running too rich

[whippit]

could anyone give me some advice please, since buying the car a six weeks ago the cars run to rich, should i check CO settings or is it more likely to be cts sensor, the temp never rises above bottom line when driving, stuck on the m1 other day it went through the roof, i didnt hear the fans cycle in either, hardshoulder till it cooled, is it likely to be linked; help appreciated,

[ailwyn]

First port of call should be the thermostat or temp sensors, because if the ECU is seeing cold it will keep it rich.

Have you got Elanscan?

A.

[whippit]

the temp needle does move, it could be the stat opening late saying that the cabin heater does get warm quickly, not got a laptop so no elanscan, would checking co help and do you know the correct setting , thanks, tim

[Candles]

As mentioned, you need to check the basics first - is it warming up right? Elans run at about the 1/4 level on the gauge when in normal use and the heater blows very hot.

The CO adjuster won't get it anywhere near close if there is a problem elsewhere. How rich is it running? With a CO checker it should be about 1%+-0.5%.

The prime suspect if there is an issue is the Coolant Temp Sensor (CTS). It should read 7500Ohms at 0 degrees C and 185 Ohms at 100 degrees C. The first thing to check is the check engine light: CEL

[whippit]

To start with the basics, the car seams to run cool on the gauge, normal driving never gets the gauge from rest, stop for a few minutes engine running see's the gauge move slowly upward, the heater get's warm from the off but never to hot, the other day stuck in traffic the engine ran three quarter, the fans started i think, but i didnt want to risk it so pulled over to let it cool, the engine runs sweet with no fluffing, could it be as simple as a faulty CTS, i'll check resistance first thing ,

[Candles]

From the description I think it is simpler than that - thermostat stuck open.

[whippit]

any idea the easy way to check the stat without removing the housing, ?,

would it be that the bottom rad hose would stay cold till the stat opened,?

iv'e not needed any parts yet so not found a place to buy a stat housing gasket, wouldn'nt like to start the job without one to hand ,

[GeoffSmith]

A quick check would be to check the radiator hoses when starting from cold. If, as suspected, the 'stat is stuck open, the hoses soon will soon warm up, as coolant is circulating around the rad.

[bobface]

I now have a similar soot fest!

Having had a nice shiny new peco exhaust on my S2 (84k) has starting pumping soot all over the pipe and running rich (emptied the whole tank of shell v-power in 250 miles at relatively quick speeds).

Attached is an elanscan file i ran shortly after a 120mile trip to see what was on it (only remember laptop was in boot when i got home!).

I can see the Rich bit of the Air Fuel mode thing coming on and off, but other than that not really sure what i'm looking for. Could it be the new catless exhaust throwing it off, of the v-power fuel (i normally put tesco premium in instead). Temperature gauge appears to operate correctly (1/4 till i stop the 3/4). Fans kick in correcly etc.

Any thoughts?

[Edit: Just read some more posts, it has a standard ecu, i spent most of the trip cruising without boost on the m/w and i think the elanscan is telling me the CTS is working...]

Shaun