Benny_77
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- Mar 28, 2022
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- Members Ride
- VY SS 5.7 Ute
Hello forum experts. Before I launch into my problem I just wanted to say was a great forum this is and how much info I've gotten from here so far.
So, onto my problem. I have a VY SS ute and in the last couple of weeks it's developed an electrical gremlin of sorts. I'm going to put as much detail as I know here but if I've left something critical out please let me know. The problem first surface a week or so ago when I went to start it. The engine fired up, got to the 800RPM (or so) idle and then just died. At the same time I also got a check engine light and a small "X" or cross symbol on the climate control display. Everything on the car is stock, nothing aftermarket.
Turning the ignition off and retrying resulted in exactly the same thing - check engine + a start/fire up then an immediate die. All fuses checked out ok (both in the engine bay and under the steering column). A couple of the relays that are on most of the time (Acc, IGN, Engine Cont) were discoloured, but the relays all still "clicked" when needed and swapping them around with a good looking one nearby didn't make any difference. The sockets of the discoloured relays looked fine, no overheated plastic or anything. Relays were still "firm" in the sockets.
I got into the limited diagnostic info available on the dash (holding mode+set on ignition on) and the only thing out of the ordinary I could see was the coolant temp displaying at -40C. Also the "Trouble codes" were displaying 0000100000000000 on the bottom line. I haven't been able to fault find this any further.
I tried looking at anything obvious in the engine bay, and unplugged and re-inserted most sensors I could reach - no difference. Still a start followed by an immediate die. I could hear the fuel pump priming for a couple of seconds before cranking the engine over. I admitted defeat, left the car and was planning on towing it home another day. I went back for another go at working it out that afternoon (around 4 hrs later) and ended up accidentally going through the options setup menu on the dash again - just went through it with no changes and got back to the dash. Check engine light gone, engine fires up and runs. I cautiously drive it home. The turn it off and go to start again - starts and runs fine.
Off to a mechanic friend the next day who puts in on a scan tool (I'm not sure of the make/model) and couldn't really see anything.
Flash forward to today, and I jump in the car to start it in the morning - gremlin shows up again. Check engine, little "X" in the climate control and engine start followed by an immediate die. Coolant temp showing -40C in the dash diagnostics again. I'm probably paying more attention this time, but the full sequence of an attempted start goes....
1. Ignition to "ON" (notice cooling fans are running which is not normal)
2. Around 1 second later I can hear a relay click in the front passenger kick area (PIM??) and the little "X" symbol is displayed
3. Dash displayed system check.... followed by OK... almost immediately followed by the check engine symbol + beeps.
4. Go to start engine. Cranks, fires, then dies
Little padlock symbol is not lit on the dash, and I have tried it after unlocking with the key button before cranking. Same behaviour.
I removed the battery terminals, cleaned them up and replaced them (they didn't look too bad). When I went to the ignition on position, the small X wasn't there to start with, but I got the check engine + little X before cranking it over. Still fired up, then died immediately.
Next I looked at the coolant temp sensor, thinking that it might be stuffed (but a little surprised that it would stop the engine from running completely). The voltage on the plug when removed was 5V, seemed ok. I couldn't get my meter leads on the sensor while it was attached to the block, so I removed it and tested it - around 2.5k ohm which is pretty much where it should be at room temp. Damn! I refitted that sensor and tried again. No X on the climate control, no check engine, and it fired up and started. I try a few stops and starts, all good. Fires up and runs every time. I'm thinking I've found it, and to test my theory I stop the engine and unplug the coolant temp sensor (should read -40C again). I go to start the engine - no X on the climate control, engine starts and runs, but after 10s or so I get a check engine warning (but still no X on the climate display). Engine keeps running, although a little bit rougher than usual.
So I don't feel like I've really found anything at all - I've got a gut feel that the sensor reading open circuit is the sign of a larger failure that just seems to come and go.
So forum experts, thank you for making it this far through my massive story... Where do I look next? Is there a scan tool or similar that can look back through previous engine error codes, or do they just look at the current status of the engine and sensors? I did call an auto electrician nearby, but he's tied up with other jobs for a week and a half.
