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Check Engine Light

The check engine light, also known as the malfunction indication lamp, illuminates when the engine control unit detects a problem. There are typically 4-pin or 6-pin connectors that need to have a wire link inserted to access diagnostic trouble codes. Fault codes are indicated by the check engine light flashing numeric codes. Common issues detected include oxygen sensor problems, throttle position sensor faults, and faulty temperature or speed sensors.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
763 views9 pages

Check Engine Light

The check engine light, also known as the malfunction indication lamp, illuminates when the engine control unit detects a problem. There are typically 4-pin or 6-pin connectors that need to have a wire link inserted to access diagnostic trouble codes. Fault codes are indicated by the check engine light flashing numeric codes. Common issues detected include oxygen sensor problems, throttle position sensor faults, and faulty temperature or speed sensors.

Uploaded by

Julio César
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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17/09/2022 23:36 Check Engine Light

 
  RhinoPower   Hardware   Software   Forum   Links  

The Check Engine Light Explained


Note that the Check Engine Light (CEL) is also referred to as the Malfunction Indication lamp (MIL) in some documentation.

If the CEL) remains on during normal operation then the ECU has detected a possible fault. The fault codes can be read from the ECU using the Check
Engine Light. Some models have an empty slot in the fuse box that requires a fuse to be inserted but most models have either a 4-pin or a 6-pin connector that
requires a wire link to be inserted to place the ECU into test mode.

The following table lists many of the CEL fault codes, note that there are other fault codes that can only be accessed using a scan tool, those codes do not
light the CEL.
Typical Connector locations:
First gen. Underneath the bonnet either beside the battery or beside the (UK) drivers side
Vitara/Sidekick/Tracker headlamp.
Jimny Behind glovebox
Baleno Under bonnet, inside relay box
GV/Grand Vitara Under bonnet beside ignition coil (if fitted)

Six pin connector:

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There are two input 'switches', the Diagnostic Switch Terminal (DST) and the Test Switch Terminal (TST) and two output lines the Diagnostic Output
Terminal and the Duty Output terminal. The Diagnostic Output Terminal is simply a connection to the Check Engine Light (CEL). Diagnostic modes are
selected by placing jumpers between the switch terminals and the ground terminal.

The test modes are given in the table below. '0' represents a grounded input, '1' represents a non-grounded input.

Input
Output
Terminals
DST TST
(B) (E)
1 1 No Diagnostic Outputs*
1 0 Ignition Timing to Initial Settings
Diagnostic Codes Output on Diagnostic Output Terminal*, ISC Duty Cycle on Duty Check
0 1
Terminal
0 0 Diagnostic Codes Output on Diagnostic Output terminal*, Injector Duty Cycle on Duty
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Check Terminal

* When CEL is ON this terminal will be 'High', when CEL is OFF this terminal will be 0V.

This is better illustarted by the image below which shows a jumper inserted in the diagnostic socket of a Suzuki Baleno:

Four pin connector:

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The four pin connector is similar to the six pin connector. The Diagnostic switch terminal outputs the fault codes on the The Test Switch Terminal sets the
ignition timing to base settings.

The test modes are shown in the table below. '0' represents a grounded input, '1' represents a non-grounded input.

Input
Output
Terminals
DST TST
(B) (D)
1 1 No Diagnostic Outputs
1 0 Ignition Timing to Initial Settings
0 1 Diagnostic Codes Output on CEL, ISC ouput on Duty Check Terminal
Diagnostic Codes Output on CEL, Injector Duty Cycle output on Duty Check
0 0
Terminal

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Fault Codes:
Fault codes are indicated by flashing the CEL as shown in the picture below. In this case the fault code '21' is being output.
The light is switched ON twice in
quick succession to indicate a 2. The light is then OFF for 1 sec and then flashed once to indicate a 1.
There is then a 3 sec period with the light off before the
next code is indicated. If there are no other codes then the sequence repeats.

The YouTube video below shows a Code 23 (ATS Signal High) being flashed on a Suzuki Baleno Check Engine Light. You will need to have ActiveX
enabled to view this video.

