Turning some little bits
Into a code reader
That when fitted to the ECUs
... revealed.. well, not what I was hoping to hear..
Firstly, to test it out I hooked it up to the Hydractive ECU to get the hang of using it. After following the procedure the led indicated that the stored faults on the ECU were 23 and 24, fault on Steering angle sensor and vehicle speed sensor. I cleared the codes and took it for a spin , the suspension was brilliant for the first mile and then went back to its old ways- perma spors mode. I re read the ECU and this time only one fault code: vehicle speed sensor. So that's that, I'll have to replace/ repair the speed sensor and hopefully will have functioning Hydractive!!
So with the thing working well, I plugged it into the engine ECU. There was a fault recorded but oddly it was a number 46, that was not listed in the engine ECU faults listed on the excellent link provided above. I searched for it all the same and found only one mention of it from a .pdf of the instruction boolk for a Draper fault code reader for PSA and Renault cars. Maybe close enough? On this the code 46 is said to be the Turbo boost control solenoid valve. This is the only fault recorded.
This is disappointing because I am certain that this device has nothing to do with the revs dropping when the throttle is touched and this intermittent jerky missfire on the run off/ deceleration. It's also less than smooth on acceleration too but that actually MIGHT be to do with a boost controller..
I cleared the engine fault code too and ran the engine to find no difference at all in the running. I think that the electronics for the fuel and sparks are actually ok and that there is a physical problem with some moving parts (maybe?) the engine is a bit 'tappety' but not really sponding too worn out.
I'd descibe the jerkiness of the running as being like an engine with the ignition timing out. It feels the same as my first BX that had its timing out by 10degrees in that it ran but hit a dead spot that was lumpy if you tried to accelerate. I think the ignition timing on the RGX engine is completely electronic though so I am none the wiser.
I thought I'd have a look at the spark plugs too to check the gaps. May as well check the simple things as well! They came out easy enough though there was a lot of bits of country side and bits of spider eggs etc all gunging up the plug surrounds so this all had to be cleaned out in case it fell into the cylinder head. The plugs are the two-electrode type and the gaps were over 1mm so were tweaked down to about 0.8. The electrode colour was seemingly healthy too so no messages there..
I'm still stumped - driving a stiffly sprung and decidedy rough running XM..
Thought I'd have a look at the ECU for the air con too just for interest but this didn't seem to work with the LED reader - LED stayed permanently lit on either plug terminal. Why does this have a green wire seemingly bridging the terminals in the end plug?
ABS works fine so I didn't look at that ECU.
So what can I do about the running issues? I heard folks speak of cleaning some part of the throttle body and mention of the cleaning of some part of the idle control motor - any ideas?
Here's to fixing our Hydractives!!
