*Guide* How to do the paperclip test

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z3P
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*Guide* How to do the paperclip test

Post by z3P »

Here is a quick guide to the Paper Clip test It gives you any fault codes that may have been loged by your ECU, makes fault finding easier! 8)
Bear in mind this test wont work on x10xe and x12xe engines (1.0i 12v and 1.2 16v)

Just before you start, make sure you note the following:

* If you don't have one, buy a Haynes manual for your car and have this is front of you if you find a fault and wish to investigate it.
* You'll need a paper clip and a pencil and paper to jot down the fault codes as they are flashed up.
* You do not need to start the engine but it doesn't hurt. Just switching on the electric's is enough (i.e. dash lights come on).
* If the paper clip is inserted in the wrong 2 pins, it is unlikely to damage anything, but double check you have the correct connections in the first place.
* For the ECU to log a fault, the ECU warning lamp on the dash usually has to be on for more than 30 seconds.


Pop the cover on the fuse board off!
Image

there's what you're looking for
Image


This is the 16pin layout

Image


put the paperClip in between A-B or if you have the 16 pin layout place it in 5-6 and turn the key
Image

The EM light will now flash you the code iv highlighted it Here.
Image

its also worth noting it maybe nessasery to have the engine running (unless it wont start) or you may get incorrect codes

A flash is indicated by an astrix ( * ) and a pause is shown as a dash ( - )

*-** (12) flash, 1 pause and another 2 flashes = code 12.
*-** (12)
*-** (12)

**-*** (23) so if it flashes 2 times then a pause and another 3 you will get code 23.
**-*** (23)
**-*** (23)

Note it will flash you (*-**) = code 12. three times as a starting point then flash you the codes.
this can be confusing but it is pretty simple for example if it flashed
******-******* this would be code 67
the first flashes (before the pause) count the 10s and the second flashes (after the pause) counts the ones
so *****-*** would be code 53

How to read Simtec 56.5 Flash Codes
if you find your not getting a code 12 to begin with, chances are you have a Simtec 56.5 ecu
these work slightly diffrent as its a 4 digit code rather than 2, and it dosnt show a "start of diagnotic" code
these work like this:

**********-*-*-***** (10 flashs, 1 pause, 1 flash, 1 pause , 1 flash, 1 pause and 5 flashes would be: 0115)
**********-*-*-***** (0115)
**********-*-*-***** (0115)

again it should repeat eachcode 3 times before moving to the next (if more than 1 fault)

**********-***-***-********** (10 flashes, 1 pause, 3 flashes, 1 pause, 3 flashes, 1 pause, 10 flashes, would be: 0330)
**********-***-***-********** (0330)
**********-***-***-********** (0330)


Now check the table below for the fault code

Code: Item: Fault:

