Hi everyone, I've only been a member for a few days, so please put me right, if I do wrong. She failed smog, so I had two (2) cats replaced. It barely passed the next time, the HC's were on the maximum allowable,at 15 mph the reading was 80. It will not pass the next time. Every couple of months, the 'check engine' light comes on but the only code I get from the VCM is '99', of which there is no mention in the hand book. I disconnect the battery and everything is OK for another couple of months. If during that time I press the VDM it reads 'FAIL' but no code. Can anybody offer me advice ?..... thanks....Roger.

 

Move out of SoCal!

 

Thanks, very helpful......Roger.

 

Roger:
My gut feeling is that the display is playing tricks. Is it possible the VCM means to read "89" - for example - rather than "99"? It's just one little line off, and suggests the purge control valve circuit. ... possibly something to do with the charcoal canister? Did you check all that? I have no idea why "FAIL" should read without a corresponding code. How is it you get "99" and "FAIL"? Does if flash between the two? Honestly if it were me, I might take it down to the my mechanic to get all the codes read and some advice.
Keep noodling on it - I'm sure you'll get it figured out!
Cheers,
Scott

 

Hi Scott, not quite, When the 'check engine' light is on the VCM reads 99. After I've disconnected/reconnected the battery it reads 'FAIL. I didn't check the 'Evap Cannister', should I be looking for a smell of raw gas ? Thanks for your input.....Roger.

 

Roger:
I'm totally stumped by your "99". Is there anybody else reading who might have an idea? Looking a little bit into Haynes, I notice that a fault somewhere in the Air Injector Reactor (AIR) system can cause an abundance of hydrocarbon content in the exhaust. This system is run by a pump that doesn't seem to fail all that much, but also by a relay and vacuum solenoid that certainly do - esp. on these aging cars! Interestingly, the book says that in the event of a problem, the VCM will read code "66". Now, perhaps I'm getting a bit conspiratorial... but 66 is 99 upside down! In any event, reading that paragraph made me think of the symptoms you described; and I hope it isn't a red herring.
I still do not understand a VCM code that just reads a number. If it's a fuel related fault, for example, the computer usually flashes "Fuel Fail 99", for example - not just a number. This suggests to me something that might not get sorted unless connected to a proper mechanic's code reader. (And let's be clear, I am NO proper mechanic!) Maybe that's just me looking for the easy way out.
Cheers!
Scott

 

Thanks Scott, I'll be looking into it this coming week.....Roger.

 

Hi Scott, I took another look, the 99 read out is, I think refering to 'inst fuel cons'. Although why it should, with the car stationary and engine not running, I don't know. The 'FAIL' readout is when the 'check eng' light is on but no code shows......Roger.

 

Roger:
Oh, of course. That makes perfect sense. It reads 99 because it probably is getting 99 "MPG" at idle! The instant read fuel gage will go way up like that at idle and when you let off the gas. So, here's what you need to do...

When you have a CEL, turn off the car, pause, turn the ignition to position II - that is, the final position before starting the car. All the electrics come on. Pause. Press the VCM button. It SHOULD give you a fault and a number. That's the number we are after. The Haynes manual says (although I've never seen this myself) that an asterisk next to the code indicates multiple codes stored.

Report back!
Scott

 

Hi scott, thanks for your continued patience. No, ignition on engine not running, in either case.....Roger.

 

Just to add.. Press and hold the VCM button for a least 5 seconds, when following Scott's instructions.

Can't help much with the EGR stuff, because I don't have it. (thank god).

 

Hi Richard, No, as I said the engine is NOT running. If I hold the VCM down for longer, the FAIL will go out and be replaced by 99. ( I know, doesn't make sense to me either ).....Roger.

 

Possible remedy.

I had a 99 as well on my 90. It was short lived though. It happened when I tried cranking my car when I had starting issues, when I first got the car and it had been sitting for at least 2 years without running. I replaced my crank sensor, battery and coil. Changed plugs and took out 20+ gallons of bad fuel.
Been almost 2 months now I have never seen the 99 again. Mine also read just plain "fail" with nothing else associated with it. Hope it helps.

 

Thanks mrtalkradio, You may have helped convince some people that I've not gone off my rocker....Roger.

 

Roger:
By no means off your rocker! Just trying to understand... which, I have to confess, I don't quite. Have you tried disconnecting the negative battery terminal a couple of minutes to "reset" the computer? This will erase the stored codes and give you a clean slate. Then, when the CEL presents itself again, go through the VCM process by shutting off the car, turn the key to pos. II, press and hold the button for a couple of seconds, and see what it says. Beyond that, and without any other explanation for what is happening here, I am inclined to think the VCM itself if flaky. Strange, though. I've never seen anybody else write up a complaint about that apart from mrtalkradio's similar experience - which seems to have righted itself! We seem to be spending our time battling the VCM, when we what we are really trying to do is resolve an emissions problem. If you have a good mechanic nearby, if it were me, I'd still take the car down and have him plug it in to see what the codes are. Then at least you can begin addressing those problems and get it past the smog tester.
Press on! Cheers, Scott

 

Hi Scott, Yes I disconnect the battery every time the 'chk eng' light comes on, about once every two or three months. I've assumed that this was because the HC reading was high. Thanks.....Roger.

 

Hi Scott and Richard, Finally !!...'CHECK ENG' came on, I hit the VCM and 'FAIL' and 'FUEL' came up followed by code '39', which is EGR. So I'll take that off and check its condition. Richard, what do you have inplace of the EGR ?......Roger.

 

Good question Roger, answer, nothing, that I can see anyway. 92 Euro spec.

I'll take some pics of the absent bits later this afternoon, if I get the chance, and post up. (that sounds odd, but you know what I mean).

Good that you have finally got a code to boast about, as it were.

 

Roger:
The code 39 can be a bit of a catch all. It could be a gummed up EGR itself, but there are a few other things. My FF39 was resolved last fall by replacing the EGR vacuum solenoid - and this was after my mechanic had looked at it and suggested I live with it! You may need to check:
*EGR valve stuck open or not opening
*A flaky solenoid - not getting vacuum to the valve. Also check vacuum connections
*EGR temperature sensor
*the EGR tube itself may be plugged.
Let us know what you find!
Scott

 

Scott, thanks very much, for the useful info. The VCM flashed up 'EGR', so as you say it could be anything that affects its operation....Roger.