My GF is driving my 2000 XK8 for the winter and reports that occasionally the Restricted Performance message will come on along with a flashng CEL light. She says it might flash 3 or 5 times, then go out and the RP message goes away as well. This might happen once or twice a week, sometimes at idle, sometimes at speed.

There are no codes current or pending

Is a flashing CEL a real message?

Thanks!

 

Flashing cel = misfire rate exceeding safe levels. Immediate attention required.

 

Don't ignore that flashing light. As stated, it means "immediate attention required". If there is a misfire, it can overheat the catalytic converters, rendering them non-functional. An expensive propostion. It could even generate enough heat to affect parts near the exhaust. You need to pull the code or codes, and see what is going on under that hood!

 

Thanks

 

Why no codes though?
Probably a red herring but is your battery OK ?
Any pattern to when this happens ?

 

No pattern that we can see, she is very observant. Will load test the battery, it is new-ish. Sparkplugs have 40K on them, I will install new ones. Failing coil pack maybe?

I sometimes get RP with no codes...

Thanks!

 

You should also check what grade of fuel she's using.

Graham

 

I believe(d) that RP must have a code set.
I don't know enough to say if a transient misfire or whatever could set a code + RP, and then clear itself and the code but I'm sure there are others who do.
Is it worth leaving the scanner plugged in every time you use the car JIC ?

 

Thanks, all.

She uses exclusively Premium fuel from high volume stations. Sometimes non-ethanol Premium when I fill it.

Where I live we are going to change over to "summer blend fuel" soon. Maybe I got a tankful of that?

Recently I have had a lot of "transient RP" (maybe 1 X two weeks) that comes on for a mile or three and then goes off. Last time I was with the car I pulled the codes and there were none, not even pending.

Seems odd to me as well.

I asked her to bring it to me this weekend so I can give it a once over.

 

I would pour a 20-ounce bottle of Chevron Techron into my fuel tank. I would also clean my MAF sensor. Both are inexpensive and easy to do....

 

MIL light alone can be due to codes other than Pxxxx which us 'umble folk can't see - I've just spent some time looking at the non-Pxxxx DTC's and there are many that set the MIL light but I can't find any that force RP. Doesn't mean there aren't, just I can't find 'em!

 

Plugs, MAFS and throttle body cleaning and Techron tomorrow. Oil change, too. We'll see if that clears it up.

 

Lucky.

 

I rebuild carburetors foa living and see first hand the effects of poor quality gasoline. I use premium non-ethanol in everything, especially small engines or marine.

 

I assume you still receive P1111 though? Try a mode 6 scan too, torque for android Eve has that option. That shows misfire rate history. Scan is taking place while the light is on too?

 

Matt,
Info on mode 6 is pretty scant - do you have any links ?

 

What is Mode 6? I have the current version of Torque on my Verizon Andriod phone. I'll look for it when I get going on the car later today.

Yes, I have P1111.

GF might lease a new car today so I'll get my Jag back full time.

 

Finally tracked down some info on mode 6
http://www.underhoodservice.com/Arti...h_mode_06.aspx

Scott - there'll be a test on this later !!

 

OK Steve, I'm ready for the test.

For those interested, the $06 Monitors are:

Non-Continuous Monitors:
O2 Amplitude/Reaction Time
• O2 Heater Circuit
• EGR Flow
• Evap Leak Detection
• Cat Efficiency
• Secondary Air Monitor
• Thermostat Monitor


Continuous monitors include, but are not limited to:
• Misfire Monitor (some makes display as PID in mode $01, Ford displays as TID in mode $06)
• Fuel System Monitor (continuous O2 monitoring of air/fuel ratio)
• Comprehensive Component Monitoring (circuit integrity)

Many of these are on the list in Toque but my version says they are not available for my 2000 model year - no sensors.

Am I missing somthing here? I think my Torque is up-to-date...

Anyway, on the drive to buy a car with the GF today (2013 Mailbu) I saw the RP cycle on and off once. GF says the RP AND CEL cycled (~5 flashes in quick successon) yesterday morning. I checked codes with two readers (Torque and Actron CP9180) and nothing came up. Misfire Monitor = OK, even. Apparently this can happen without settng codes.

I put in new plugs and gave the intake the once over for leaks. Cleaned the MAFS and added Techron. The plugs were well used (40,000 miles) but not used up and looked good. No oil in the spark plug wells.

As soon as she picks up her car the Jag will be with me full time.

 

Keep your torque running in the background, and when flashes start, run a scan and try to catch it in the act. Better have fast fingers.