On motorway today my 05 WRX (decat/ecutek) threw a CEL. At the time I was driving a steadyish 80 . So pulled off next junction and checked everything I could and all looked fine and engine sounded fine. Given I was ~100 miles from home I carried on and even though car wasn't in limp home mode I kept it off boost <3.5k. It drove absolutely normal and KL and boost gauge acted as normal.

I've now allowed engine too cool for a few hours and it started fine and again sounded as normal. Tried restarting 5x times (this normally resets intermittent CEL- ie if you disconnect crank sensor after **** oil change) but CEL still present. I have noticed that the oil light flickers a bit before cranking engine (ie ign. position 2) could this indicate a dodgy oil pressure sensor..?

Also had filled up with optimax and usual OB around 15 miles before this happened, but as KL was silent and performance appears normal I don't think this is relevant..

The only other time I've had a CEL was cruising (70ish off boost) on the way to remap, +12mths ago, after having decat done the day before. This was delt with in the remap and quite normal IIRC, todays CEL however has me stumped. Will be arranging to get a diagnostic, tomorrow hopefully, but just wondered what my fellow SN members thought..?

J

 

You could have a failed rear lambda sensor, advise the code which will reveal all, if its the rear sensor the car will drive as normal. Steady driving conditions are the most likely to induce a CEL for a lambda fault.

cheers

bob

 

i got the same cel driving on motorway at 80, was rear lamda sensor, i always drive at 90 now :P also according to the manual for a newage if its a permanent cel light the its a readings fault, if it flash's then its a sensor/engine fault.....apparently ??

 

Cheers guys..

Bob, I remember you telling me about the steady cruising causing this when you did my original remap.

How much does a rear lamba usually cost and does it have a connector, so therefore easy to swap..?

Jason

 

Jason,
I've a couple of newage rear O2 sensors knocking aorund doing nothing.
Your welcome to have one FOC if its the cause of your problem.

Nick

 

Cheers Nick, good man , however just found out it's EGT..??!!

Fair play to Carstins (main dealer) just popped in and they checked it for me there and then (knowing it's an IM reg. EU import..!). They said it was an EGT sensor (unkown value; >1 iirc..?). Although he said the sensor should be in the the downpipe ???, and it's probably been removed with the decat, hence the CEL. I know however, that the EGT is in the up-pipe and connected, never being a problem until now (>15k).

They reset and it's not come back on, although he said it more than likely will do at some point.

So my questions are thus:

Why would the EGT sensor induce a CEL whilst steady cruising (the same reason as the lambda I suppose)..?

Could the sensor be on it's way out or is there a problem with ETG's being too high..?

I've driven home giving it some beans and all is well. I don't very often do steady m'way cruising so should I be worried at all..?

Bob you have email..

Cheers guys,
Jason

 

Hi, got the mail but replying in here.

EGT sensor makes sense, they go "open cct" which means they stop reading, ecu notices and flags a warning in the form of the CEL, its fairly common, there will be nothing wrong ecept that. Two choices, get it replaced or remove completely and fit a 2K resistor across the connector contacts (on the car) which frigs the ecu and stops it worrying.

Sensor is NOT in the down pipe but at the top of the up pipe as you say.

cheers

bob

 

Thanks again Bob..

When you say get it replaced, what do you mean exactly..? Does it mean that the sensor had failed..?

I've been doing a bit of digging and it does seem very common, most people go down the 2k resistor route.

Need to get in touch soon to arrange for a map adjustment, hopefully end of Sep if your not too busy..?

Cheers,
Jason

 

Jason

My EGT sensor has thrown a CEL again, I thought I'd replace the failed sensor rather than go down the "resistor fix" route. After all the sensor is there to detect EGT problems

Shaun

 

My thoughts precisly mate..

It's not like they're difficult to get at..!

How much are they..?

J

 

im goning to dissagree as usual

after going through 2 sensors i would go resistor and remove
the blighter

if egt worry you get your self a decent gauge as i bet its not much more my second seonor didn't last 3 months



STI's do not have this sensor

 

When you guys got a CEL like this did resetting switch it off..? Mine is still off at the moment, although I've not replicated the steady cruise of Tuesday, something I don't do very often..!

 

if i can remember ( something i don't do well) im sure when my egt sensor through a cel it would not switch off with the 4 restarts - had to use the psi3


it was my cat efficiany light that came on with steady cruise and that did rest with the 4 restarts

 

Mine wouldn;t reset with 5x starts but dealer reset for me FOC..!