So, onto my problem. I have a VY SS ute and in the last couple of weeks it's developed an electrical gremlin of sorts. I'm going to put as much detail as I know here but if I've left something critical out please let me know. The problem first surface a week or so ago when I went to start it. The engine fired up, got to the 800RPM (or so) idle and then just died. At the same time I also got a check engine light and a small "X" or cross symbol on the climate control display. Everything on the car is stock, nothing aftermarket.
Turning the ignition off and retrying resulted in exactly the same thing - check engine + a start/fire up then an immediate die. All fuses checked out ok (both in the engine bay and under the steering column). A couple of the relays that are on most of the time (Acc, IGN, Engine Cont) were discoloured, but the relays all still "clicked" when needed and swapping them around with a good looking one nearby didn't make any difference. The sockets of the discoloured relays looked fine, no overheated plastic or anything. Relays were still "firm" in the sockets.
I got into the limited diagnostic info available on the dash (holding mode+set on ignition on) and the only thing out of the ordinary I could see was the coolant temp displaying at -40C. Also the "Trouble codes" were displaying 0000100000000000 on the bottom line. I haven't been able to fault find this any further.
I tried looking at anything obvious in the engine bay, and unplugged and re-inserted most sensors I could reach - no difference. Still a start followed by an immediate die. I could hear the fuel pump priming for a couple of seconds before cranking the engine over. I admitted defeat, left the car and was planning on towing it home another day. I went back for another go at working it out that afternoon (around 4 hrs later) and ended up accidentally going through the options setup menu on the dash again - just went through it with no changes and got back to the dash. Check engine light gone, engine fires up and runs. I cautiously drive it home. The turn it off and go to start again - starts and runs fine.
Off to a mechanic friend the next day who puts in on a scan tool (I'm not sure of the make/model) and couldn't really see anything.
Flash forward to today, and I jump in the car to start it in the morning - gremlin shows up again. Check engine, little "X" in the climate control and engine start followed by an immediate die. Coolant temp showing -40C in the dash diagnostics again. I'm probably paying more attention this time, but the full sequence of an attempted start goes....
1. Ignition to "ON" (notice cooling fans are running which is not normal)
2. Around 1 second later I can hear a relay click in the front passenger kick area (PIM??) and the little "X" symbol is displayed
3. Dash displayed system check.... followed by OK... almost immediately followed by the check engine symbol + beeps.
4. Go to start engine. Cranks, fires, then dies
Little padlock symbol is not lit on the dash, and I have tried it after unlocking with the key button before cranking. Same behaviour.
I removed the battery terminals, cleaned them up and replaced them (they didn't look too bad). When I went to the ignition on position, the small X wasn't there to start with, but I got the check engine + little X before cranking it over. Still fired up, then died immediately.
Next I looked at the coolant temp sensor, thinking that it might be stuffed (but a little surprised that it would stop the engine from running completely). The voltage on the plug when removed was 5V, seemed ok. I couldn't get my meter leads on the sensor while it was attached to the block, so I removed it and tested it - around 2.5k ohm which is pretty much where it should be at room temp. Damn! I refitted that sensor and tried again. No X on the climate control, no check engine, and it fired up and started. I try a few stops and starts, all good. Fires up and runs every time. I'm thinking I've found it, and to test my theory I stop the engine and unplug the coolant temp sensor (should read -40C again). I go to start the engine - no X on the climate control, engine starts and runs, but after 10s or so I get a check engine warning (but still no X on the climate display). Engine keeps running, although a little bit rougher than usual.
So I don't feel like I've really found anything at all - I've got a gut feel that the sensor reading open circuit is the sign of a larger failure that just seems to come and go.
So forum experts, thank you for making it this far through my massive story... Where do I look next? Is there a scan tool or similar that can look back through previous engine error codes, or do they just look at the current status of the engine and sensors? I did call an auto electrician nearby, but he's tied up with other jobs for a week and a half.
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