Hi all. I have an 03 ford fusion. Is it an OBD II or I port? My engine management light came on this morning but last time I tried to connect my II reader it wouldnt power up so I'm thinking it won't power up this time so I wont be able to find out whats up with it.

I read somewhere that if you dont do the filler cap up properly that can cause the EML to come on, and I fuelled up last night and within 5 miles the light came on. I have tightened it up this morning but have no idea if that is/was the cause as I am at work now. If that is the cause will the light go out by itself or will it need resetting?

All help will be appreciated.

21 minutes ago, Sergeantcookie said:

I have an 03 ford fusion. Is it an OBD II or I port?

Hi, is it diesel or petrol?

By EU law, all petrol cars had to be OBD2 compliant before 2003, diesel had until about 2005 to be compliant.

You would soon find out by connecting a cheap OBD2 scanner. But if it did not power up at all, it just could be a fuse. See if there is a fuse for the power to the diagnostic connector.

For OBD1 you will need something better, though this will also be much better (deeper diagnosis) for OBD2. Try Forscan.

You will find a lot about ELM327 & Forscan on this site, which together provide a very comprehensive diagnosis & maintenance tool.

Forscan can cope with many pre-OBD2 cars. Note: chinese ELMs are notoriously variable in quality. May be duff or not compatible.

For ELM327 see:

http://www.spanglefish.com/TunnelratElectronics/index.asp?pageid=516992

you will also need a program called Forscan, its free and you can get it from

http://forscan.org/download.html

 

For more about compatibility, see

Please post here any results or queries. It is all useful info.

Peter

It is petrol. Where would i find the fuse for it?

It tells you in the handbook. The fuse, behind the glovebox, is shared between the diagnostic port and the radio, F18 I think labelled 'AUDIO'

Also, you had the ignition on when using the reader right?

Thats a good question. I cant remember if i did. Possibly not as there was no power going to it and i know the reader works

Ive just checked. With or without the ignition on there is some sort of power going to the reader. I am only using one of those cheap bluetooth ones off ebay but it works in every other car. When I plug it in it flashes green, amber then red. I have to keep it pushed in for it to illuminate and as soon as I let go the lights go out. But even with it pushed in, the light stays on red.

The power for the connector will be present with ignition in 0 (off) or1 (radio etc) perhaps, but the electronic modules being interrogated will only be active, and the buses active, with ignition in pos 2 (normal run).

Do know what the LEDs mean, at least they do something. Any manual (paper or on a CD) with the ELM?

(No, I never read manuals either, at least not until I am absolutely desperate, and it is the last resort!)

Peter.

Ignore my last post. I got it working but have to keep it pushed in annoyingly. Heres what it has come up with:

http://www.autocodes.com/p0171_ford.html

 

http://autocodes.info/powertrain/FORD-p0131ford.html

Possible duff oxygen sensor 

I've reset it and am going to see if it comes back on. I've read in several places that a loose filler cap can cause the EML to come on, and I filled up last night. I have tightened the cap up today in the hopes that maybe that was the problem...

Mix too lean could be a lot of things: leaks in the exhaust (before CAT), MAF or MAP sensors, or O2 sensor.

(I had a leak in the flexible coupling before the CAT on my V**censored**ll. As the coupling was part of the downpipe & CAT, I had to have to whole lot replaced. And they damaged the O2 sensor in the process, so that had to be replaced too.)

P0131 O2 Voltage too low is more specific. Implies the O2 sensor voltage is out of allowed bounds, ie a normally impossible reading, which would mean faulty sensor or its wiring.

As the O2 sensors operate in a very hostile environment, they have a limited lifetime, and will fail at some time.

Clearing & re-checking, as you have done, is probably a good idea.

If same P0131 error re-occurs, I recommend to change the sensor. You will need to check whether it needs setting up with the system or not. On a 2003 car you may be lucky & just have a simple fit & use.

Peter.