2.5 TD 1995 and EPIC Diagnostics

[Drifter753]

Hi there!
I have just joined the forum to try and find some info on the EPIC system on a camper van belonging to a friend of mine. The van was imported from Switzerland in about 2004.

I have driven it for some miles now, and it seems a very sluggish beast! I'm fairly sure the turbo is not doing anything useful.

I guess that it is in 'limp mode' and I probably need to have the codes read to find out why, as I have checked virtually everything and no faults are apparent.

I have two questions for the forum:
First; does anyone in Suffolk have a Laser 2000 to read the codes?

And secondly; I have a Mega Macs 66 diagnostic system (by Hella Guttmann) which allows me to select a '95 2.5 TD Transit 150L and gives options of EPIC 1 or 2. Does anyone out there know which it would be? Or have any experience of the Mega Macs and EPIC?

I would like to just plug in the Mega Macs and see what it says, but I am currently a fair distance from the van and don't want to make a speculative trip to it!

Thanks in advance for any useful input...

[twin wheel camper]

Is the red engine light on? It should be on with all other lights when first turning the key then when started should go off instantly or if there is a stored fault code it should go off after 3-5 seconds.
If it’s not coming on at all the bulb has probably being removed to hide a fault
If the engine is in limp mode the light will be on and not clear until the fault has being fixed.
The only code readers that work on the epic are Lucas laser and ford fds (I think that’s what it’s called)
Anything else seems to be a waste of time

[davetheshrew]

check for any split air pipes, check the maf sensor, not much else to look at, then disconnect the battery for 30 mins and plug back in, see if anything changes.

[Drifter753]

Thanks 'Twin Wheel' and Dave for your input.
I've discovered 'remotely' that the van has not got a diagnostic socket in the fuse box. It has 3-way and 2-way plugs hanging around in the glove box, adjacent to the DCU; I think this makes the van an EARLY '95 model, or possibly earlier? I don't know what info DVLA use when a vehicle is imported in order to give it a dated Reg No. (It's an M reg).

Whatever year it was built, it rules out using my Mega Macs on it, but it would be interesting to find out if it will talk to the EPIC system. If there's anyone near me in Suffolk with an ageing 2.5 TD with EPIC, I'd like the opportunity to plug it in. Could be useful to other forum members...

I should be able to get to the van next week and will be able to check out the suggestions given so far; i'll let you know results as soon as...

[MinorMatt]

I can plug it in... but nowhere near you.

But all you need to interogate the ECU on a mk4 is a paperclip, and then look at the blink codes

[Drifter753]

Big "Thank You" to Matt for info on reading blink codes.

Having read them, I now have a list of 13 codes, all different. With a casual glance, the only part that is NOT invoked is the MAP sensor!

The codes are, in order of appearance: 24, 13, 16, 55, 54, 22, 23, 61, 43, 34, 41, 35, 45.

So, the questions I have to ask are:
Does the ECU buffer x number of codes until full, then overwrite the oldest?
If not, do all these codes refer to a single event?
If the ECU buffers codes, can I clear them and start from scratch? (If I can, how?)

And just for the record, MIL/Engine management light is ON at switch-on, extinguishes after starting. Also, no obvious signs of any vacuum leaks or faulty vac pipes.

[MinorMatt]

Ok so someone has unplugged just about everything when the ignition was on... ideally the codes should be cleared and re-read at a later date.

When you say light goes out at start up is it almost immediate or after 5ish seconds?

Given it does go out it will only be a minor fault so I would start with a resistance check on the coolant sensor

[Drifter753]

Yes, that's what I thought may have happened.

MIL goes off almost immediately.
I will check the water temp sensor over the weekend.

The burning question is still "How do I clear the codes?"

[cherniy_chack]

The burning question is still "How do I clear the codes?"

What does the Russian guru Sirrega write about this:
"Сделал сейчас повторно диагностику таким макаром.
1. Включил зажигание.
2. Замкнул на 10сек разъем.
3. Посмотрел на мигание "Джеки Чана" минут 5-6.
4. Дождался кода 11, и не выключая зажигания повторно замкнул разъем.
5. Повторно проверил ошибки. Небыло. Стерлись.
6. Запустил мотор, погазавал. После вчерашнего не выезжал.
7. Повторная диагностика показала ошибку 34 sad управление Егра."
http://transit-club.com/forum/19-468-12 ... 1234611288
I have now re-diagnosed this way.
1. I switched on the ignition.
2. Closed for 10 seconds connector.
3. I looked at the flashing "Jackie Chan" minutes 5-6.
4. Wait for code 11, and without turning off the ignition re-closed the connector.
5. I checked the errors again. Did not have. Stirred.
6. I started the engine, I pinched it off. After yesterday did not leave.
7. Re-diagnosis showed error 34 control of Egra.
Close the contacts of the diagnostic connector for 10 seconds and wait for the code "11".
Close the diagnostic socket contacts again.

[Drifter753]

The burning question is still "How do I clear the codes?"

What does the Russian guru Sirrega write about this:
"Сделал сейчас повторно диагностику таким макаром.
1. Включил зажигание.
2. Замкнул на 10сек разъем.
3. Посмотрел на мигание "Джеки Чана" минут 5-6.
4. Дождался кода 11, и не выключая зажигания повторно замкнул разъем.
5. Повторно проверил ошибки. Небыло. Стерлись.
6. Запустил мотор, погазавал. После вчерашнего не выезжал.
7. Повторная диагностика показала ошибку 34 sad управление Егра."
http://transit-club.com/forum/19-468-12 ... 1234611288
I have now re-diagnosed this way.
1. I switched on the ignition.
2. Closed for 10 seconds connector.
3. I looked at the flashing "Jackie Chan" minutes 5-6.
4. Wait for code 11, and without turning off the ignition re-closed the connector.
5. I checked the errors again. Did not have. Stirred.
6. I started the engine, I pinched it off. After yesterday did not leave.
7. Re-diagnosis showed error 34 control of Egra.
Close the contacts of the diagnostic connector for 10 seconds and wait for the code "11".
Close the diagnostic socket contacts again.

I'll see if this makes sense when I'm next in the van.
But don't hold your breath!