 

Rich has the right idea, the Sti doesn't have it or use it even if it was there, they are a bit of a liability, the tips can scrap your turbo if they break off, since its failed (and it has) do the resistor fix. The ecu needs a set mumber of engine drive cycles to recognise its faulty and depending on how you are driving under what conditions it may or may not see this. Since its a warning the ecu needs resetting properly.

 

WRX Rich

I have to agree with you here 50/50 and here is where I need Bob Rawle's help

It's nice to have sensors which are capable of flagging up problems from time to time. My EGT sensor has gone again but as Bob Mapped the car it's not a worry for me as I know its a sensor problem

The difficulty I have is people who might have standard WRX's and they read this thread and ignore the CEL when they might have a problem !!

Hence the suggestion to keep the OEM EGT sensor

Bob.....My bugeye is going to RCMS for some work including an aquamist water / methanol injection and re-map, do you recommend Olly and the crew to fit a separate EGT sensor and display??

Cheers

Shaun

 

The answer is to move the egt sensor to a point AFTER the turbo, then allowing for the temp drop across the turbo it can still do a job, this applies to cars that have been/are about to be mapped of course. The EGT meter is very useful, I keep a close eye on mine but for a std car its a waste. Even at your level I doubt you need that. Rich on the other hand has enough potential to benefit as and when he wants to.

cheers

 

Maplins here I come..

So just to clarify, I remove the EGT sensor and fit a bung (where's the best place to get one..?) into the up-pipe, then bridge the two sensor wires with a the 2k resistor. Is this correct..?

IIRC the sensor has a connector just in front of the os suspension turret (near boost solenoid)..? I'll chop off the sensor leaving around 5cm from connector and solder the resistor across this (dose it matter which way round the resistor is fitted..? Probably not as it looks like the to wires are the same colour anyhow). Doing it this way would enable easy refit of a new EGT sensor if I was to return car to OEM (oh yea, that's really likely..)

Cheers again everyone..

Bob, how are your bookings for Sep..?

 

Hi Bob

If you don't think I need an additional EGT sensor and guage at my level of tune then I'll just get RCMS to replace the sensor

Jason,

All the EGT fixes I've seen have involved simply unpugging the OEM sensor at the connector and plugging in the resistor to which a couple of copper spades have been soldered. No need to cut the wire at all

Someone made me one and I never got round to fitting it, I think I have it in the car, I'll check at lunchtime.

Shaun

 

Jason,
Just insert the resistor into the socket pins on the turret connector.
The resisitor legs will hold quite firmly in the pins. It doesn't matter about polarity.

Wrap the connector in duct tape or similar to seal it.

Nick

 

thats how I did it

but i also removed the egt sensor ( not as easy as it looks when in place )and filled the hole with a bolt , can't for the life of me remeber the thread size

 

Jason

I've just found my EGT CEL fix in the fruit bowl..........it's where everything ends up at my house LOL

If you want it PM me your address and I'll pop it in the post.

Shaun

 

Jason

PM inbox cleared

 

Shaun, suggest not just replacing, use the fix or move it to after the turbo when replacing.

cheers

bob

 

Shaun your PM box is full so you have email..

 

Thanks Bob

I'll ask Olly / Matt if they can fit something for me and blank off the OEM hole

Jason..........just off to read my e-mail

Cheers

Shaun

 

Jason

The CEL fix is in an envelope and will be posted tomorrow


Hi Bob

Sorry to bother you again but I value your help

I'd like to keep an eye on EGT's.... can you recommend a setup that you would be happy to map with and that RCMS would be happy to fit

KTF

Shaun

 

Defi do a good egt gauge, RCM can supply and fit. I use the 52mm Defi's myself as I wanted something a little less in my face (I do have five of them though)

bob

 

Hi Bob

Sorry about the delay....just trawling the net for a new stair gate ..LOL

I'll ask RCM to fit your suggested Defi EGT Guage if that's Ok with you

Is there anything else you would like me to sort out before the next re-map ?? I have an apexi AVCR fitted (andy F) did you want Matt to revert back to the 3-port ?

Cheers

Shaun

 

Hi Bob,

Is a reset necessary even after doing the CEL fix..? If so, what's the best way of doing it on a newage 05 without software..?

Cheers,
Jason

PS thanks Shaun, top man..