving with choke out) EFI fault was regular. When this happened the car wouldn't pull. Could pull out to overtake, open the throttle and it would just die, and sit at a horribly uneven idle.
I wouldn't worry TOO much if it just flashes up and then disappears. EFI gives you a pretty spot-on mixture the majority of the time. Carbs only give you the right mixture a tiny percentage of the time and it doesn't cause too many problems.
If it happens a lot and if it comes on and stays on I would start to worry and think about detonation which could lead to valve and catalyst problems.
The EFI warning and buzz combination would only disappear upon manually pressing the reset, & then re-appear a couple of miles down the road during random drive conditions.
After reading some of the excellent threads on this site with varying diagnoses, I thought I'd better tinkle Gorners rather than dismiss as a quirk.
Will post an update when car is returned on the truck (not by the YTS lads), as dealer too far away to collect myself.
After reading some of the excellent threads on this site with varying diagnoses, I thought I'd better tinkle Gorners rather than dismiss as a quirk.
Will post an update when car is returned on the truck (not by the YTS lads), as dealer too far away to collect myself.
On the older style pods the error would clear itself, none of this pressing buttons 
If you over fill the fuel tank (i.e. any more than filling until the fuel filler clicks off) then you *can* get excess fuel going down the small overflow pipe that runs down the side of the filler in the boot - this pipe syphons the excess fuel to the carbon cannister in the front wing, which, in turn, dumps the excess fuel in to the inlet system during normal running of the car - are you still with me? - and this *can* cause the EFI warning to come up as the lambder sensors detect the excess fuel being added, the mixture is trimmed back to compensate, the excess fuel is no longer added and then the lambdas complain of too little fule - and the EFI gets a bit upset!
If this is the case, then it is only a temporary thing and should clear up after a little while
In any case, it is best to get the dealer to check it to be sure - just hope it is a nice easy fix
Graham
If you over fill the fuel tank (i.e. any more than filling until the fuel filler clicks off) then you *can* get excess fuel going down the small overflow pipe that runs down the side of the filler in the boot - this pipe syphons the excess fuel to the carbon cannister in the front wing, which, in turn, dumps the excess fuel in to the inlet system during normal running of the car - are you still with me? - and this *can* cause the EFI warning to come up as the lambder sensors detect the excess fuel being added, the mixture is trimmed back to compensate, the excess fuel is no longer added and then the lambdas complain of too little fule - and the EFI gets a bit upset!
If this is the case, then it is only a temporary thing and should clear up after a little while
In any case, it is best to get the dealer to check it to be sure - just hope it is a nice easy fix
Graham
Thanks Graham.
The Tusk was RAC recovered yesterday morning back to the pits,
after only 3 weeks of ownership.
The whole street had that knowing nodding smile, assuming it was a re-po job.
Not heard a squeak from the dealers since as to cause of problem. Presume you have to keep calling them, not the other way around?
Perhaps the car never arrived?
The Tusk was RAC recovered yesterday morning back to the pits,
after only 3 weeks of ownership. The whole street had that knowing nodding smile, assuming it was a re-po job.
Not heard a squeak from the dealers since as to cause of problem. Presume you have to keep calling them, not the other way around?
Perhaps the car never arrived?
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