E-Gas CEL, ASR intermitent failure, rough idle....

[quicksilver500]

Ok, I have had this problem for a while but have hit a wall on diagnosing it.

I will be driving around and suddenly get a ASR light accompanied by loss of all throttle except the top 1/4 or so. The car will reset on a restart, but will throw a CEL. The car will start but idles rough, not really harsh just noticeable.

The codes are usually a wheel speed sensor or two, no CAN communication with N4/1 which I think is the EGAS module, maybe some ETA faults like idle potentiometer...I am going to pull again this weekend and I will post the details.

Now, I have swapped the ETA for a rebuilt one from BBA. The one that was on there was known good from another vehicle while mine was out being rebuilt. Both threw similar codes. Swapped EGAS modules, the CAN code goes away for a while but comes back after a week or two. Harnesses seem ok from what I can tell. I have no other symptoms everything else works perfectly fine.

Anyone seen anything like this before?

I also have a new brake light switch installed

Thanks

-Mike

 

[gsxr]

1) What is the date code on the engine wiring harness? (See the forum Wiki for instructions on how to check.)

2) Can you list the exact codes which keep recurring after they are cleared?

3) N4/1 is the E-GAS module. Are you seeing this code on the ASR module...?

Also make sure that all CAN modules are FULLY, 101% seated. I've seen some real weird stuff when the module is even 1/8" less than fully seated. Whack them hard with your fist, you can feel when they hit the metal stops.

 

[quicksilver500]

Dave,

1) - I checked that a few months ago and couldn't find the date on the wrap by the compy box. I should have a spare harness somewheres, but all the insulation looks great on this thing.....Maybe I should just swap it out if I can find that other harness...

2) - Will do

3) - No, just on the the EGAS from the 36 pin using DAS. The only ASR codes were the wheel sensor codes if I remember correctly.

I made sure they are good, but the same thing happening with 2 different modules makes me think its something else....

 

[Russell R Coe]

I have a very similar problem as Mike does but it only happens when the car is hot. Mine is a 1992 with 250000 miles and has never let me down. This started to happen last summer. Starts fine in the morning when cold, but if the temperature is any where over 80 degrees when I first turn it off once it has reach normal running temp when I restart it the ASR light comes on and it goes into limp home mode, but not all the time. In the past I would just turn it off and restart it and the ASR light would be gone and it would run smooth as silk, as it should.

This past weekend on Saturday it was really warm here in Northern CA and the ASR came on after the first start and would not turn off so, even after three times restarting it, so I drove it to my garage only a short distance and parked it and got out my 325ic BMW. This afternoon the car starts just fine and is again running as smooth as silk, as it is a cool chilly day here in San Mateo.
Car has had the upper harness replaced in 05.
I have never had the codes pulled, but will check that the CAN modules are in place correctly as Dave has suggested.
Mike hope you don’t mind me jumping in on your tread.

Rolly

 

[Russell R Coe]

After reading the link below the posting regarding the contact on the horn ring, this maybe my problem as it usually happens after I have turned into a tight parking space or turn into a very tight round about where I have the steering wheel on full lock to the left when pickup my mother in-law every Saturday. I will check that out this weekend.
What a great resource this site is.

 

[gsxr]

FYI: The contact ring for the horn/airbag will only trigger an SRS (airbag) light on the dash, not ASR.

Russell, if your car has the original ETA and/or engine harness, you'll need to inspect both, and possibly replace both... Mike had already done that on his.

 

[quicksilver500]

Faults:

ASR: 030 CAN: No reception from EFP N4/1

EFP: 007 Control module EFP N4/1

DM: 005 Exhaust gas recirculation -> LH1 *AND* 006 Idle speed control -> EFP

The harness only had one tag on it it was white and said NOT ELECTRICALLY TESTED : PN A124 440 2006

 

[quicksilver500]

Switched back to my original EGAS and pounded everything down with my hand!

New codes after the swap and a tank of gas:

DM: 005 EGR -> LH1-SFI *AND* Transmission upshift delay LH1-SFI

EA: 096 Starter lock-out/back-up lamp switch S16/3

I am really starting to think this is just a harness problem. I did get another ASR LHM today so I will pull codes after it stops raining.

 

[Christian_K]

EA: 096 Starter lock-out/back-up lamp switch S16/3

Theres your solution ;-)
Replace it and everything should be OK.

 

[quicksilver500]

Now why would that be? I have only seen that code once.

I saw another post where this fixed some ASR LHM issues. I have codes in addition to the LHM ASR that occur on separate instances. All of these codes are related/connected to the Engine harness or Starter harness.

