Scary Yellow Engine Light On!


Scooter

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Apr 15, 2009
168
My Yellow Engine Light is on...about a month ago I had the motor stall a few time and decided I may need to replace the filler neck but for the past few rides the motor has been fine(only put about 40 miles on her since the stalling ended) everything running well now except for the yellow warning light will not shut off

Thanks for any help!
 

soroush

Ford Gt Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Aug 8, 2007
5,256
hook up a sct tuner to capture the code, then you can look it up see what it is. probably nothing serious. usually a o2 sensor code or something

btw, it is the "check engine" light and not the "gauge" light correct?
 
Aug 25, 2006
4,436
My Yellow Engine Light is on...about a month ago I had the motor stall a few time and decided I may need to replace the filler neck but for the past few rides the motor has been fine(only put about 40 miles on her since the stalling ended) everything running well now except for the yellow warning light will not shut off

Thanks for any help!

Please follow Soroush's suggestion and confirm what the code that caused the light on is; if the filler neck consider tending to it. Now for the light to remain on means that there is a present fault.

FYI the system internal test performed to validate that it is operating properly is intermittent and does not occur when the tank above 3/4 or below 1/4 as such the stalling may have stopped however something else is present.

Takes care

Shadowman
 
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OzGT

GT Owner
Aug 21, 2006
290
South of Sydney, AUS
My scary yellow light has been on most of the time I've had a whipple. It result from a bit of richness in the tune, which seems to upset the computer slightly and throws up a code. I got sick of getting the tuner to clear it, as it would come back again usually with a few hours of driving.

Ironically I have the same scary yellow light on in my RS6 as a result of ECU flashing. The tuners just had one error code they couldn't clear. It'll get done next time it goes in.
 
Aug 25, 2006
4,436
My scary yellow light has been on most of the time I've had a whipple. It result from a bit of richness in the tune, which seems to upset the computer slightly and throws up a code. I got sick of getting the tuner to clear it, as it would come back again usually with a few hours of driving.

Ironically I have the same scary yellow light on in my RS6 as a result of ECU flashing. The tuners just had one error code they couldn't clear. It'll get done next time it goes in.

I must chime in

The Whipple and associated tune should not be a cause for this aka the scary yellow light

When the gal is being driven as normal she remains in closed loop aka OBDII compliant mode during which time the O2 sensors are constantly being monitored as such the PCM is making never ending fuel trim adjustments and it is only during this condition that the scary yellow light can come into play "however" no tuning is manipulated for these variables aka closed loop as such if it comes on then look for an issue because when you drop the hammer aka put your foot down and truly exercise her she then goes into open loop mode during which time the OBDII systems are not monitored hence no scary light can be created even "if" rich as stated.

Takes care

Shadowman
 

OzGT

GT Owner
Aug 21, 2006
290
South of Sydney, AUS
I must chime in

The Whipple and associated tune should not be a cause for this aka the scary yellow light

When the gal is being driven as normal she remains in closed loop aka OBDII compliant mode during which time the O2 sensors are constantly being monitored as such the PCM is making never ending fuel trim adjustments and it is only during this condition that the scary yellow light can come into play "however" no tuning is manipulated for these variables aka closed loop as such if it comes on then look for an issue because when you drop the hammer aka put your foot down and truly exercise her she then goes into open loop mode during which time the OBDII systems are not monitored hence no scary light can be created even "if" rich as stated.

Takes care

Shadowman

Fair enough, but that is what my tuner reckons causes the light to come back on after resetting. He 's very conservative and wants to run my car a tad on the rich side whilst it still have relatively low miles (sub 2000 still). I'll put your thoughts back to him for comment and see what he says.
 
Aug 25, 2006
4,436
Fair enough, but that is what my tuner reckons causes the light to come back on after resetting. He 's very conservative and wants to run my car a tad on the rich side whilst it still have relatively low miles (sub 2000 still). I'll put your thoughts back to him for comment and see what he says.

Rest assured that tuning the gal fat under open loop aka wide open throttle or for that matter at any time she is in open loop can not cause it; he should be able to pull a code and quickly tell what the story is .... otherwise.....

I welcome his call or email if he has any questions; I mean not to get in the middle but rather help as I can so please share this with him.

Takes care

Shadowman
 

OzGT

GT Owner
Aug 21, 2006
290
South of Sydney, AUS
Rest assured that tuning the gal fat under open loop aka wide open throttle or for that matter at any time she is in open loop can not cause it; he should be able to pull a code and quickly tell what the story is .... otherwise.....

I welcome his call or email if he has any questions; I mean not to get in the middle but rather help as I can so please share this with him.

