European Cars Provide Plenty in the Way of Self- Diagnostics, Once You
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THE INS & OUTS OF European cars provide EUROPEAN plenty in the way of self- diagnostics, once you know how to tap into their systems. Here are ENGINE some tips to help you pull codes and data with MANAGEMENT the best of ’em. SYSTEMS BY KERRY JONSSON he exact date may be If you don’t have the factory scan tach will move to a different rpm range open to debate, but it tools for all the European manufac- and the Check Engine light (CEL) will was about 1980 that turers, here are some methods for ex- be either on or off. Any combination of the yuppie movement tracting DTCs with minimal equip- tach reading and CEL operation will began. That’s impor- ment, as well as some of the other yield a specific fault. Step on the brake tant to European car- functions available to help you diag- pedal again to advance to the next makers because yuppies love to be nose tough driveability problems on code. Ttrendy and chic and, having the mon- European nameplates. The only code I quite don’t under- ey to afford it, as a group they be- stand is a 6000-rpm reading with the came large purchasers of European Audi CEL off. This supposedly means a bad vehicles. And that’s important to you In 1984, Audi started offering self-diag- idle switch. Well, if the switch were no because now that these vehicles have nostic capabilities on its 5000s, turbos, good, how did we get into self-diagnos- been out of dealer care for quite and Coupe GTs. Accessing the system tics in the first place! If there are no some time, they’re starting to require is fairly simple: First, run the engine codes stored, the tach will stay at 7000. more frequent service. over 125°F, and while it’s running be- Also note that if the vehicle has a Hi- It used to be that only specialty low 2000 rpm, close the wide-open tachi control unit, the end-of-code se- shops would handle driveability diag- throttle (WOT) switch with your hand, quence will be the tach stuck at 7000 noses on these cars, and experience and keep the throttle’s idle switch with the CEL off; if it’s a Bosch control and a few quick pin voltage checks closed for 4 seconds. If the engine unit, the first code will repeat. would determine what went wrong. won’t start, just crank it for at least 6 Self-diagnostic procedures came to Of course, as systems became more seconds. The tach will jump to 7000 the fore in 1985 on Audi’s 4000 mod- complicated, some form of self-diag- rpm—not the rpm, just the tach. els, and in ’86 they started using these nostics was needed, and all the manu- Now, while holding all that, step on same self-diagnostic procedures on facturers seem to have gone in their the brake pedal once to start the code their 5000s. Be aware that Audi 4000 own direction. In fact, in some cases, sequence. By the way, you can let go of Quattro models never saw self-diag- individual manufacturers have gone the throttle switches after 4 seconds. nostics. On models other than the off in several different directions! After you step on the brake pedal, the Quattro, a four-digit trouble code can 42 December 1999 be accessed through the CEL by run- In 1988, California required some get codes and cycle outputs. But you ning the engine anywhere below 2000 form of self-diagnostics as well as a can still get codes out of the diagnostic rpm, or cranking the engine for at least Check Engine light to indicate when connectors with the same tool used on 6 seconds while bridging two termi- there was a fault with emissions-related Audi 80 and 90 models. A jumper wire nals. These terminals are located on components. These emissions faults spliced to one side of an LED bulb and 1 the fuel pump relay, which is in the can be recorded in memory. On federal a 330-ohm, ⁄4-watt resistor spliced to fuse/relay panel on the driver’s-side vehicles, these codes will be erased in the other side can be placed between cowl area, under the hood. By bridging the next key cycle. the positive terminal of the left diag- these terminals together with a fuse for Note that Audi 80 and 90 models nostic connector and the control unit’s 4 seconds, the CEL would have one with the 2.0-liter engine have a diag- output terminal, in the right connector. long flash followed by a series of four nostic output connector mounted near To initiate the code sequence, the con- shorter flashes, which make up the the airflow meter. By connecting an trol unit’s output terminal needs to be code. This code will repeat, until the LED bulb wired through a 330-ohm, jumped to ground for 4 seconds. Then 1 fuse is inserted again, for 4 seconds. ⁄4-watt resistor between battery positive just follow the same diagnostic pro- This tells the computer to move on to and the diagnostic connector, you can cedures as in previous years. the next code. watch DTCs blink out. A logic probe On the 200 and 200 Quattro models, The ignition control unit codes will also works fine here. there are three diagnostic connectors. be displayed first. You repeat this pro- To initiate the diagnostic procedure, A white connector was added to the 1 cedure until the CEL flashes at 2 ⁄2-sec- you still have to use the fuse on the right side of both connectors. In the ond intervals (no codes). Then you fol- back of the fuel pump relay and follow top pin of this connector is the control low the same routine to extract fuel in- the same procedures as before, but the unit’s diagnostic output wire, so this is jection system codes, until the light engine need not be running. A code where the ground side end of the LED 1 again flashes at 2 ⁄2-second intervals. 4444 means there are no faults detect- test light goes. The bottom terminal of You may notice that the engine’s rpm ed. After all the codes have been dis- the brown connector is still the wire 1 may increase slightly; this is normal. If played and you get the 2 ⁄2-second flash, you need to tap to ground for 4 seconds the CEL blinks twice, the knock sensor insert the fuse for 10 seconds to clear to initiate code output. adjustment is at its maximum of 7.8° codes from memory. In 1990, the diagnostic connectors retard. If the light flashes three times, Since you can get codes on this sys- on the Audi V8 Quattro were moved to the throttle switch inputs aren’t match- tem with the key off, Audi had to alter the passenger-side footwell area, below ing the MAP sensor readings. These how to get into its output state check. the auxiliary relay panel, and another things must be fixed before you can To do it, insert the fuse before turning yellow diagnostic connector was added continue with self-diagnostics. on the ignition key, then close the full for good measure. For once, California On most cars, self-diagnostic proce- throttle switch. The ECU will spit out a techs got lucky. All you had to do was dures are performed with the ignition code and cycle the output, but it will do jumper the two lower pins of the two key on and the engine off, but in the it in a predetermined sequence. connectors on the left to get codes to cases noted above, you must have the In late ’89, Audi altered its self-diag- flash out from the CEL. On federal ve- engine running. Because this system nostic procedures for federal models, hicles, this may not work. So pull out has no memory and cannot remember as well as the model numbers of their your LED test light again and connect stored codes, always go on a spirited cars. With the early-’89 models, you both leads between the two top termi- test drive before entering self-diagnos- still had to use the fuse in the back of nals of the two outermost connectors tics. Also, trying to enter self-diagnos- the fuel pump relay to access self-diag- (the black connector on the left and the tics with key on/engine off will get you nostics. The codes will either blink out new yellow connector on the right). into an output state check. through the Check Engine light or During this retrieval sequence, the The procedure is the same as pulling through your LED test light connected transmission gear position indicator is codes: Insert a fuse into the relay for 4 to the diagnostic connector near the on. This means you’re in “limp-home” seconds, and a code will be displayed, airflow meter. Those ’89 models with- mode. If the engine isn’t running, you’ll which represents the output being cy- out a CEL have only volatile memory. get a code 2111 (engine speed sensor) cled. By repeating this procedure, you On late-’89 models, Audi began us- because of the lack of a speed signal, can cycle several outputs in a specific ing two diagnostic connectors. They’re which is normal. sequence. Note that on Audi’s Coupe mounted under the driver’s-side Audi changed the location of the GT model, you must insert the fuel footwell area and are black on the left, three diagnostic connectors on 100 and pump fuse to move from one output brown on the right.