S16/3 is the neutral safety switch right? I don't have any of the starting symptoms from that being bad....

 

[Christian_K]

Because that switch transmits your actual set gearbox selection to the modules, so a proper idle (Throttle-Flap position!), ignition-advance, etc etc can be set.
If this switch reports a wrong position to the modules, you get the e-gas Limp-Home Mode with ASR light(s) on.

 

[quicksilver500]

Hmm, I see I see. Well luckily I have a spare as long as the I6 and V8 ones are the same. So I will give that a shot!

 

[Christian_K]

Hmm, I see I see. Well luckily I have a spare as long as the I6 and V8 ones are the same. So I will give that a shot!

They are not.
The V8 LH ones have two additional pins just for the function i mentioned above.

 

[quicksilver500]

I FINALLY replaced this switch and cleared codes. So far so good, idle is smooth every time and power is great. So hopefully that is the last of it.

Christian, thanks for the help on the diagnosis!

-Mike

 

[Christian_K]

I FINALLY replaced this switch and cleared codes. So far so good, idle is smooth every time and power is great. So hopefully that is the last of it.

Christian, thanks for the help on the diagnosis!

-Mike

Glad it worked!
Your welcome

How PITA was it to replace that switch when the gearbox is still in the car?

 

[quicksilver500]

HUGE PITA. I think I could have saved some time if I had dropped the cross brace but I was like I am almost done...for like 2 hours.....

For the linkage, take it off both ends, get it out of the way. When you are ready to put it back in the car attach it to the selector that you took off the gear box, put the clip on and then bolt the selector onto the gear box. Otherwise you can't get the clip on. On the bolts I used a 1/4 drive breaker bar, and just had to get them one turn at a time. Putting them back in is a mess unless you have like a 3yr old Asian kid to get the bolts started...or telekinesis...

 

[quicksilver500]

CEL is back, car is running better more consistently than before so maybe there is another issue...will check and report back

 

[gsxr]

Neeeeeeeed codes!!!

 

[quicksilver500]

False alarm! Its only a EGR code, I suspect a loose vacuum line....

 

[migwell2]

I have the same issue, ASR light come with limp mode only on strong acceleration or high speed cruise, randomly. Switch off and on ignition, clear the trouble. I have the stored faults :

"EFP007 Control mdule EFP N4/1",​

"EFP096 Starter lock-out and reversing lamp switch S16/3"​

"EFP224 Idle speed contact switch S29/3"​

"ASR030 CAN: No reception from EFP N4/1"​

The motor harness has been changed.
I'm wonder if the harness located behind the motor cause the trouble (see photos)

 

[gsxr]

I have the same issue, ASR light come with limp mode only on strong acceleration or high speed cruise, randomly. Switch off and on ignition, clear the trouble. I have the stored defauts :
"EFP007 Control mdule EFP N4/1",
"ASR030 CAN: No reception from EFP N4/1",
"EFP096 Starter lock-out and reversing lamp switch S16/3" an"EFP224 Idle speed contact switch S29/3"
The motor harness has been changed.
I'm wonder if the harness located behind the motor cause the trouble (see photos)

Code 096 is the easiest to fix - replace switch S16/3 on the transmission (click here).

Code 224, if persistent, means you should replace switch S29/3 at the gas pedal (click here).

With those fixed, if you still get code 007, it could be either the ETA or E-GAS module. Code 030 on the ASR module is a generic code that almost always appears when limp mode is triggered.

The engine harness AND lower harness to the starter/alternator should absolutely not affect anything that would cause any of these codes.

 

[gerryvz]

Sounds to me like your neutral safety switch is bad.

 

[gsxr]

NSS shouldn't cause codes 007 or 224 though. Need to replace NSS, clear codes, and test drive for a while.

 

[gerryvz]

I had all those codes. Most of them are BS codes. Replace the NSS and your problems should go away.

HOW-TO: Replacing Neutral Safety Switch (NSS, S16/3) | "HOW-TO" Tutorial Articles

GSXR edit: The neutral safety switch (NSS) is also referred to as the starter lock-out/backup lamp switch, and is switch S16/3 (or S16/1) in MB documentation. All, Today I had to replace the neutral safety switch (aka starter lockout switch) on my wife's 1995 E320 wagon, which uses the 722.3X...

www.500eboard.co

 

[migwell2]

Many thanks, I will change the NSS S16/3 in december or july 2020, and review here if it solve the problem. Best regards !