Takes care

Shadowman

Yeah no probs. The forum is always helpful like that. I can't expect us to know that much about a car like the GT working on our own over here. I have passed it on. If he doesn't get back to me via email, I'll ask him for his comments next time we speak.
 
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OzGT

GT Owner
Aug 21, 2006
290
South of Sydney, AUS
Rest assured that tuning the gal fat under open loop aka wide open throttle or for that matter at any time she is in open loop can not cause it; he should be able to pull a code and quickly tell what the story is .... otherwise.....

I welcome his call or email if he has any questions; I mean not to get in the middle but rather help as I can so please share this with him.

Takes care

Shadowman

Ok my tuner has come back with the following comment:

In your case I have richened the fuel up on deceleration to keep engine cooler after coming of high boost this is is triggering the light.I would recommend that each light activation be checked out just in case something is developing.I don't no about over there but a high ethanol content in fuel will trigger a light on most cars here.
 
Aug 25, 2006
4,436
Ok my tuner has come back with the following comment:

Thank you for the information as shared; I truly was only looking to assist if possible.

It would be nice to know what the code is that is triggering your light when time permits.

All the best

Shadowman
 

OzGT

GT Owner
Aug 21, 2006
290
South of Sydney, AUS
Thank you for the information as shared; I truly was only looking to assist if possible.

It would be nice to know what the code is that is triggering your light when time permits.

All the best

Shadowman

No worries, I know he's more than keen for the feedback, just as I am. May take a little while till I can get the code itself as since my gal is currently 'whipple-less'. I don't know if my tuner knows the code off hand but I'll ask.
 

Scooter

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Apr 15, 2009
168
Update

Here is a update to my yellow engine warning light. I Still have not been to the dealer to check engine codes but I did drive until the tank was almost empty without a stall. I filled it up with BP yesturday drove about 30 miles (yellow light still on) and I had a stall near the end of my one hour drive with a full tank, funny thing was I sat during the stall for a moment wondering what was going on because the tachometer was reading 800 RPM and with the stereo on I couldn't hear the motor..turns out the tach is stuck in that position now and is not working anymore!:ack

Help!
 

OzGT

GT Owner
Aug 21, 2006
290
South of Sydney, AUS
Thank you for the information as shared; I truly was only looking to assist if possible.

It would be nice to know what the code is that is triggering your light when time permits.

All the best

Shadowman

Ok, I have got the actual code(s) back from my tuner he states they are as follows:
P1131,P1132,P0172,P0175 these all refer to the front oxygen sensors seeing a rich mixture.
 

nota4re

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Feb 15, 2006
4,320
OzGT,

I know there's probably not a lot of tuner choices in your area - but your really need to have someone else tune your car - seriously. The gentleman doing it, in fact, may be a very nice person but I can tell you that with these codes and his responses, he does not have a clue of the BASICS of tuning. I'm sorry to be so candid, and I don't mean to offend, but YOUR engine is at stake here.

As both Shadowman and I have tried to tell you earlier in this thread, you should have NO CODES with the whipple. In anything beyond modest throttle positions, the car is in "Open Loop" mode and it DOES NOT look at its O2 sensors AT ALL while in Open Loop. The ECU is only looking at the O2's when you are in "Closed Loop" driving.... normal low to very modest throttle positions. Whoever has programmed your car has screwed up Closed Loop operation (hence the codes), so God knows what is happening when you are really on it.

Have someone else tune it - or get a tune from Heffner, Torrie, or Shadowman and stop playing with fire!

Good luck, my friend!
 

KJRGT

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
May 4, 2006
2,840
SoCal
OzGT,

I know there's probably not a lot of tuner choices in your area - but your really need to have someone else tune your car - seriously. The gentleman doing it, in fact, may be a very nice person but I can tell you that with these codes and his responses, he does not have a clue of the BASICS of tuning. I'm sorry to be so candid, and I don't mean to offend, but YOUR engine is at stake here.

As both Shadowman and I have tried to tell you earlier in this thread, you should have NO CODES with the whipple. In anything beyond modest throttle positions, the car is in "Open Loop" mode and it DOES NOT look at its O2 sensors AT ALL while in Open Loop. The ECU is only looking at the O2's when you are in "Closed Loop" driving.... normal low to very modest throttle positions. Whoever has programmed your car has screwed up Closed Loop operation (hence the codes), so God knows what is happening when you are really on it.

Have someone else tune it - or get a tune from Heffner, Torrie, or Shadowman and stop playing with fire!

Good luck, my friend!