12 Initiation of diagnosis. n/a
13 Oxygen sensor No change in voltage/open circuit.
14 Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS) Low voltage
15 Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS) High voltage
16 Knock signal circuit n/a
18 Knock control processor n/a
19 Crank Angle Sensor (CAS) Incorrect RPM signal
21 Throttle Potentiometer Sensor (TPS) High voltage
22 Throttle Potentiometer Sensor (TPS) Low voltage
23 Knock Sensor N/A
24 Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) No speed signal or low voltage
25 Injector valve Low voltage
28 Fuel pump relay contacts Contact problem
29 Fuel pump relay Low voltage
32 Fuel pump relay High voltage
33 Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor High voltage
34 Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor Low voltage
35 Idle stepper motor Poor or no idle speed control
41 Amplifier control signal, cylinders 2 and 3 (Direct Ignition System (DIS)) High voltage
42 Amplifier control signal, cylinders 1 and 4 (Direct Ignition System (DIS)) High voltage
43 Primary ignition (distributor systems) High voltage
44 Oxygen sensor Air/Fuel mixture too lean (weak)
45 Oxygen sensor Air/Fuel mixture too rich
46 Amplifier (Direct Ignition System (DIS)) control signal (A+B) High voltage
47 Linear exhaust gas re-circulation (EGR) position n/a
49 Battery supply to Engine Control Unit (ECU) High voltage (greater than 17 volts)
51 Engine Control Unit (ECU) Defective ECU Memory failure
52 Secondary air pump relay Low voltage
53 Secondary air pump relay High voltage
54 Idle Carbon Monoxide (CO) potentiometer n/a
55 Engine Control Unit (ECU) fault Renew Engine Control Unit (ECU)
56 Air control soleniod Low voltage
57 Air control soleniod High voltage
61 Fuel tank vent valve (FTVV) Low voltage
62 Fuel tank vent valve (FTVV) High voltage
63 Amplifier control signal, cylinders 2 and 3 (Direct Ignition System (DIS)) Low voltage
64 Amplifier control signal, cylinders 1 and 4 (Direct Ignition System (DIS)) Low voltage
65 Primary ignition (distributor systems) Low voltage
66 Throttle position sensor (TPS) Hose broken
67 Air Flow Sensor (AFS), hot wire meter (air mass meter) Signal is outside normal operation parameters (out of range)
68 Air Flow Sensor (AFS), hot wire meter (air mass meter) Faulty air mass meter signal, incorrect frequency
69 Air Temperature Sensor (ATS) (MPi only) Low voltage
71 Air Temperature Sensor (ATS) (MPi only) High voltage
72 Amplifier (Direct Ignition System (DIS)) control signal (A+B) Lead interruption, open circuit
75 Torque control (Automatic Transmission (AT) only) Low voltage
76 Torque control (Automatic Transmission (AT) only) Continuous
81 Injector valve High voltage
83 Immobiliser No or wrong code
84 Immobiliser No signal
85 Immobiliser Wrong signal
87 Air conditioning cut-off relay Low voltage
88 Air conditioning cut-off relay High voltage
92 Camshaft sensor Faulty hall effect sensor or circuit
93 Quad drive module (in ECU) n/a

How to read Simtec 56.5 Flash Codes

0100 Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor n/a
0105 Intake manifold pressure sensor n/a
0110 Intake Air Temperature Sesnor (ATS) n/a
0115 Intake Coolant Temperature Sesnor (CTS) n/a
0120 Throttle Potentiometer Sensor (TPS) n/a
0130 Heated Exhaust Gas Oxygen (HEGO) sensor n/a
0135 Heated Exhaust Gas Oxygen (HEGO) sensor heater n/a
0150 Heated Exhaust Gas Oxygen (HEGO) sensor n/a
0173 Heated Exhaust Gas Oxygen (HEGO) sensor n/a
0201 Injector valve 1 n/a
0202 Injector valve 2 n/a
0203 Injector valve 3 n/a
0204 Injector valve 4 n/a
0205 Injector valve 5 n/a
0206 Injector valve 6 n/a
0230 Fuel pump n/a
0325 Knock sensor n/a
0330 Knock sensor 2 n/a
0335 Crank sensor n/a
0340 Camshaft sensor n/a
0351 Ignition coil 1 and 4 n/a
0352 Ignition coil 2 and 3 n/a
0400 Exhaust gas circulation valve n/a
0403 Exhaust Gas Re-circulation (EGR) valve n/a
0410 Secondary air pump relay n/a
0412 Secondary solenoid valve n/a
0433 Tank vent valve n/a
0500 Idle speed stepper motor/idle air regulator n/a
0560 Battery n/a
1110 Switch over valve solenoid n/a
1112 Switch over valve 1 n/a
1113 Switch over valve 2 n/a
1120 Throttle body malfunction n/a
1229 Power supply relay n/a
1231 Fuel pump relay n/a
1320 Knock control cylinder 1 n/a
1327 Knock control cylinder 2 n/a
1328 Knock control cylinder 3 n/a
1329 Knock control cylinder 4 n/a
1405 Exhaust Gas Re-circulation (EGR) valve n/a
1410 Secondary air pump relay n/a
1411 Secondary air pump n/a
1501 Immobiliser control unit n/a
1502 Immobiliser control unit n/a
1503 Immobiliser control unit n/a
1530 Air flow relay n/a
1600 Internal control module n/a
1601 Engine Control Unit (ECU) too hot n/a
1602 Knock control module n/a
1604 Knock control unit n/a
1605 Knock control unit n/a
1606 Knock control unit n/a
1640 Knock control unit or quad drive module n/a
1690 MIL/Engine fail (malfunction indicator lamp) n/a
1740 Torque control unit
Last edited by Octane2097 on Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: added codes for Simtec 56.5 ecu
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