EDIT NOTE: I've discovered some additional factors which make this first post somewhat moot. Please see the 6th post of this topic for an update on this issue (read this first message if you really want to know about various things i've looked at).
Hi guys, this is my first post in the forum. I'm the proud owner of a 07 lwb 3.2 auto. Got it a few weeks ago after agonizing over which 4x4 to buy for almost 6 months. I love the vehicle thus far but have an odd problem to ask about.
Background of the vehicle setup:
The Paj runs 265/65/17 good year all terrain tyres. They're all brand new and yes the problem was there before.
There is a tow bar on it so obviously the electronics are not 100% stock.
The battery looks OK but I've not tested it with a meter.
Problem description:
The ASC off light warning light will enable intermittently and about 80% of the times that it does the traction control light will also show.
The vehicle does not enter anything which I can describe as limp mode, it seems to operate completely normally bar the warning lights.
Yes, the lights turn off when the car is restarted.
I have read a lot of content regarding the symptoms and have tried various things e.g. Doing the battery reset procedure knowing that it would eliminate the chance of a MUTT tool reading since I know from researching this particular issue that the error code can only be read when the warning lights are ON.
Anyway here's the interesting bit which I find confusing, when the tyres are inflated to 2.5 bar all round the issue doesn't appear to rear it's head, yet, when the pressure drops down to 2.3 bar or lower the symptom appears more regularly and with anything below 2.0 I can almost guarantee that it will appear.
I initially assumed that it may be a sensor somewhere, still wondering about that. I'm reaching out to you guys since you may be able to tell me what the best course of action is or have an idea about the symptoms.
Ps: since the problem has the habit of rearing its head while I'm on my way somewhere for work I've simply not had the chance to take it to a nearby mechanic to have the codes read while the lights are on so at this point I'm keen on reading opinions or speculation from others.
Regards
Last edited by Pajshekind on Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
So after another week of driving around I suspect a slow puncture in my one rear tire. Which would explain why the traction control may be picking up an inconsistency in wheel spin. Ive been very careful inflating the tires the last few days making sure that they're cold when inflating and that i use one of the digital pressure gauges at shell, one tire is definitely deflating at a faster rate.
When all are inflated correctly no warning lights appear (hoping this is in fact the solution to my particular problem and not just a coincidence).
After fixing the tire I need to find a spot where I can drive around for an extended period with somewhat deflated tires while leaving ASC on to see what the effect will be but before that I need to go grab a tire pressure monitor.
When all are inflated correctly no warning lights appear (hoping this is in fact the solution to my particular problem and not just a coincidence).
After fixing the tire I need to find a spot where I can drive around for an extended period with somewhat deflated tires while leaving ASC on to see what the effect will be but before that I need to go grab a tire pressure monitor.
I follow your logic that tyre pressure could activate the T/C if it senses one wheel rotating at a different speed to others.
However, I'm not too sure about that, here are my reasons:
1)I have had strange tyre pressures on many occasions (including slow punctures) and never has it activated the T/C or ASC.
2)Turning through sharp corners will produce more pronounced wheel speed differences than tyre pressure can create.
3)Your symptom is not one of S/C or ASC being activated, it is one where the ASC is dissabled.
One is still tempted to think that a sensor could be faulty, but that doesn't explain the tyre pressure "syndrome".
Keep digging and thank you for keeping us posted -
Good luck,
Roelf
However, I'm not too sure about that, here are my reasons:
1)I have had strange tyre pressures on many occasions (including slow punctures) and never has it activated the T/C or ASC.
2)Turning through sharp corners will produce more pronounced wheel speed differences than tyre pressure can create.
3)Your symptom is not one of S/C or ASC being activated, it is one where the ASC is dissabled.
One is still tempted to think that a sensor could be faulty, but that doesn't explain the tyre pressure "syndrome".
Keep digging and thank you for keeping us posted -
Good luck,
Roelf
Thanks for the input Roelf,
I certainly concur, the "syndrome" is very strange,
As i suspected, there was a nasty screw stuck in the tire which has now been removed.
Unless the asc off problem appears again in the next two days ill have no feedback but I'll be doing a fair bit of driving, on and offroad in the next 3 weeks so should be able to report back on my findings after the holidays.
