EFI Fault - Code 4?

[Findles]

Have had this flashing up on the screen momentarily (for less than a second!) on the last few occasions when i first get into the car. I found a thread from last autumn when the general view seemed to be either that it wasent important or that code 4 didnt infact exist or relate to anything.

However, it does seem to coincide with some starting problems ive had on the last couple of occasions where it's taken me 5-10 minutes to get the engine to actually fire up. Could the two be related, any ideas please? Normally the car has been spot on & has started first time (although it dosent like restarts if it happens to 'die' in the first couple of minutes).

[Targarama]

You say 'when first getting into the car' - do you mean 'when first starting the engine'? I believe Code 4 is due to some sensor or other not getting date quick enough on start-up. I had this when mine was new and it went away never to return.

Having problems re-starting shortly after a cold start (usually when you've stalled it) is usually down to flooding. Happens to many cars, not just TVRs.

Tell us more about the general starting problem you mention - it should fire on the first attempt, you may need to touch the throttle to catch it if its a bit out of tune. Once going does it run OK once warm?

[Findles]

Hi Trefor,

yes when first starting up it flashes the aforementioned warning for a split second. Once its running its fine, no problems. The restart is frustrating; I spend the first couple of minutes being espcially careful not to overrev it, but too little when pulling away from stationery sometimes makes it splutter and die. Then it'll take a couple of minutes to restart, it never fires up straight away again so I have to wait mid way across a junction or wherever! The motto i know is dont stall it!

Glad to see you got the Targa away - got a replacement lined up yet?

[KillerJim]

I had error 4's when the throttle's were not 100% correctly balanced, caused a weird sort of problem. I couldn`t hold the rev's at between 1000 and 1500rpm, it sort of stuck at 1000 then jumped to 1500... one service later and its all perfect

[stimshady]

some of these faults do just show up, it's something to do with the computer not realising what's happening fast enough and throwing out junk. i think (but i am not 100% sure!) that most of the time if a fault just quickly pops up but you dont get any problems and it doesn't recur a lot, then it's generally ok and just 'one of those things'.

[Targarama]

Findles said:

Hi Trefor,

yes when first starting up it flashes the aforementioned warning for a split second. Once its running its fine, no problems. The restart is frustrating; I spend the first couple of minutes being espcially careful not to overrev it, but too little when pulling away from stationery sometimes makes it splutter and die. Then it'll take a couple of minutes to restart, it never fires up straight away again so I have to wait mid way across a junction or wherever! The motto i know is dont stall it!

Glad to see you got the Targa away - got a replacement lined up yet?

Sounds like you need a little setup of the throttles/basic tune up.

I'm waiting 6-9 months minimum before buying another toy, but the R8 and AM V8 have so far failed to make me 'want' them with my heart. i'm not falling for anything else yet. I must confess that over the last few days I have been having rude thoughts about a Lambo Orange Sagaris, but it must have 3.91 Dff, CR box and a very healthy engine. Otherwise I might be fighting the guy who bought my T350 for it back

[jrb43]

Last time this came up, others suggested that it could (a) be to do with the Lambda sensors being on the way out, (b) be reproduced by disconnecting the air flow sensor. It was generally passed off as being harmless.

Certainly, the computer doesn't seem to have any mechanism to prevent it showing the first error message that comes into its head. I very occasionally get "low oil pressure" but tend to ignore everything that occurs before the engine has performed all 4 stages of the internal combustion cycle at least once

[julianc]

When I first picked up the Tamora from the factory a few years ago, I asked what fault codes really needed an immediate engine stop, and I was told 'EFI fault 4'.

This code sometimes appears momentarily when first starting the engine and that isn't a problem. I have also had this code appearing (constantly, not momentarily) at an altitude of more than 7500 feet, but again this isn't a problem (caused by low air pressure). I therefore assume that if it stays on at any other time, there's something wrong but presumably would cover a multitude of possible problems.

[Findles]

Thanks for the feedback - looks like as long as its just a momentary warning when starting up its nothing to worry about then.
Interesting comment of yours Julian - im sure from the original thread i referred to (can't check cos the 'search' facility is down) that the Gaffer mentioned that her recollection of Code 4 was that it was a spurious unused reserve code (or something similar) - I certainly cant find any conclusionary view in the manual either way as it dosent appear to have a list of what the codes mean.... TVR keeping you on your toes again

[VARLEYHYD]

EFI fault-4
Air box air temp sensor fault
Throttle pot, lambda sensor or ECU fault
Water ingress to sensor
Service due

If spurious blip ignore
Investigate if continues specialist repair to ECU

G

[stimshady]

Findles said:

I certainly cant find any conclusionary view in the manual either way as it dosent appear to have a list of what the codes mean.... TVR keeping you on your toes again

you need one of Graham's manuals!

[Tangoed]

I had code 4 flashing up an was told it was the lamba's. Changed them and still the same. I noticed the voltage was never quite stable on the dash and you could see the lights dimming and then getting brighter, turned out to be the voltage regulator on the alternator. No more fault code 4. I know this isnt the same for the above posts, but just thought i'd mention it.