HELP Need to identify fault code

[4ndy]

Hi all I recently purchased a 07 1.2 grande punto for my partner. Unfortunately the engine management light has come on. I have taken it to my local garage who plugged it in to his machine and got the following fault code 138H/312 undocumented code, he cleared the code but a few days later the engine management light has come back on. I would really appreciate any advice on what the possible fault could be.

Thanks Andy

 

[Eklipze3k]

Doesn't sound like the usual kind of code you'd expect from these cars, they generally seem to be in the format P0138 (which btw is oxygen sensor) or P0312 (misfire).

But let's not guess at what the codes mean just yet, other than the light is the car displaying any actual problems?

 

[4ndy]

Many thanks for your reply, the garage said the same that's it is normally a p code. The car is running fine no problems at all and the engine management light did stay out for a couple of days after he cleared the fault. The light originally came on after I had taken it to be washed and valeted as the seats were a bit grubby, I'm pretty sure they have had the car ticking over for a while with the heater on to dry the seats. May be this has caused the problem but the car is not overheating.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autel-MS3...845?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27e105afdd


So you can read and erase codes yourself inexpensive whenever you want.

 

[Eklipze3k]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autel-MS309-CAN-OBD2-II-EOBD-Vehicle-Scan-Car-Bus-Diagnostic-Code-Reader-Tool-/171278970845?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27e105afdd


So you can read and erase codes yourself inexpensive whenever you want.

Always handy, or a bluetooth version and use your smartphone to do it

 

[4ndy]

I'm keen to get to the bottom of the problem, but I like the sound of the code reader. I'm looking at a few on eBay (ideally from U.K. not china, I've had issues with parcels not turning up in the past) anyone got a particular type that works (can't beat tried and tested).

Thanks

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

The Autel MS 309 works perfect.
Just buy the one in the link, you're covered by Ebay and Paypal anyway.

 

[K333fer]

Tbh I would try another garage personally if I get a code out with no definition I would then scan the vehicle in eobd that would provide a code with a correct definition its europen law that all manufactures have to comply with eobd protocol

 

[4ndy]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what is eobd ??

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

It's OBD2 meaning on board diagnostic ( port).
All cars from modelyear 2000 ( or even 1996..) and on have this 16 pin port somewhere next to the steering wheel inside the car.


Maybe EOBD means electronic on board diagnostic....??

 

[K333fer]

Eobd European on board diagnostics it communicates in a choice of 5 different protocols and is only related to emmisons the codes will always start with p0 there are 8 different channels within the eobd menu some are supported some arent but you will always get fault codes , freeze frame data ( what was happening when the code occurred) O2 sensor readiness tests and also pending codes ( a fault that has iccured but not for long enough to be logged ) it needs to see the the fault for a min of 3 seperate occasions for at least 5 secs per occurance to log it and put the light on , some vehicles have 2 code lights one for obd and one for manufacture specific

 

[4ndy]

Eobd European on board diagnostics it communicates in a choice of 5 different protocols and is only related to emmisons the codes will always start with p0 there are 8 different channels within the eobd menu some are supported some arent but you will always get fault codes , freeze frame data ( what was happening when the code occurred) O2 sensor readiness tests and also pending codes ( a fault that has iccured but not for long enough to be logged ) it needs to see the the fault for a min of 3 seperate occasions for at least 5 secs per occurance to log it and put the light on , some vehicles have 2 code lights one for obd and one for manufacture specific

Any idea why the code I have is 138H/312 undocumented code ?

 

[K333fer]

Well I can only take them as the p0 nos 138 is O2 sensor and 132 is from memory misfire on cylinder 2 i would find some one with a bit better kit or better skills to use it though . Did they clear the codes down ?

 

[4ndy]

Well I can only take them as the p0 nos 138 is O2 sensor and 132 is from memory misfire on cylinder 2 i would find some one with a bit better kit or better skills to use it though . Did they clear the codes down ?

Yeah they cleared the codes, but 2days later the light came back on. It was a posh looking snap on piece of kit he was using.

 

[K333fer]

Yeh I've got a snap on one as my at home hobby kit they don't operate to the level I Like to work at at work though !
Well as I said he should of scanned it in obd if the codes were unspecified in manufacture specific which all scanners have the function to do , if the light has come back on that quick it should be fairly easy to find with a few simple tests once you identify the codes , you can by a simple code reader from pretty much anywhere now that will read in obd for not a lot then work from there , remember man made man can fix it

 

[4ndy]

Yeh I've got a snap on one as my at home hobby kit they don't operate to the level I Like to work at at work though !
Well as I said he should of scanned it in obd if the codes were unspecified in manufacture specific which all scanners have the function to do , if the light has come back on that quick it should be fairly easy to find with a few simple tests once you identify the codes , you can by a simple code reader from pretty much anywhere now that will read in obd for not a lot then work from there , remember man made man can fix it

Thanks for your help. I'm going to buy a MaxiScan MS309 Code Scanner Reader CAN OBDII OBD2 EOBD and see if I can sort it myself. The light came on after the (god dam) valeter left the car ticking over to dry the seats so fingers crossed its something easy.

 

[K333fer]

No worries that should pretty much do all you need that and a half decent multimeter

 

[4ndy]

Hi code reader arrived today. I have scanned the car for fault codes but none were found, (strange as engine management was lit) I selected to erase codes non the less and this has extinguished the engine management light.

Fingers crossed it doesn't return.

Any one have any ideas why there was no fault code?

Thanks

 

[K333fer]

Did you scan it in fiat or in obd ? Leave it a couple of days scan it in obd go down to What should say continuous test results or pending codes that's where codes that are present but not been seen for long enough to log and put the light on are held

 

[4ndy]

Hi, yes it was obd mode I scanned it in, I didn't see the option for fiat mode. As suggested I will leave it a day or two and give it another try.

Thanks