Regards
I certainly concur, the "syndrome" is very strange,
As i suspected, there was a nasty screw stuck in the tire which has now been removed.
Unless the asc off problem appears again in the next two days ill have no feedback but I'll be doing a fair bit of driving, on and offroad in the next 3 weeks so should be able to report back on my findings after the holidays.
Regards
Enjoy your holiday and I hope your Pajero is as big a joy to go on holiday with as mine.
Hello guys,
So after a long while of not posting any replies I suspect that I've come to certain conclusions about the problem I described before. Firstly, I believe the tire pressure was either coincidence or in a way merely a wild goose.
I've recently discovered that the map sensor's rubber tube which connects to the manifold was getting very soft when driving due to heat. Coupled with this, my paj did not have any clamps on this tube to secure it to the manifold's Map port.
How I discovered this...
The last time my problem occurred I went looking under the bonnet since I read about map sensor lines blocking with carbon and wanted to check it out. The motor was cold at the time and the sensor line obviously also. I removed the line and sensor and cleaned them (not that they were very dirty however, I did it for good measure.
The next afternoon I was driving and the error appeared again, warning lights on and car running, I checked under the bonnet and the sensor tube had managed to pop off the manifold port completely. I reconnected it and drove over to motoworx and after a quick analysis with the scanner tool we identified the map sensor as the problem area (obvious since the tube came off right).
When we checked under the bonnet the tube had popped off the manifold again and was very soft from the heat so we replaced the tube with a much stronger tube and fitted some clamps. Since then the problem has not appeared again and I've been trying my very best to drive the car hard every time I go up a hill.
While chatting to the guys at Motoworx I suggested that the problem occurs whenever the engine is stressed, I.e. when I'm raising the pressure in the manifold by driving it hard up a hill. At the same time, since the tube was getting ridiculously soft because of heat therefore I suspected some of that pressure could be escaping where the tube meets the manifold hence the map sensor reading the pressure as being incorrect. The guys at Motoworx concurred that this is plausible and I would need to watch it to see if theres another occurrence. Since the quick fix 2 weeks ago, no error codes, the problem seems to have dissipated although I am still watching it with great interest because I've mainly been having these issues on long trips or on short trips where i put foot up hills, it is intermittent afterall.
Full disclosure,
I cleaned the small port on the manifold by sticking a wire in there to remove any obvious blockage when i was cleaning the MAP sensor line (i didnt find too much at all).
The car has recently been serviced and an engine flush has been performed since it was definitely needed.
I went under the bonnet and re-adjusted the boost pipe's clamps (loosened, wiggled the pipe tightened the clamps again) since some were not tight enough to my liking.
If the car does this "ASC off\TC and sometimes engine light" again I will be looking at removing the cat (already got a quote and probably doing it anyway since i'm out of warranty) since it may be causing back pressure in the manifold, and also looking at cleaning the manifold and EGR of any soot buildup it may have although i guess the latter may hurt the pocket.
Hopefully that helps others to diagnose their own cars with similar symptoms, check your map sensor and suspect some soot buildup and weakened sensor lines if your car has done over 120k km.
So after a long while of not posting any replies I suspect that I've come to certain conclusions about the problem I described before. Firstly, I believe the tire pressure was either coincidence or in a way merely a wild goose.
I've recently discovered that the map sensor's rubber tube which connects to the manifold was getting very soft when driving due to heat. Coupled with this, my paj did not have any clamps on this tube to secure it to the manifold's Map port.
How I discovered this...
The last time my problem occurred I went looking under the bonnet since I read about map sensor lines blocking with carbon and wanted to check it out. The motor was cold at the time and the sensor line obviously also. I removed the line and sensor and cleaned them (not that they were very dirty however, I did it for good measure.
The next afternoon I was driving and the error appeared again, warning lights on and car running, I checked under the bonnet and the sensor tube had managed to pop off the manifold port completely. I reconnected it and drove over to motoworx and after a quick analysis with the scanner tool we identified the map sensor as the problem area (obvious since the tube came off right).
When we checked under the bonnet the tube had popped off the manifold again and was very soft from the heat so we replaced the tube with a much stronger tube and fitted some clamps. Since then the problem has not appeared again and I've been trying my very best to drive the car hard every time I go up a hill.
