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[Fresno Bob]

Hi there all,

First of all let me just declare that I am a newb!

I have posted in the newbs section about my 99 'S' 2.0 CD Ecotec, which I have owned for aprox 3 days, have done 150 miles in her, and am now getting the orange engine shaped light coming on.

If I understand correctly from the replies on the newb section that this is the emissions light, is that correct?

(am I also right in assuming the red light with the car with spanner out of the top is the engine management system light?).

It comes on when idling (but not every time) then goes out when I pull off.

I need to carry out the paper clip test which I will do as soon as I get chance, and will post the codes here.

My question is, am I ok to drive her until I get chance to do the test? (I understand I need to get her sorted, I am just pushed for time with extra work comitments at the moment).

Any initial thoughts would be appreciated.

Just for the record, I contacted the previous owner, who had remarkably never had the fault.

Many thanks and kind regards

Lee

[Entwood]

EDIT ...

Looks like I got it wrong again ... Andy B has corrected my stupidity ..


Sorry

[Andy B]

Hi there all,

First of all let me just declare that I am a newb!

I have posted in the newbs section about my 99 'S' 2.0 CD Ecotec, which I have owned for aprox 3 days, have done 150 miles in her, and am now getting the orange engine shaped light coming on.

If I understand correctly from the replies on the newb section that this is the emissions light, is that correct?

(am I also right in assuming the red light with the car with spanner out of the top is the engine management system light?).

It comes on when idling (but not every time) then goes out when I pull off.

I need to carry out the paper clip test which I will do as soon as I get chance, and will post the codes here.

My question is, am I ok to drive her until I get chance to do the test? (I understand I need to get her sorted, I am just pushed for time with extra work comitments at the moment).

Any initial thoughts would be appreciated.

Just for the record, I contacted the previous owner, who had remarkably never had the fault.

Many thanks and kind regards

Lee

You shouldn't have a warning lamp with a spanner, your car is PRE facelift .... or should be on a S reg. Your EML is a picture of an engine with a lightening bolt through it. If on all the time you've an engine fault (paper clip will show it) flashing means you've an immobiliser fault. 

[Fresno Bob]

Its only on when idling, when I pull off it goes out, no flashing.

She is a 1999 S reg

[Welung666]

Evening Lee, I'm just your side of Brum if you have a free hour then you can pop down and I'll clear the codes off and re-read them. Soon get you sorted

[Andy B]

Its only on when idling, when I pull off it goes out, no flashing.

She is a 1999 S reg

Follow the link on Welung's post and do a paper clip test. You've got an engine fault. 

[Fresno Bob]

Hi guys,

Bit of an update,

My 'orange light has been coming on whilst idling (at junctions etc) as described earlier - it is when my idling revs drop to about 500rpm (what should I be idling at?).

Now all of a sudden today - my light is not coming on whilst idling, but the engine is racing anywhere between 1000 and 2000 rpm.

I am waiting for the wife to get back with her and will atempt the paperclip test (have finished work early to do it, just to find the Mrs has gone out in her).

Has anyone got any preliminary suspicians ahead of the test?

Also my fuel economy is dire!!!! aprox 22 mpg surely that cant be right (or am i being naive?), I read in the manual that if the orange light comes on, the engine goes into a sort of safe mode where it uses more fuel for whatever reason, is that what has happened to me? does it stay in the 'safe mode' until it is reset or does it come out of 'safe mode' as soon as the light goes out when I pull away?

Also to make life doubley miserable I appear to have an oil leak now which is dripping from loos to be some sort of hexagon nut on the koint between the engine and gearbox (unsure if it is coming from there but is dripping off there).

I really think I have been stitched up with this motor, and am getting deeper into a mess with it!!!!!

Lee

[mathewst]

Check back top of the engine, mine leaked on the back it was cam cover gasket.
The oil was dripping all the way down onto gearbox

[Welung666]

Hi guys,

Bit of an update,

My 'orange light has been coming on whilst idling (at junctions etc) as described earlier - it is when my idling revs drop to about 500rpm (what should I be idling at?).

Now all of a sudden today - my light is not coming on whilst idling, but the engine is racing anywhere between 1000 and 2000 rpm.

I am waiting for the wife to get back with her and will atempt the paperclip test (have finished work early to do it, just to find the Mrs has gone out in her).

Has anyone got any preliminary suspicians ahead of the test?

Also my fuel economy is dire!!!! aprox 22 mpg surely that cant be right (or am i being naive?), I read in the manual that if the orange light comes on, the engine goes into a sort of safe mode where it uses more fuel for whatever reason, is that what has happened to me? does it stay in the 'safe mode' until it is reset or does it come out of 'safe mode' as soon as the light goes out when I pull away?

Also to make life doubley miserable I appear to have an oil leak now which is dripping from loos to be some sort of hexagon nut on the koint between the engine and gearbox (unsure if it is coming from there but is dripping off there).

I really think I have been stitched up with this motor, and am getting deeper into a mess with it!!!!!

Lee

Lee, I'll send you a PM now but like I've already said get it down to me and I'll get it up and running for you. I've got a code reader here

Anyway sending PM now.

[Fresno Bob]

My wife has just returned with the car, and I have heard for myself the over reving.

It is lmost wildly revving itself up and down between 1000rpm and 2000rpm - but no EMS light.

A far cry from yesterday when it was revving at 500rpm with the EMS light on.

Lee

[Fresno Bob]

Just done the papaer clip, unsure if I have done this right,

1 flash
followed by 10 flashes
followed by 10 flashes
followed by 10 flashes
1 flash
followed by 10 flashes
followed by 10 flashes
followed by 10 flashes
1 flash
etc, etc

Lee

[tunnie]

watch for the pauses, eg 1 flash then 5 flashes = code 13

seven flashes followed by pause, then single flash would be code 71

[Welung666]

Could it be 10,1,10,10? MAF?

[Welung666]

watch for the pauses, eg 1 flash then 5 flashes = code 13

seven flashes followed by pause, then single flash would be code 71

 

[Andy B]

watch for the pauses, eg 1 flash then 5 flashes = code 13

seven flashes followed by pause, then single flash would be code 71

 

Now Bob will be really confused!