Engine error: decoding, reasons. How do I reset an engine error?

Probably, every owner of a car with an injector engine encountered various errors in the operation of this unit. About this trouble, the corresponding sign on the dashboard - "engine error". Many immediately go to SRT for diagnosis, while others will go with this problem. But the third group of people must be interested in the reasons and decoding of codes.

ECU in vehicles

The work of the mentioned part is invisible, but this block immediately starts after the driver turned on the engine. In some car models, electronics monitor parameters even after stopping the car.

Each ECU on any car is equipped with a special controller, which, if various faults are detected, responds to them by the ignition of the indicator - "engine error". Each error has its own code and remains in the memory of the computer. Some problems are not only completely preserved, but the time of their detection by the system is also fixed. This option is called a "freeze frame".

Engine error causes

A light bulb that reports errors has only one on the dashboard. However, they can have many reasons. This can be learned without special equipment or a trip to the service station.

Lambda probe

The oxygen sensor is part of the exhaust system. He checks how much oxygen is not burned in the engine cylinders. The Lambda probe also monitors fuel consumption.

Various faults of the named sensor do not allow the ECU to obtain information from it. Sometimes this element gives incorrect information. Such breakdowns can increase or reduce fuel consumption and reduce engine power. On most modern cars such sensors are two to four.

Among the causes of failure of the described element is contamination with waste oil or oil soot. This reduces the accuracy of the information to regulate the fuel mixture and determine the optimum fuel consumption.

Fuel filler cap

Most drivers always think about the existence of very serious problems when an error occurs. But few people think to check whether the fuel system is sealed . But this very tightness can easily be broken by not tightly closing the lid of the gas tank. And this is a fairly common situation!

And where is the engine error? The fact is that when the lid is not closed, air flows into the system, which increases fuel consumption. Because of this, the diagnostic system gives an error.

Catalyst

This detail makes the exhaust fumes cleaner. It converts carbon monoxide and other harmful substances into environmentally friendly compounds. With the catalyst inoperative, the problem can be measured not only by the icon on the instrument panel, but also by a significant reduction in power.

DFID

The mass flow sensor measures the amount of air that is needed to prepare the optimal fuel mixture. The sensor constantly communicates with the computer. If this element is defective, then the level of carbon dioxide in the exhaust gases increases, the power of the power unit and the smoothness of the power are reduced. You can also see a slight overclocking dynamics.

Spark plugs and high-voltage wires

Candles - this is one of the main parts in the car, after the engine.
If they are out of order, then the spark is fed incorrectly. A non-working part can give a spark not at the right time or do not ignite the fuel at all. If you have problems with candles during acceleration, you can feel the tremors.

What do I need to know about the Check Engine lamp?

Some drivers try to remove the engine error by disconnecting the battery. These manipulations really make it possible to get rid of the problem. However, the lamp may come on again after a while. This means that no typical reason for this situation is like, and it turns out that it is necessary to perform deeper diagnostics.

To do this, use special software and hardware systems that not only find any errors in the computer and engine, but also know how to eliminate them. If during the tests the error was eliminated, the lamp will go out. In some cases, it takes some time to drive the machine to reset the error. This may be due to the fact that the control unit needs time for in-depth testing and debugging of all auto systems. If the lamp does not go out, you must continue to search for the problem.

Freeze-frame: accurate diagnosis

This is a snapshot of the main parameters of the engine and the transmission system at the time of the breakdown. So, in memory not only the indicators themselves can be stored, but also the engine error. A freeze frame can help in finding out what happened in the car. This is a very useful option.

You can detect various violations in the work and quickly fix the problem. For example, if the memory of the computer could find error P0116, then in the freeze frame, you need to look for the temperature of the cooling fluid and air. Let the temperature of the coolant cooler be 40 degrees, and the air temperature - 84 degrees. This simply can not be, and it is worth looking for problems in the engine temperature sensor or in bad contact

Independent deep diagnostics

Until recently, to carry out an independent diagnosis for a car to an ordinary car enthusiast was almost impossible - simply there was no available equipment. And before that it was special and not necessary - the decoding of the engine error was made by the way the indicator flashes.

Today for self-diagnosis, low-cost and simple devices are offered that work on the OBD-II interface. These devices allow the car enthusiast not only to find errors in the work of the computer, but also to control various parameters. To work, you need the device and the laptop. The price for similar devices starts from 5 thousand rubles and can be different, depending on the capabilities of the scanner.

