engine and airbag light staying on in vr v8 calais
G'day first time post
Just wondering if anyone has any answers as to why the engine and airbag lights are staying on in vr v8 calais.
Just rebuilt the tranny and put it in over the weekend. Even though the battery has'nt been connected for over 12 mths the ECU is still telling me code 81?? Any advice would be appreciated.
TIA
Dinnzyvrv8
Code 81 is a 2 -> 3 shift solenoid fault in the trans - easy replacement with trans in the car. You probably need to find someone (dealer, auto electrician) with a Tech1 scan tool (or equivalent) to find out what airbag codes have been set.
cheers for that but i had just rebuilt the hole gear box and the battery was not connected the hole time and still the code 81 is still there why? its got me stumped. thanks for the air bag thing though can you buy these tools?
thanks again
also how to get rid of this code or engine light from staying on cheers
Donating Member
You can only get rid of the airbag light with a Tech 1 tool or similar.....Holdens or most auto elecs will have this tool or another which can do the same (they cost big $$$$). This light can be logged if the ignition is turned on when the transmission plug is disconnected.
The code 81 and engine light should only have happened if you have driven the car (you do not say so)....if you have driven the car, and it performs perfectly and changes gear properly etc then disconnect the battery to reset the codes.
"If anyone disagrees with anything I say, I am quite prepared not only to retract it, but also to deny under oath that I ever said it." --T. Lehrer
"The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that you've got it made." -- Jean Giraudoux
cheers for that dam that i was hoping that i would be able to sort it out myself for the airbag light but it seems that i have to take it in. As for the engine light yes i had took it for a drive then i disconnected the bat. for about 10 to 15 minutes then reconnected but the light is still there this seems impossable to get rid of it. the gear box changes fine i have thought if i disconnect the ecu computer would this reset it or does it have a reset botton. when engine runs the enigine light disapears after a few minutes (approx) so i have turned the engine off then tested again still there its such a pain cause everything on the tranny is brand new inside and out everything on the valve body was cleaned out and put back togehter and didnt miss anything cant go wrong with the book lol. any other advise would be handy thanks for reply cheers heaps.
Donating Member
I'm only guessing, but I 'think' on the VR V6 transmission, the changes are controlled by a separate PCM (power control module) whereas in the VS V6 the PCM is incorporated in the ECU....what I'm getting at is that maybe resetting the ECU will not remove that code....but the variables here are that your's is a V8, not a V6, and why wouldn't the PCM be reset the same way as the ECU?.
What I'd do first is remove and clean thoroughly all connectors to the transmission because whilst it's clear that the trans is working OK and therefore the 2/3 solenoid must be working, the way that the ECU detects that there is a fault in the 2/3 solenoid is unknown.....maybe there is a bit of electrical resistance in the connector plug which triggers the code 81 but still allows the solenoid to work. Frustrating I know, but don't give up! Another check would be to get hold of another ECU and try that.
Good Luck.
"If anyone disagrees with anything I say, I am quite prepared not only to retract it, but also to deny under oath that I ever said it." --T. Lehrer
"The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that you've got it made." -- Jean Giraudoux
Thanks heaps for your advice i will give that a shot and let you know how i get on
cheers
Let's just get a couple of things clear first. ECM (ECU) are used in manual transmission cars. PCM (powertrain control module) performs the same engine functions as an ECM (ECU) but also controls the auto trans. V6/V8 makes no difference. Once you reset the PCM by disconnecting the battery all engine/trans codes are reset (but not airbag codes). Once the ignition is switched on the PCM performs a check and if any problems are still detected, DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes) are set and the engine light (may) be turned on, depending on the problem. The shift solenoids can easily be damaged when the trans sump is removed.
Donating Member
OP states "the gear box changes fine" which would seem to indicate the 2/3 solenoid is working OK plus if the solenoid was damaged the car would be in Limp Home Mode. Same with the engine light - car should be in LHM, however the car drives fine......Originally Posted by BlackVXGTS
"If anyone disagrees with anything I say, I am quite prepared not only to retract it, but also to deny under oath that I ever said it." --T. Lehrer
"The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that you've got it made." -- Jean Giraudoux
my guess is the air bag light on could be a low voltage code, clear the code from a scan tool seems though your battery has been disconnected for 12 months.
Sounds like you might have an intermittent problem. From the Holden service manual:
The PCM continually monitors voltage on each circuit connected to the quad driver module looking for either low or high voltage depending on the commanded state of the devices connected to it. Diagnostic Trouble Code 81 will set if there is a fault detected on the 2-3 shift solenoid B circuit. For example, if 2-3 shift solenoid “B” is commanded “ON” by the PCM, then voltage on that circuit should drop when the solenoid is earthed, if the voltage remains high for at least 2 seconds after the “ON” command is given, then Diagnostic Trouble Code 81 will be set. The opposite is also true if 2-3 shift solenoid “B” is “OFF” then the voltage on the circuit should remain high, if voltage drops for more than 2 seconds, then Diagnostic Trouble Code 81 will be set.
Try reseating/replacing fuse F12 in the passenger compartment. Reset trouble codes and see if it fixes your problem. You can reset trouble codes by pulling out the engine fuse in the engine compartment relay housing for 30 secs - no need to disconnect the battery.
ok thanks for all your replys that has been a great help but i have fixed my problem. even though i have rebuilt my tranny and changed all soliniods you can always ensure that you will alway find a faulty one. so i dropped the pan yet again and bought another soloniod and replaced it. also if anyone else has this problem make sure you disconnect batt. prior to doing this other wise you will have the same problem that if you dont it will still be in limp home mode and also clean the electricals on the valve body do all of them with electric cleaner spray and check the loom and clean that too if that doesnt work its possible that the computer is not reading correctly but im not a machanic its only a guess that the computer is dead. Now i have too work out the abs light cause that is on now lol as for the air bag light there is no way of getting rid of it with out that tech tool or you could take the fuse out that gets rid of it but i dont think the air bag would work lol.
Donating Member
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm" Sir Winston Churchill.
My VS II Berlina Wagon
MY12 II SV6 Sportwagon
Posting Permissions
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote