So last night I was driving my friend back to her house. We had just gotten on the highway when first just the SES light came on. I thought no big, it comes on every once in a while cuz I don't have a cat, the o2 sim works most times. But this time was different..My baby threw the EML and pretty much died but still running. I kno there is a normal limp mode, but this feels like they cut everything to one cylinder and don't allow any boost, can't get over 1800rpms.

So I pulled over, popped the hood, belt was fine, pulley, wires, intake, everything checked out visually. Got back in and reset system through the odometer. Started her back up and seemed ok but SES light still on. I quickly pulled back on the highway got through first and second (boosting fine, no hiccups) then she threw the lights again and went back into this super limp mode.

I got her towed back home last night and today towed over to Edge Motorworks.

Now I have been working out the possibilities, and talked to a few people on the phone (kalbone, rednwhite, and prev owner of the car)

First off let eliminate s/c failure - I was boosting with no problem and no strange noises coming from it. Belt is shiney but in ok condition.
Sidenote: Everytime starting the car now it is in that limp mode. There is at no part where it acts normal.

Now lets go over things I have done to the car lately.
In the past two weeks I have installed Arches and M7 Strut Bar.
The day before all this went down I hit a bunny on 17
The day this all happened I had washed my car in my driveway and just filled up at chevron.

I checked under the car with the thought in mind that my power steering pump fan is not covered and maybe it shattered, pump overheated power steering went out and threw lights. Not the case.

My thoughts: Bad gas (crossing my fingers that this is all it is, but it's probably not)

Kalbone told me that there are some problems with the wiring harness and that when his power steering went out there were no lights, it just kinda went out.

When I talked to Rick he said there is a recall on the wiring harness on earlier models that it rubs against the block.

With this in thought I called my prev owner to see if he had recieved anything in the mail to that of a recall on the car. He said he has gotten nothing. Does anyone know what mo/yr-mo/yr cars are recalled?

Please help me brainstorm. My baby is sitting at Edge right now.

 

It's the bunny back for vengeance, man. Seriously though, I hope you get your car back and running.

 

but OBC reset won't get rid of codes. You need a scanner for that. The fact that you're still in limp mode makes me think that you lost a sensor or something pretty intamate for running the car. Don't know if losing the T-MAP sensor would do it, but then the speed/density system couldn't run the car. Really, you need to scan the car and see what it's telling you. I'm sure Edge will do that to start.

Bummer for you, but it could have been worse. At least you're not the bunny!

Matt

 

Sounds like you have throttle valve or pedal position senor plausibility faults. Obviously start with the codes, but I bet that it is the throttle valve plausibility.

 

A pic on the flatbed..

 

The EDK (electronic throttle) and wiring harness issue is not dated to vin, but EDK production date. Check the date on the black plasstic housing. If it is prior to 01.05.02 (may 1,2002) the throttle should be replaced. The bulletin states that the wiring harness should be replaced regardless of throttle production date.

Here are some faults that are associated with the problem;
P1226
p1125
p1692
p1693

I hope this helps.

Edit: I see you have an 03, but the larger throttle body may be an earlier core.

 

You think they would warranty it if this is the case? The tb is bigger but looks pretty much the same as stock, no company logos or imprints.

 

They may question the production date VS. the vehicle build date. Also, aren't the housind bands removed from the aftermarket valves? If they don't catch the date and housing is not rigged up, I don't see why not. It is a legitimate defect.

Is this an exchanged unit? I was wondering if some of the aftermarket problems were related to this bulletin. I don't want to get ahead of myself though, as we haven't heard what your faults are.

 

I should know by sometime tomorrow morning what is going on. I will definitely let you guys know what happens.

Keep your fingers crossed that it's something simple or under warranty!!

 

Wish you luck and keep us posted.

As another ds/w mcs, that pic on the flat bed is breathtaking.

 

Seen that picture one too many times in my driveway. I know the pain. If it helps, my mini is behind schedule by a month. Its been broken longer than i had actually owned it.

 

I'm w/ 002 on this one. Sounds exactly like a EDK plausibility issue. Hope you get it sorted!

 

Man, that is a depressing pic to have in your mind. If I was in your shoes, manliness aside, tears might roll. Hope you get your car fixed, man.

 

seeing that pic brings back bad memories of a snapped belt... seeying your car towed is no fun... good luck with this!

 

I had an issue much like yours some time back and it was due to the TB.

I experienced the same thing. I got the car washed and thought water got in and such and caused an issue because when I got onto the street I got through 2nd gear and then SES AND EML and I WENt into limp mode. Nothing above 1800 rpm or so and I kept pulling over and reseting everything with my scanner only for it to happen again.

Actually Ihave run for days with SES and EML with no limp mode because of a small vacuum leak.

What we found in my case is the wiring harness from the TB to the system had a bad pin, it just wasn't making proper contact so the computer couldn't control it properly.

Harness rigged for the drive to the dragon (yes this happened last year as I left on a 6 hour trip to the dragon which resulted in 3 hours on the side of the road diagnosing until I found the problem).

Replaced harness when I got home and not a problem since.

You may want to check the harness to the TB as that could solve your problem.

chris

 

I just remembered the other day I pulled the fuse for the PDC.
When I got my new bumper I didn't get PDC with it so it made this god awful high pitch beep everytime I put it in reverse. So the day when I washed my car I pulled that fuse.

Anyone know if that fuse is used for anything else besides the pdc?

 

Update:
Codes were cleared and car fired up fine again. They are going to play around with a few things, but said they can't get it to screw up again.

 

did they happen to write down the codes before they cleared them? That might tell you a lot!

Matt

 

I don't know, he just shot me that email. They are actually booked till the 17th, but erik is a really cool guy and he is helping me out big time here. I don't want to be like really bugging him, you know? When I find out more I'll post it.

 

Ok, so it was fine for the past like week or whatever but then yesterday on the way to work...and oddly enough less than a mile from the exit where mini of mt view...died on me again...so i limped her over and got a rental..they checked her out and are replacing the harness under warranty..woohoo!!!

meanwhile here are the list of codes printed when we first ran it...
P0234 - Charge-Air pressure, Compressor
P0271 - Fuel Injector, cylinder 4, high input
P0420 - Cat. converter (bank1) Efficiency below threshold
0136 - Please refer to relevant technical manual
P1125 - throttle potentiometer 1 and 2 - measuring-range or power-output problem
0638 - Please refer to relevant technical manual
P1229 - throttle potentiometer adaption fault
5E5C - DDS-button fault
5E43 - Steering-angle sensor, internal
5E1F - Steering-angle sensor, identification
5E16 - CAN connection to instrument
5E19 - CAN data fault from DME DDE
05 - Side Airbag, Front left
06 - Side airbag, front right
13 - voltage supply, EWS control module
0F - voltage supply, EWS control module
BE - Please refer to relevant technical manual
C4 - Please refer to relevant technical manual
94 - windscreen wipers, reset contact
05 - DWA ZV anti-repeat interlock during arming
00 - DWA drivers door open during arming

 

Which wiring harness was it?

 

It is a part of the harness near the TB, but they replace the whole enginer harness..they just called and had me ok a $350 charge to remove my header and re-install because they can't get part out of it cuz they can't easily move the header like stock....

 

Holy crap I was actually right about something? I can't believe it.... Well I am glad they got it all fixed for you.