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'Check Engine' warning light

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by TigerTim, Jun 1, 2013.

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  1. TigerTim

    TigerTim Rookie

    Jun 30, 2009
    11
    UK
    #1 TigerTim, Jun 1, 2013
    Check engine warning lights on the dash of my 456 flashed up today. The car continued to run as normal, oil pressure & temperatures normal. Any clues as to the problem? The owners manual isn't much help.
    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. Mr. V

    Mr. V Formula 3

    Oct 23, 2004
    1,247
    Portland, Oregon
    #2 Mr. V, Jun 1, 2013
  3. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
    Twin Cities
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    Tim Keseluk
    #3 2NA, Jun 1, 2013
    Hook up a scan tool and pull the trouble codes. It's the only way to know what the light means.

    Don't waste money buying parts until you know which ones are broken.
     
  4. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,621
    San Carlos, CA
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    Mitchell Le
    #4 yelcab, Jun 1, 2013
    You need to plug in an OBD2 tool and find out what the error is before any remedy can be proposed, including the Gold Pin Kit.
     
  5. Mr. V

    Mr. V Formula 3

    Oct 23, 2004
    1,247
    Portland, Oregon
    #5 Mr. V, Jun 1, 2013
    OBD2 does NOT work on pre-1996 cars, such as my 1995 456 GT.
     
  6. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,621
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    Mitchell Le
    #6 yelcab, Jun 1, 2013
    There is a way to recover OBD1 error code too.
     
  7. Mr. V

    Mr. V Formula 3

    Oct 23, 2004
    1,247
    Portland, Oregon
    #7 Mr. V, Jun 1, 2013
    IIRC, it requires special equipment which the typical DIYer isn't likely to have.
     
  8. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Nov 29, 2001
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    Mitchell Le
    #8 yelcab, Jun 2, 2013
    I think it is just a button on a length of wires like the 348
     
  9. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

    May 18, 2004
    10,406
    #9 finnerty, Jun 2, 2013
    Depends.....EOBD came in earlier than the North American OBD systems. The OP's car sounds like it may be a Euro spec (UK) so it may have EOBD system.

    Does the car have a port connector or not ? If it has a standard shaped connector, an OBD scanner should be able to read some (but maybe not all) diagnostic info.
     
  10. Motob

    Motob Formula 3
    Professional Ferrari Technician

    Nov 11, 2003
    2,384
    Frederick, Maryland
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    Brian Brown
    #10 Motob, Jun 2, 2013

    None of the pre-OBD2 Ferraris came with a port connector that a generic scanner will connect to. You could pull fault codes from some early electronic injected cars (348/Mondial T with the Bosch M2.7 system) by using the check engine light to flash codes, but not the 456GT.

    The 456GT uses a Bosch M5.2 system that has one Motronic control unit for each bank, located in the driver's and passenger side kick panels. They each have their own 3-pin diagnostic connector that you connect an sd1/2/3 or Leonardo, Ferrari specific diagnostic computer to, a generic scanner will not work.

    You will be shooting in the dark if you try to figure out the cause without downloading the fault codes from the Motronic control units.
     
  11. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

    May 18, 2004
    10,406
    #11 finnerty, Jun 3, 2013
    Thanks for the info Brian :).
     
  12. TigerTim

    TigerTim Rookie

    Jun 30, 2009
    11
    UK
    #12 TigerTim, Jun 9, 2013
    Thanks chaps. I suppose what I needed to know was is it likely to be something Im going to make worse by driving it for over an hour to get to the mechanics but I accept its unlikely anyone could answer that!
     
  13. mseals

    mseals Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Sep 9, 2007
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    Mike Seals
    #13 mseals, Jun 9, 2013
    You might have better luck with this thread in the 456 section.

    Let me know if you want me to move it.

    Mike
     
  14. ZINGARA 250GTL

    ZINGARA 250GTL F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 21, 2002
    17,499
    PA
    Full Name:
    Ken
    #14 ZINGARA 250GTL, Jun 9, 2013
    I don't know what pollution abatement equipment is required in the UK but I would check the easy things first. Make sure no vacuum hoses are off or cracked and, if you have oxygen sensors, check those.
     
  15. TigerTim

    TigerTim Rookie

    Jun 30, 2009
    11
    UK
    #15 TigerTim, Jun 22, 2013
    So on the 90 min drive to the technicians a high pitched chirping noise came from the engine bay & it turned out to be a broken spark plug which had initially triggered the warning light followed by an air leak as the plug deteriorated. All fixed now.
     
  16. Cribbj

    Cribbj Formula 3
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    Jan 1, 2011
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    Cooke City MT, The Coolest Small Town in America
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    John
    #16 Cribbj, Jun 22, 2013
    Tim, who was the manufacturer of the plug? There was another similar incident recently with a broken plug, and I'm curious if it's the same manufacturer.
     

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