While chatting to the guys at Motoworx I suggested that the problem occurs whenever the engine is stressed, I.e. when I'm raising the pressure in the manifold by driving it hard up a hill. At the same time, since the tube was getting ridiculously soft because of heat therefore I suspected some of that pressure could be escaping where the tube meets the manifold hence the map sensor reading the pressure as being incorrect. The guys at Motoworx concurred that this is plausible and I would need to watch it to see if theres another occurrence. Since the quick fix 2 weeks ago, no error codes, the problem seems to have dissipated although I am still watching it with great interest because I've mainly been having these issues on long trips or on short trips where i put foot up hills, it is intermittent afterall.
Full disclosure,
I cleaned the small port on the manifold by sticking a wire in there to remove any obvious blockage when i was cleaning the MAP sensor line (i didnt find too much at all).
The car has recently been serviced and an engine flush has been performed since it was definitely needed.
I went under the bonnet and re-adjusted the boost pipe's clamps (loosened, wiggled the pipe tightened the clamps again) since some were not tight enough to my liking.
If the car does this "ASC off\TC and sometimes engine light" again I will be looking at removing the cat (already got a quote and probably doing it anyway since i'm out of warranty) since it may be causing back pressure in the manifold, and also looking at cleaning the manifold and EGR of any soot buildup it may have although i guess the latter may hurt the pocket.
Hopefully that helps others to diagnose their own cars with similar symptoms, check your map sensor and suspect some soot buildup and weakened sensor lines if your car has done over 120k km.
Pajshekind,
Glad all is well again and thank you for closing the loop.
Roelf
Glad all is well again and thank you for closing the loop.
Roelf
Hi Guys.
First post from me. I have experienced the very same problem with my Pajero, a 2007 DiD 3.2.
Much frustrations preceded my first discovery that the innocent little "atmospheric pressure sensor" continually being nonchalantly reset by the agents was in fact a faulty "engine boost sensor". I bought a new sensor from the agents and installed same for under R1500. The increase in power was remarkable.
Some time later the ASC OFF and traction warning lights started again, but only occasionally. This time I took the vehicle to Tiger Wheel 'n Tyre for a proper wheel balance and alignment. Touch wood, no problems since then...about nine months!
I am, however, concerned, with the vehicle's performance in town when the ambient exceeds about 37 degrees C; I have to almost manually drive it in first and second gears up the hills! and the pedal response is very poor. Any ideas?
Best wishes.
Laupi
First post from me. I have experienced the very same problem with my Pajero, a 2007 DiD 3.2.
Much frustrations preceded my first discovery that the innocent little "atmospheric pressure sensor" continually being nonchalantly reset by the agents was in fact a faulty "engine boost sensor". I bought a new sensor from the agents and installed same for under R1500. The increase in power was remarkable.
Some time later the ASC OFF and traction warning lights started again, but only occasionally. This time I took the vehicle to Tiger Wheel 'n Tyre for a proper wheel balance and alignment. Touch wood, no problems since then...about nine months!
I am, however, concerned, with the vehicle's performance in town when the ambient exceeds about 37 degrees C; I have to almost manually drive it in first and second gears up the hills! and the pedal response is very poor. Any ideas?
Best wishes.
Laupi
Laupi,
Glad your ASC off issue has not returned after the sensor and tire work.
About your performance, the only recommendation I can make is that you get a service done, importantly also get an engine flush and get an oil change, then test before looking deeper into other issues.
Glad your ASC off issue has not returned after the sensor and tire work.
About your performance, the only recommendation I can make is that you get a service done, importantly also get an engine flush and get an oil change, then test before looking deeper into other issues.
Hi Laupi
Just had the exact same problem after the weekend in the Cedarberg.
Took it to the agents this morning and they found a cracked sensor pipe. Which they replaced.
I have just collected the car now and what a difference. Warning lights are all off and the car is alot more responsive not so flat.
Just had the exact same problem after the weekend in the Cedarberg.
Took it to the agents this morning and they found a cracked sensor pipe. Which they replaced.
I have just collected the car now and what a difference. Warning lights are all off and the car is alot more responsive not so flat.
Pajshekind wrote:Laupi,
Glad your ASC off issue has not returned after the sensor and tire work.
About your performance, the only recommendation I can make is that you get a service done, importantly also get an engine flush and get an oil change, then test before looking deeper into other issues.