Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Derek_in_Penzance]

I've done a search for Safe and also for Check and nothing comes up opn the threads, so sorry if I'm asking something that is obvious...

Just finished my nightmare ABS ECU replacement/RH exhaust manifold gasket replacement job. Everything is back together again, on turning on ignition the display shows Coolant Low and SAFE. Car won't start (Omega 3.0 Elite 1998). The Owner's Handbook says nothing about SAFE mode but I'm assuming that the system thinks the coolant level is too low and won't let me start the engine (although it turns over). The coolant level is not too low -it is full right up -but I gather that the level sensor may be faulty.

Am I thinking right? In which case I need to fiddle with the plug and and/or coolant level switch and persuade the car that it is OK to start.

There are no other warning signs that I know of, eg engine warning symbol is not flashing.

[MutantCav]

SAFE will be the stereo in safe mode as you no doubt disconnected the battery for a while??

[Derek_in_Penzance]

Yes, the battery has been off for two weeks!

[markey mark]

Yes, the battery has been off for two weeks!

do a paper clip test mate and post results !

[Andy B]

And your coolant low is the float switch in the bottle that's palying up. To prove, just short across the plug as you would a Senator/Carlton header tank.
If your car won't start you've other problems.

[Derek_in_Penzance]

And your coolant low is the float switch in the bottle that's palying up. To prove, just short across the plug as you would a Senator/Carlton header tank.
If your car won't start you've other problems.

OK thanks, I will do paperclip test and see what it shows. I never imagined it would start first time -that would have been just too much to hope for! Watch this space...

[Dazzler]

Just double check all your connections that you have disturbed, you may well have left one off, its easily done on these things

[Derek_in_Penzance]

Paperclip test shows 19 -Incorrect RPM signal.

No other faults shown.

Maybe I have left a wire or plug disconnected?  

I'll go and check.

[MutantCav]

19 shows crankshaft failure...is failing or has failed...as you cant start the car, suggest its the second one...but check its connected ok and you havent somehow dislodged it...

[Derek_in_Penzance]

19 shows crankshaft failure...is failing or has failed...as you cant start the car, suggest its the second one...but check its connected ok and you havent somehow dislodged it...

OK will do, thanks for the help. I'll have to try later tonight or first thing tomorrow now, as I have to go to the supermarket.

[Martin_1962]

They go anyway - so may be worth getting another

[Derek_in_Penzance]

Well, paperclip test says crank sensor, advice on here is that they fail, so I've ordered a new one. I moved the original when trying to undo the oil pipes....tried to move the oil pipes  to get the water pipe off the back... had to get the water pipe off to get at my RH exhaust manifold...you get the picture. Then it turned out that it wasn't the manifold gasket blowing after all, but a thick rubber coupling piece on the Secondary Air Injection exhaust takeoff pipe. It was split. But I couldn't see that when the engine was all together (and with LPG stuff also in the way) and I didn't even know it existed. So I jumped to a conclusion which turned out to be wrong. I could have saved myself all this heartache if I'd only known!

Anyway, so I've spent most of this late evening searching for the elusive plug on the end of the sensor lead, which is supposed to be at the back of the engine. Can't find it. Eventually, after having dismantled half the back end again, I twig that it has already been relocated (as per advice on this site). It's down by the steering idler, cable tied to brake pipes, with the lead wrapped around the exhaust. So it's a pretty sure bet that it was on the verge of failing and me moving it finished it off.

Why did GM decide to put all this stuff at the back of the engine, then cover it up with the scuttle cover? I'm sure there's a good reason but I am sure that this V6 engine has driven car mechanics bonkers. I know that given time I will cope with all the ins and outs, and I'm learning fast, but it's going to be a knuckle-grazed learning curve.

So, hopefully our local motor factors will deliver tomorrow, and I'll be fitting it tomorrow, trusting that my Omega will be running again by this time Friday evening! I will position it as per advice in the Maintenance section, avoiding the hot exhaust pipes etc.

Somebody please tell me that it's all going to be worth it... I've only had the car three weeks and I am tearing my hair out already

[MutantCav]

Good stuff mate, as for safe mode...ignition in position II, turn radio off, holding down AS button turn radio back on keeping hold of AS until it beeps (about 3 secs), enter code using 1 2 3 4 5 6 buttons, press AS again to store and off you go...

[Derek_in_Penzance]

I have now fitted a new crankshaft sensor. Still no go. Help! (3.0 Omega 1998 mini-facelift with LPG).

The EML was showing code 19 -crank sensor. No other codes showing. It still shows 19 -is that because the fault is still there or because I have not wiped the fault code from the ECU memory (how do I do that?).

Not sure where to go from here... these cars are a nightmare!

I imagined that the car would fire up straight away, even though the 19 fault code is still stored. If I've done nothing wrong with the crank sensor then maybe there is some other additional fault that does not show up on the paperclip test.
 
Any ideas? Thanks!

[TheBoy]

I have now fitted a new crankshaft sensor. Still no go. Help! (3.0 Omega 1998 mini-facelift with LPG).

The EML was showing code 19 -crank sensor. No other codes showing. It still shows 19 -is that because the fault is still there or because I have not wiped the fault code from the ECU memory (how do I do that?).

Not sure where to go from here... these cars are a nightmare!

I imagined that the car would fire up straight away, even though the 19 fault code is still stored. If I've done nothing wrong with the crank sensor then maybe there is some other additional fault that does not show up on the paperclip test.
 
Any ideas? Thanks!

back to basics. fuel? spark?