Intermittent Engine Management Light

Ok just replaced the lp fuel pump and filter which seems to resolved the problem as I went well over a week without it coming on. Only to find that going for a 2 hr drive the dam thing come on again three times. I was gutted to say the least! Can anyone help me to get this issue resolved???

I have a testbook/T4 system here doing nothing but im always hesitant to offer its use as a lot of members don't fill in their location so i dont know if it would help or not!

Hi, i have recently bought a Freelander 2.0 TD4 2003 Sport premium. The other day the Engine Management Light started to come on intermittently. I have also noticed that it comes on and goes off at random times with the following effects.

If I am on the Motorway cruising between 65 & 70 it seems to run smoothly then the light will come on and the Turbo, there will be a small increase in acceleration without without any extra throttle.

Also I noticed this morning that my fuel gauge rapidly went down from 1/4 of a tank to just above the red in the space of about 10 miles.

I have had it on a friends diagnostic machine and it is not recording any faults on the EMS.

I have also noticed a some smoke coming from the exhaust but it has recently been MOT'd and the emissions were good.

I am at a loss as to what is going on as when the light does not come on the car runs like a dream. By the way I only got 340 miles out of a full tank of diesel. Please tell me this is not normal.

Regards

Richard

Just a few suggestions cant say they will fix your car.

Smoking: Have you changed the engine breather? Its like a small sponge toilet roll in the top of the engine. This needs to be changed annually or swapped completely for the BMW vortex part.
Engine Management Light: Theres a plug on the end of the fuel rail, this can green up. Unplug it and use some contact cleaner to clean up. If its really bad buy a new plug with loom cost approx £40.
340 miles from a tank: Depends how you drive it
good luck

Thanks for the tips. Is it normal for the last 1/4 of a tank to drain so quickly though?

zoolander said:

Just a few suggestions cant say they will fix your car.

Smoking: Have you changed the engine breather? Its like a small sponge toilet roll in the top of the engine. This needs to be changed annually or swapped completely for the BMW vortex part.
Engine Management Light: Theres a plug on the end of the fuel rail, this can green up. Unplug it and use some contact cleaner to clean up. If its really bad buy a new plug with loom cost approx £40.
340 miles from a tank: Depends how you drive it
good luck

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Romeo Delta said:

Thanks for the tips. Is it normal for the last 1/4 of a tank to drain so quickly though?

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The gauges are notoriously inaccurate - the 1st quarter on mine lasts an age - then like yours, the last quarter disappears in no time.

After a few fill-ups you'll know what you have and make an informed judgement.

Don't believe the gauge!!!!!

When my warning light comes on I have approx 10 litres left. But I would not rely on that either. Fill up asap.

Take care.
Singvogel.

Totally agree with Singvogel above
Being a bit skint last week let my tank go down to when the warning light came on then put £10 in. This took me up to almost the 1/4 tank mark. This dropped very quickly within a few miles.

suspect a faulty Boost control solenoid?

also is the engine oil level correct?

My fool guage reads as follows...

full to 7 - reads the usage of a diesel
6 to 3 - reads the usage of a v6 (corrrect bit)
2 to empty - reads as if theres a hole in the tank

I have to assume the level is correct as i have not checked it since it was serviced 2 weeks ago. As for the Boost control solenoid, is it an easy self fix?

Chaser said:

suspect a faulty Boost control solenoid?

also is the engine oil level correct?

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exhaust smoke and surge in power without throttle movement...........don't assume anything, go and check/eliminate

update on my problem, today i drove approx 75 miles round trip and the following happened:

Driving on country roads going up and down the gears below 2000 rpm without any engine management light coming on. Then as soon as i get onto the dual carriage way and open her up above 2500 rpm the engine management light started to come on intermittently. This almost always happens above 2500rpm. Also when it comes on the car starts throwing smoke out of the back although its not severe it is definitely enough to keep tailgaters off my backside.
I don't have a significant reduction in power but the car is definitely not as responsive when the light is on.

I am at a loss as to what could be causing this to happen.

Chaser said:

exhaust smoke and surge in power without throttle movement...........don't assume anything, go and check/eliminate

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Hi,

Did you check the oil level as suggested by chaser?

Have you checked the turbo hoses for leaks / splits?

Feel all around them, particularly on the undersides.

You are looking for splits that look like they were made by a Stanley knife.

Check the 90 degree bend one at the EGR especially.

Get someone to hold the revs about 2500rpm or so and you should be able to feel that the turbo hoses become hard/difficult to squeeze.

Any old hose will work at low revs, but above 2000rpm or so any splits or leaks will show up.

Check for oil leaks at the jubilee clips on the turbo hoses.

If these are OK then we look to eliminate the next possibility.

Exactly as chaser said 'check and eliminate'

We're doing the easy fixes first.

Good luck.

Singvogel.

Update 2 to the ongoing Saga.

I took it to a 4x4 specialist and low and behold the diagnostic showed an air intake type problem. On opening the bonnet a pipe on the right hand side of the engine had not been re fitted after the air filter had been replaced on my last service 2 weeks ago. The guys simply reconnected it and hey presto all is good and there is no smoking too!!!

Shame I didn't spot it, I probably couldn't see it for looking otherwise that would have been 48 quid saved!!!!

Thanks for all your replies and helpful tips and happy landroving!!

Singvogel said:

Hi,

Did you check the oil level as suggested by chaser?

Have you checked the turbo hoses for leaks / splits?

Feel all around them, particularly on the undersides.

You are looking for splits that look like they were made by a Stanley knife.

Check the 90 degree bend one at the EGR especially.

Get someone to hold the revs about 2500rpm or so and you should be able to feel that the turbo hoses become hard/difficult to squeeze.

Any old hose will work at low revs, but above 2000rpm or so any splits or leaks will show up.

Check for oil leaks at the jubilee clips on the turbo hoses.

If these are OK then we look to eliminate the next possibility.

Exactly as chaser said 'check and eliminate'

We're doing the easy fixes first.

Good luck.

Singvogel.

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glad you have solved it better luck next time and you will never forget to conect that pipe