16 replies to this topic

[Pad-Rock]

I was at a track day in Bedford on Saturday, which was great until my fun was curtailed by the throttle cutting out (engine was still running). Restarting the engine fixed the issue, but only temporarily, and after it happened a few more times thought it best to call it a day so I could get home. Even with some very sedate motorway driving it cut off a couple of more times on the way home.

The engine light that has come on is giving the diagnositic code P1271 and from reading the following thread, it would seem it could be a throttle body issue or some loose wiring:

http://www.vx220.org...e-body-problem/

I see that this is something that people appear to have fixed themselves, but I'm not sure that I'm up to the job bearing in mind that:

- I don't know where the throttle body is or what it looks like (same for connecting wires)
- The car isn't in a garage - it is parked on a London street
- The most technical things I've done to it are demisting the rear light & changing a fuse for the cigarette lighter

Is this likely to be an expensive or difficult fix?

All help / guidance / pointers very gratefully received!

[Zoobeef]

Throttle body is between the air filter and inlet manifold. Could be where the wires plug into it there. Or there is a connector behind the coolant header tank which it could be. Or the electrical connector at the throttle peddle. Undo do them, electrical spray and a clean then reconnect.

[Robski]

There was a recent thread with similar symptoms that suggested the problem was 'the loom of doom'.
I'll try to find it....


eta

see if this sounds similar....
http://www.vx220.org...e-will-to-live/

Edited by Robski, 04 September 2012 - 01:36 PM.

[FLD]

Typical loom of doom failure. Usually the two plugs behind the header tank. Where abouts are you apd-rock? Someone local might be able to help you.

[Pad-Rock]

Thanks for all the replies. Do you know if there are any photos on here of what I should be looking for? Would be keen to make sure I'm unplugging the correct thing!

Typical loom of doom failure. Usually the two plugs behind the header tank. Where abouts are you apd-rock? Someone local might be able to help you.

Thanks FLD - I'm in Clapham in south west London .... if anyone is in the area that knows about it, then that would be very handy!!

[vaux2008]

Take passenger rear wheel off, then take the wheel arch liner off. Then you can see into the engine bay. Just behind the header tank in front of you there are to plugs clipped to the chassis (blue I think they are) that what's known as the loom of doom. Unplug, clean and tighten the connections if necessary. That's usually the problem and I had the same happen on my n/a. Hope this helps. Sorry it's brief lol. Adam

[Sylph Hunter]

I had to fix this recently - the two connectors behind the header tank are easier to access by removing near side rear wheel, taking out the arch liner (easy - just bendy plastic) and there they are! Can be done at the side of the road assuming you've got access to jack the car up, etc. You need to get some electrical connection cleaner before you start. Throttle body plug answer is in zoo beef's post above.

[G-Bob]

Why do people take off the wheel and go in through the wheel arch liner? Pop the clip off the header tank and move the tank to the side, then you can reach in, unclip them, pull them out and check them. I had this issue while away on a weekend and it was due to water getting into the plugs (no rear undertrays and a shed load of rain). Opened them up, gave them a skoosh of WD40. was absolutely fine. Did the whole thing with a house key, no tools required.

[smiley]

I'm not long enough to bend over the car and go so deep as you.

[Zoobeef]

I'm not long enough to bend over the car and go so deep as you.

Ooo er :/

50 shades of .org

[Pad-Rock]

Why do people take off the wheel and go in through the wheel arch liner?

Pop the clip off the header tank and move the tank to the side, then you can reach in, unclip them, pull them out and check them. I had this issue while away on a weekend and it was due to water getting into the plugs (no rear undertrays and a shed load of rain).

Opened them up, gave them a skoosh of WD40. was absolutely fine. Did the whole thing with a house key, no tools required.

When you were doing that, you didn't happen to take a picture did you? Not too keen on pulling out wires without knowing exactly what I'm looking for!

[Robski]

Have a look here.

http://www.vx220.org...y-wire-problem/

Post 20 has photos but the whole thread is useful.

R

[smiley]

The blue and black connector on that black triangle shaped piece of metal.

[Pad-Rock]

Robski & smiley - thanks for posting pics & that thread, very handy. I've found the connectors & moved the header tank out of the way, but wasn't able to get decent enough access them to open & clean the connectors. Don't have a car jack so haven't been able to access that way - may need to enlist a mate with suitable equipment. On the plus side, the engine light has gone out now! That said I'm pretty sure the problem hasn't gone away as it happened on Saturday's track day & the one before in February without a warning light giving advance warning. Don't want the next one to be cut short by the same problem ....

[Pidgeon]

It's odd you say it only happens on TDs. You do use the car from day to day?

[Pad-Rock]

It's odd you say it only happens on TDs. You do use the car from day to day?

It is mostly used for 'normal' driving, although don't use it on a daily basis. Only had two track days in it so far & both times the throttle cut out.

First time was back in Feb, but when I restarted it said 'refill' and once refueled the problem didn't re-occur. At the time I thought that the cut out was fuel related, although don't think it was now. Mentioned it when I was getting serviced at Back on Track in June, but they didn't see anything unusual with it.

When it happened at the track on Saturday, I initially assumed it was fuel related but I still had about 1/2 a tank left. The light remained on, and the problem re-occurred about three more times at ever decreasing intervals so decided to cut short the day as the car was needed to get home! Drove back quite sedately, but it still cut out a few more times (on the motorway & in traffic).

Checked the light / OBD again on Monday and was getting the same error, but when checked it last night the light had gone off without me doing anything. So if I did clean the connectors, I'm not sure how I'd know if I fixed the issue!

[FLD]

Intermittent electrical faults are the worst