Fiat Ducato - Engine Light ON and will only IDLE on start-up (from cold)

[Rob99]

Fiat Ducato - Engine Light ON and will only IDLE on start-up (from cold)
Can anyone help me understand a problem with my Fiat Ducato.130 Multijet (2014)

Engine is performing normally but a week ago the engine light came on and has stayed on. On starting the engine (from cold) it starts and then quickly goes into LOW idling and wont respond to the accelerator (is this “limp mode”?). There is no question of moving off as there is simply no power. I let it idle for 5 mins or so and then it seems to come to its senses and behave normally (apart from the engine light). This recovery can be speeded up if I switch off and restart. This happens every cold start.

I have just had a nervous trip back from Norfolk to Surrey but the vehicle behaves normally once over the aforementioned start-up problem. This happens daily on starting and the engine light remains on throughout the subsequant journey.

I will of course take the motorhome to the Fiat dealer but that’s quite an onerous task. So thought I would ask here before I get bamboozled into hundreds of pounds in the Fiat Dealer.

Can anyone give me any insight into what the problem might be? The Fiat Ducato is the workhorse of the motorhome community so hopefully someone has seen this sort of problem. Engines are SO complicated these days – the days of changing a spark plug or something are long gone sadly.

 

[wp1234]

Fiat Ducato - Engine Light ON and will only IDLE on start-up (from cold)
Can anyone help me understand a problem with my Fiat Ducato.130 Multijet (2014)

Engine is performing normally but a week ago the engine light came on and has stayed on. On starting the engine (from cold) it starts and then quickly goes into LOW idling and wont respond to the accelerator (is this “limp mode”?). There is no question of moving off as there is simply no power. I let it idle for 5 mins or so and then it seems to come to its senses and behave normally (apart from the engine light). This recovery can be speeded up if I switch off and restart. This happens every cold start.

I have just had a nervous trip back from Norfolk to Surrey but the vehicle behaves normally once over the aforementioned start-up problem. This happens daily on starting and the engine light remains on throughout the subsequant journey.

I will of course take the motorhome to the Fiat dealer but that’s quite an onerous task. So thought I would ask here before I get bamboozled into hundreds of pounds in the Fiat Dealer.

Can anyone give me any insight into what the problem might be? The Fiat Ducato is the workhorse of the motorhome community so hopefully someone has seen this sort of problem. Engines are SO complicated these days – the days of changing a spark plug or something are long gone sadly.

You could buy a OBD 2 code reader for a few pounds and maybe check for the fault code and even possibly erase a spurious fault codes . Obviously if there is a genuine fault then you will not be able to clear and it’s a full diagnostic .
You could also try rebooting your van ECU’s by disconnecting your battery and waiting 30 minutes before reconnecting .

Before going to a main dealer and spending £’s try a Fiat independent garage.

 

[Rob99]

interesting !
Can you get the appropriate USB wiring and software to use a laptop for same purpose?
I dont think the fault code is spurious as there are genuine sumptoms - or is the "limp mode" a consequence of the engine light rather then the problem?
"you could also try rebooting your van ECU’s by disconnecting your battery and waiting 30 minutes before reconnecting ". my fiat has a red switch on the ignition which allows me to isolate the battery. Would that reboot my vans ECUs? easier than disconecting the battery.

Any recommebdations for a Fiat garage in surrey - we seem to live in a Fiat Ducato black hole here.

 

[Clivefog]

Have you breakdown cover? They will read the codes and tell you what it is, may just need clearing and yes engine light on may put it into limp mode.

 

[Rob99]

thanks - yes i could try that. So perhaps the idling is part of the engine light warning system?
Its a bit frustrating as the spectre of the engine light clouds the preparation for any departure.
Imagine if you were heading off to catch a ferry and you are not quite sure whether the engine light is going to reappear or not.

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[Stealaway]

Has the service light ever been reset. It will come on at 28k miles and drop onto limp mode eventually if it's not reset

 

[jollyrodger]

My old skoda yeti 2.0tdi wouldn't let you rev above 1500revs static as do a lot of vw to protect turbo OK when in motion.
If youre looking for a handy obd reader (lots out there) but one I have on the move.