You can purchase and install an on-board computer, or rather, just a console to it. Then you can find out the code of this or that malfunction without leaving the salon. The issue price is from 3,000 rubles, however, this is not an ideal solution. You can also purchase a wireless OBD-II adapter and decrypt the codes directly from your smartphone. The cost of such a decision is from 1,000 rubles.

Where is the diagnostic connector located?

Since this interface is the standard, its location is also invariable. It can be in different places depending on the brand and model, but no further than a meter from the driver. The standard configuration is 16 contacts in two rows.

Often, the diagnostic connector is located at the bottom of the dashboard in the driver's seat. In some models, it may be hidden near the fuse panel or under the ashtray. For example, in the car brand "Wolksvagen" the mentioned connector can be found under the cover of the center console.

How to connect and use?

Connect the scanner in order:

• First turn off the ignition;
• Then the device is connected to the diagnostic socket;
• Now you need to turn the ignition back on;
• After that the software will establish communication with the adapter, and you can start working.

A variety of software can be used to find and fix errors. In the network you can find various, both paid and free programs. For the first time, you can use free software that can read the current data, find errors, and tell you how to reset the engine error.

You can use such software products as:

• OBD-II Scan Master;
• Torque for "Android".

Also there is an excellent software MotorData ELM. It works with most adapters and is completely free for home use.

How to decode the scanner error codes?

Without deciphering the codes in the diagnosis there is no point. That is why, apart from the selection of equipment and software, it is necessary to pay attention to this topic, especially if you do not want to pay for the work of specialists from the SRT. So, there are general principles that can help decipher this or that error. The software issues a code in the form of a letter and four digits. The letters denote:

• B - body;
• С - the chassis;
• P- gearbox or engine;
• U - data exchange bus.

The first digit in the code is 0. This is the common code for this standard. The second and third are the year of production of the car. 3 - reserve digit. The second digit in the code is the type of problem that will tell you how to remove the engine error:

• 1-2 - problems in the fuel system or in the air supply system;
• 3 - various malfunctions in system of ignition of the car;
• 4 - additional control;
• 5 - idling;
• 6 - ECU circuits;
• 7-8 - transmission.

The fourth and fifth digits are the sequence numbers of the errors. To list all error codes is meaningless, because there are a lot of them. You can find out more precisely on the manufacturer's website. For foreign cars, the codes are mostly standard. For example, the Ford Focus engine error - P0171-0172 tells the owner that the fuel mixture is too lean or vice versa, the fuel mixture is too rich The error P0219 indicates too high a speed, all this information is accessible and easy to find. Auto.

Diagnostic procedure: Ford

Let's look at the procedure for diagnosing some cars. In the Ford, the first thing to do is turn on the ignition. It is not necessary to start an engine at all. Next, on the dashboard, you need to find the reset button for the day's run-you need to press and hold it.

Then, without releasing the button, the lock rotates to the second position. In this case, you need to monitor when the odometer screen appears on the screen, indicating that the test has started. At this point, you can release the button.

That's the way in the car "Ford" engine error, issued on the dashboard, tell you where to look, and where the fault lies.

Opel Diagnostics

On vehicles of this manufacturer with a manual gearbox, it is necessary to simultaneously hold the gas and brake and hold them in this position. Then the ignition is turned on, the pedals are not released. After a while, the engine error code appears on the screen ("Opel Omega" is also checked).

If the car is equipped with automatic transmission, the order will be slightly different. The ignition is switched on, the leg is placed on the gas and the brake and is held there. Then the automatic gearbox switches to the "D" mode.

The ignition is switched off and the brake can be released. After that, simultaneously press the brake and gas and again hold. You can turn on the ignition.

When the pedals are held, the motor error appears in the form of ECN codes. The first four digits in the code are the type of malfunction, the other two are the failure value. If there are five digits, then zero is added to the decryption. A table of codes and breakdowns can be found on the manufacturer's website. You can also use the diagnostic connector.

VAZ

For self-diagnosis of VAZ, you can also use a diagnostic connector, but it is permissible to do this and the forces of the car. To do this, press the odometer button, then turn the key to the first position, then the button is released. After that, the arrows will jump.

Then the odometer is pressed again - the driver will see the firmware number. When you press the third time, you can get the diagnostic code. Any mistake in the VAZ engine in the car will be presented in two digits, not four. They can be deciphered according to the corresponding tables.

The information given can help experienced and novice motorists to better understand their car. Errors occur from time to time, but the main thing is to be able to eliminate them in time. Previously, there were no such options in Soviet cars, and the driver could not know what the engine was "scolding" for. Today, there are many possibilities for diagnostics, repair, and condition monitoring. And with the help of modern software there is nothing easier than to figure out how to reset the engine error from the computer's memory.