Engine cutting out (EPC WARNING)

[englishdas]

Just took our one week holiday in Scotland. Up the A1, across the A66. Pulled on to M6 north, and booted it. everything went dead at 75mph on access lane... restarted engine while rolling. Did it a couple more times, then just feathered it to Dumfries. seemed like getting it past 2500rpm was causing problems.

Ran around the south west of scotland for a week, it did it a couple more times, usually when my other half was giving it a hammering. Other than that, ran like clockwork.

Journey back, through Scotland heading south... no problem. On M6 south just inside England... Died in fast lane! QUICK RESTART! feathered it back over A66 and down A1 to yorkshire. Wasn't liking it over 2000rpm, which luckily is still about 75mph. I mean 70mph officer.

Any ideas? it's running lovely around town, don't want to get it all messed up and in pieces but something's wrong and the missus wants to scrap it!

 

[englishdas]

just to add, on the way north pulling on to the M6, also got ABS/ESP failure when it shut down and re-started. It fixed itself after about 30 miles of driving steadily. that problem never re-occured.

 

[allias]

Could this be a problem with intermittent work of fuel pump?

 

[IanT]

If you've seen multiple failures (i.e. reported by more than one ECU) is it possible that there's a general system fault, like poor connection to the battery, an earth or similar?

Ian.

 

[grober]

If you've seen multiple failures (i.e. reported by more than one ECU) is it possible that there's a general system fault, like poor connection to the battery, an earth or similar?

Ian.

Good call--- possible battery connection or engine earth strap fault. Getting the engine + gearbox codes read may throw up a recurring fault? Not sure what the rev limit on the safe mode for a 320Cdi is, but wonder if that's why the car won't run above 2,000?? When did you last check the autobox fluid?

 

[englishdas]

I think the safe rev limit is up near 4000. I've not checked the Autobox fluid at all, but only had it a few weeks. Would the engine die completely hittting the limiter though, I would hope it'd just restrict further acceleration and sorta 'bounce' off it.

I guess I'll go get it plugged in to the system. Not before removing battery connections and giving em a good scrub. Will report back but thanks for things to check so far.

 

[grober]

I think maybe you misunderstood " safe mode" this is when the control electronics detect an engine or gearbox fault and artificially restrict the engine power to protect it from damage- its unrelated to the normal rev limit of the engine. I would also caution against totally disconnecting the battery without providing an alternative 12v supply unless you want to lose a lot of the cars settings in the process. I'm also not sure of your car's age --some later models have 2 batteries.

 

[duncanh]

The EPC light and total power failure points to a fuelling issue. The STAR code will probably point to a rail pressure fault.

It can be caused by a choked fuel filter (if you are very lucky), but it is more likely to be caused by either injectors problems (excessive leak off), or a faulty/sticking high pressure fuel pump.

I had exactly these symptoms. It got worse to the point where it would not restart without a squirt of easy start. The solution was refurbished injectors.

An injector leak-off test would be a good place to start.

 

[englishdas]

injector leak off

ok, that sounds like something that is more like it. I thought the cut out was odd, as Rev limiters don't usually shut down the whole thing in the fast lane! I'm gonna try for the injector check and replacement. Don;t need a full set of 6 though, right? just the one... or two that may be faultyas I'm guessing its an expensive part (saying that, it's not like i can't drive round without them).

by the way, it's a W210. dual batteries (one under offside rear seat). When you say the settings are wiped with the battery disconnected is that just stuff like seat positions and trip computer, or more serious like engine mapping?

 

[andymerc]

get it checked on star poss thottle protentimeter fault

 

[BlackC55]

The EPC light and total power failure points to a fuelling issue. The STAR code will probably point to a rail pressure fault.

It can be caused by a choked fuel filter (if you are very lucky), but it is more likely to be caused by either injectors problems (excessive leak off), or a faulty/sticking high pressure fuel pump.

I had exactly these symptoms. It got worse to the point where it would not restart without a squirt of easy start. The solution was refurbished injectors.

An injector leak-off test would be a good place to start.

Spot on advice.

 

[renault12ts]

ok, that sounds like something that is more like it. I thought the cut out was odd, as Rev limiters don't usually shut down the whole thing in the fast lane! I'm gonna try for the injector check and replacement. Don;t need a full set of 6 though, right? just the one... or two that may be faultyas I'm guessing its an expensive part (saying that, it's not like i can't drive round without them).

by the way, it's a W210. dual batteries (one under offside rear seat). When you say the settings are wiped with the battery disconnected is that just stuff like seat positions and trip computer, or more serious like engine mapping?

2 Batteries? Where's the other one?

 

[alexander patie]

duncanh and andymerc have the right advice here.

you really need a fault code analysis, followed by further tests to pin it down - guessing wrongly gets expensive quickly.

 

[alexander patie]

Spot on advice.

so i am old news now!! glad we agree again.

 

[englishdas]

thanks for all your advice so far. Will update when I get a chance to drop it in to the garage. hopefully sometime early next week. no trips to scotland planned this weekend though, so should be ok til then.

potentimeter? that sounds complicated...

 

[davidjpowell]

Do you use a MB Specialist? You really need someone with a STAR system to get to the bottom of MB fault codes.

 

[englishdas]

yeah, it went on the Star at JAR Motorsport, they graciously offered me a free hook up after not complaining about the huge cost of the Turbo replacement six weeks ago.

It's looking like injector failure...

No black death though on removal of engine cover. So no matter what the results are, i'm calling it a limited success so far. did discover that the injector line between injector 2 and injector 3 had been replaced with a piece of non-descript rubber hose, poorly sealed (if at all,) and only the No2 injector Tee had been updated with metal fitting as opposed to the plastic Tees. New rail on now.

Still giving fuel pressure faults all over the place.

Now the Merc specialist for JAR is on it...

 

[renault12ts]

You said previously you have two batteries, one under the rear seat...where's the other one??

 

[englishdas]

i was mistaken, i suppose i meant two sets of terminals, the battery terminals under the rear seat and then the hook-up terminals under my now-pheasant-dented bonnet.

 

[BlackC55]

Have you changed the fuel filter? I would do this first.

When was the last time it was changed?