Fault Code 23 - Suzuki Baleno

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Below is a description of the codes and some hints on fault diagnosis. In all cases there is a possibility that the ECU is damaged, however this is unlikely
unless the CEL does not light, remains on permanently even with a jumper in the connector, or you have the main and fuel pump relays clicking
continuously.
Diagnostic
Diagnostic Item Possible Fault
Code
12 Normal No fault or fault in not monitored circuit
ECU will drive mixture rich or lean.
13 O2 Sensor
If O2 reading doesn't change or is slow to change a fault is flagged
13 Barometric Sensor Barometric sensor reading High or Low (Diesel)
WTS signal High
14 Water Temperature Sensor
Open circuit sensor or bad ground
14 Needle Movement Sensor Needle Movement Sensor High or Low (Diesdel)
WTS signal Low
15 Water Temperature Sensor
Short circuit in sensor or wiring shorted to ground
TPS signal High
21 Throttle Position Sensor
TPS faulty or open circuit signal or ground connection
TPS signal Low
22 Throttle Position Sensor
TPS faulty, short circuit signal or open circuit power connection
ATS signal High
23 Air Temperature Sensor
ATS open circuit or bad ground
24 Vehicle Speed Sensor VSS faulty, Broken Speedo cable
ATS signal Low
25 Air Temperature Sensor
ATS short circuit, signal wire short circuit or open circuit power connection
V6 engines only
26 O2 Sensor (Right bank)
If O2 reading doesn't change or is slow to change a fault is flagged
Compensation Resistance Signal
27 Open circuit or shorted
(Diesel only?)
Glow Plug Relay Signal
28 Open circuit or shorted
(Diesel only)
MPS signal Low
31 Manifold Pressure Sensor
MPS faulty, open circuit power connection
Boost Sensor Signal Boost sensor Signal Low
31
(Turbo) Boost sensor faulty, open circuit power connection

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32 Manifold Pressure Sensor MPS signal Low


MPS faulty, open circuit power connection
Boost Sensor Signal Boost sensor Signal High
32
(Turbo) Boost sensor faulty, open circuit ground connection
Volume Airflow Sensor too High or too Low
33 Volume Airflow Sensor
Airflow sensor faulty or faulty wiring
MAF Signal High
33 Mass Airflow Sensor
MAF faulty or bad ground connection
MAF Signal Low
34 Mass Airflow Sensor
MAF faulty or bad power or signal connection
NE Sensor
35  
(Diesel only)
37 ABS ABS malfunction - does not set MIL!
41 Ignition Fail Safe Signal Bad connection to noise suppressor, bad noise suppressor
Timer Control Valve Signal
41  
(Diesel only)
CAS signal not present during cranking, only shows while cranking!
42 Crank Angle Sensor
Faulty CAS or bad connection
43 Knock Sensor circuit malfunction Faulty Knock Sensor or bad connection
Starter Signal Starter signal on during engine running
43
(Diesel only?) Starter signal off during cranking
Idle Switch Open
44 Idle switch
Faulty Idle switch, badly adjusted TPS, open circuit signal or ground connection
Idle Switch Closed
45 Idle Switch
Faulty Idle Switch, badly adjusted TPS or signal shorted to ground
46 IAC Valve  
47 CMP Sensor camshaft Position Sensor
EGR modulator faulty, exhaust passageway clogged, bad VSV, vacuum leak, catalytic
51 Exhaust Gas Recirc Valve
converter fault
52 Fuelling Fault Bad injector, dirty injector, excessive fuel pressure
Spill Valve Signal
52 Stuck spill valve, open or shorted wiring
(Diesel)
53 Ground Circuit Error California ECU in non-Calif vehicle. Non-Calif ECU in Calif. vehicle
54 5th Gear Switch  

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61 Shift Solenoid Valve A (#1)  


(A/T)
Shift Solenoid Valve A (#1)
62  
(A/T)
Shift Solenoid Valve B (#2)
63  
(A/T)
Shift Solenoid Valve B (#2)
64  
(A/T)
TCC Solenoid Valve Electrical
65  
(A/T)
TCC Solenoid Valve Electrical
66  
(A/T)
Test Switch Terminal Grounded (Samurai only?)
71 Test Switch
Wire link still in diagnostic plug or signal shorted to ground
Memory Error
71 ECU internal write error or checksum error
(Late models)
Transmission Range Switch circuit
72 malfunction  
(A/T)
Fuel Temperature Sensor
73 Fuel temp. sensor, open or shorted wiring
(Diesel)
Output Speed sensor Circuit Malfunction
75  
(A/T)
Input/turbine Speed sensor Malfunction
76  
(A/T)
ON - Not
ECU ECU Failed
Flashing
Immobiliser
81 Immobiliser/ECU Immobiliser codes not matched (ECU side)
82 ECU ECU Internal fault
83 Immobiliser/ECU Serial Data Link
84 ECU No Immobiliser codes registered in ECU

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