Scooter, you have the best experience and input available to you here with Kendall and the Shadowman.....don't discount their experience. :thumbsup
 

OzGT

GT Owner
Aug 21, 2006
290
South of Sydney, AUS
OzGT,

I know there's probably not a lot of tuner choices in your area - but your really need to have someone else tune your car - seriously. The gentleman doing it, in fact, may be a very nice person but I can tell you that with these codes and his responses, he does not have a clue of the BASICS of tuning. I'm sorry to be so candid, and I don't mean to offend, but YOUR engine is at stake here.

As both Shadowman and I have tried to tell you earlier in this thread, you should have NO CODES with the whipple. In anything beyond modest throttle positions, the car is in "Open Loop" mode and it DOES NOT look at its O2 sensors AT ALL while in Open Loop. The ECU is only looking at the O2's when you are in "Closed Loop" driving.... normal low to very modest throttle positions. Whoever has programmed your car has screwed up Closed Loop operation (hence the codes), so God knows what is happening when you are really on it.

Have someone else tune it - or get a tune from Heffner, Torrie, or Shadowman and stop playing with fire!

Good luck, my friend!

You would be right in saying there are not a lot of tuners local, let alone ones I'd let touch my GT. One of the other local tuners of some regard, blew up my cobra on his dyno. My current tuner is one of the more respected guys in my area, let alone one of a very few with a dyno. I was put on to him by my good friend who owns a racing team as they have used him to perfect the tune on their Ford racing utes. He has a long pedigree in high performance street and racing. The GT may not be an every day tuning job for him, but that's no different for any tuner in this country. I could go an hour up the road and try to find someone across Sydney, but that would be a serious undertaking and it very hard to even know where to start with a car like the GT. Straight away, we'd also run into the issue of pretty much no one else here having the SCT tuning software, since there are so few US fords or GMs that get tuned here.
 
H

HHGT

Guest
Scooter, you have the best experience and input available to you here with Kendall and the Shadowman.....don't discount their experience. :thumbsup

+1
 

Triheart7

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 3, 2007
2,581
Northern California
Scooter, you have the best experience and input available to you here with Kendall and the Shadowman.....don't discount their experience. :thumbsup

I'll second that as well. Had my new Whipple for the weekend. Runs like a dream. No lights. Thanks to Shadowman.:thumbsup
 

cobrar1339

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Feb 2, 2006
956
Diamond Bar, Ca
One more nudge. I have been in your shoes, but not with the GT.

Curious though, where is the tune that came with the Whipple, did you not get one?. You should have an SCT device, right?...If you do, it could be a little bit cheaper fix. If not, read on.


If you have a bolt on Whipple, with no odd mods, this is very easily solved. maybe you are not aware how easy:

1. An SCT device is sent with a loaded tune. You pay for the device and the tune itself.
2. Plug it in push the button .wait a min. Done. ....Do it yourself type job.
3. Drive normal as a test and the problems should be gone.

4. If something were still wrong the SCT will give you the codes and Forum Tuner should be able to help you out as to what else to check for.

Many sources for the tune Heffner, Torrie or Shadowman.

Start enjoying your car again:thumbsup


FYI - When you load the new tune - The old tuners version is stored on the SCT device. The old questionable tune can be re-loaded in a min if you so desire. Your tuner can work with it. He can also compare the files to see where the problem is and will also learn something that may help later on. It's a two min job round trip.


Kendall is right, your are playing with fire. If they are using software that is new to them, it makes things harder for them at first. Might be a good guy, but good guy or not ...well you know the story from the other car.
 

OzGT

GT Owner
Aug 21, 2006
290
South of Sydney, AUS
One more nudge. I have been in your shoes, but not with the GT.

Curious though, where is the tune that came with the Whipple, did you not get one?. You should have an SCT device, right?...If you do, it could be a little bit cheaper fix. If not, read on.


If you have a bolt on Whipple, with no odd mods, this is very easily solved. maybe you are not aware how easy:

1. An SCT device is sent with a loaded tune. You pay for the device and the tune itself.
2. Plug it in push the button .wait a min. Done. ....Do it yourself type job.
3. Drive normal as a test and the problems should be gone.

I'm no stranger to the SCT thing here. I've dealt with 3 diff well know US tuners covering all of my svt cars. First off I no longer believe in off the shelf tunes, especially here with the fuel differences. In every mail order tune I've had They have run too lean in my cars. Plus in all cases my tuner has started with a base file from the US tuner, in this case MMP. Regardless of my rich fuel and yellow light scenario, my car has run without hitch. It has also been run hard for those who remember the Oz Top Gear seg my car was on. I appreciate all the concern but as I've said many times in the past to folks on various forums, you can't always overlay the US experience with what were doing here. Just as much as I've also told guys here not to reinvent the wheel
in tuning US cars here.
 
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