Topdon ArtiDiag 500 AD500

OBD2 Scanner TOPDON ArtiDiag500 AD500, Engine ABS SRS Transmission CAN Diagnostic Scan Tool, Full OBD2 Test Code Reader, AutoVIN Diagnostic Tool, Car Battery Voltage Test, Wi-Fi Free Update Diagnose Engine, Transmission, ABS and SRS system with our pro-level Android based scan tool TOPDON...

www.topdonscanner.com

Can link to your WiFi hot spot and once set up can then send you report to your chosen email box.
Updates anytime you plug in if wanted.

And I bought it direct not from amazon's inflated prices

 

[Rob99]

Thank for your thoughts people.
I have found an ODB2 reader and there were 6 error codes
4 x P2002 - Deisel Particulate Filter Efficiency Below threshold Bank 1
2 x P2454 - Deisel Particulate Filter Differential Pressure Sensor Circuit Low
I cleared them all and restarted the engine.
Engine Light cleared and all was find for about 5 mins then engine light back on and a few more of the same message arrived.

So looks like i have a problem with the Deisel Particulate Filter and its associated readings.
what to do ???

 

[RedFrame]

We have had this problem, just buy a new sensor off ebay and replace it. It's a simple job.

Do not let a garage scam you for a new DPF!

Cheers
Red.

 

[the1andonly]

Has the service light ever been reset. It will come on at 28k miles and drop onto limp mode eventually if it's not reset

I believe the oil degradation system is only relevant to euro6 and late euro5+

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[laurieash]

Do you drive at 60 mph all the time?
If so put the expensive fuel in and take it for a run at least 20 mins at 3000rpm so motorway 3 gear.
See if it un cloggs it's self.

 

[laurieash]

Thank for your thoughts people.
I have found an ODB2 reader and there were 6 error codes
4 x P2002 - Deisel Particulate Filter Efficiency Below threshold Bank 1
2 x P2454 - Deisel Particulate Filter Differential Pressure Sensor Circuit Low
I cleared them all and restarted the engine.
Engine Light cleared and all was find for about 5 mins then engine light back on and a few more of the same message arrived.

So looks like i have a problem with the Deisel Particulate Filter and its associated readings.
what to do ???

What was the outcome?

 

[Rob99]

UPDATE
Thanks to advice from REDFRAME I have successfully fixed this.
Despite not being much of a mechanic i finally plucked up the courage to change the DPF sensor.
1) made sure i could locate and remove the old one first before spending money on a new part.
2) bought myself a wee socket set for £20 - this is not a job for an adjustable spanner
3) the unit is by the exhaust underneath the ducato just behind front wheels. Took some crawling
4) used ramps for a bit of extra space (handbrake ONNNN, chock wheels, Keys OUT)
5) take a working light and a tray with everythig you need
6) two hoses to unclip, two nuts to remove from the fixed bolts on frame, unplug electrical plug and OUT IT CAME. Carefull photgraphed the two hose positions before starting to make sure i didnt put the new one on in reverse
7) bought correctly sized jubilee clips for the gas hoses (this must not leak)
8) bought new unit for about £40 on ebay. There are cheaper but i wanted the branded EXACT like for like
7) attached hoses (inspecting for damage) , tightened new jubilee clips, then attached the new unit, plugged in the electics
8) started her up and was delighted to see that the engine light had GONE. Nice long test drive on M25. No light!
9) declared it a success to admiring wife.

So this whole thing took me a few hours becasue of head scratching time and a trip to B and Q. But for less than £60 it was a great repair. I can imagine the expensive nonsense i would have been hit with in the Fiat garage!

Once again, Redframe, thanks for your help and encouragement. You saved me a lot of pain. I am servicing the lawnmower next week and building my own space shuttle the week after.

Robert

 

[the1andonly]

Well done .
Ive looked for mine to make sure i get the right one but cant see it.
Got any photos? Even the one with pipes on would be useful

 

[Dwarfland]

Sounds similar to an issue I had with mine. I can’t recall the code on the Engine management system but that turned out to be a red herring. My mate is a mechanic and spent ages on it, eventually found the throttle body needed replacing. Not sure if same but symptoms sound similar.

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[Lofty1]

Well done, had a similar problem and changed my sensor Alas in my case it turned out to be injectors, So £1000 later such is life.