Please help! My check engine light is on, the one that puts the car in "decreased performance" mode. I read about it in the manual, and it said that it could be the catalytic converters, which i knew where toast. I got one of them replaced, the other I need to save some money for, but the lights still on.

Another part of it is that if i've been "spirited" driving, when i come to a stoplight, it searches for it's idle, and has died 3 times while at the light. sometimes i'll come to a light from high rpms and it'll just keep going all the way to 0 and die, then come back alive and search for idle.

Any ideas?

 

mine is too, but i didnt know it affects your performance, how do i know if it does??????

 

don't know.. it just said in the manual that it would be "Operating with decreased performance", could be like limp mode that bmw's have dunoo though.

 

even if u fix the prob u need to clear the code.

 

Either get the codes from Autozone who will scan the car, or get a VAGcom and find the codes.

Could be bad vacuum leak, dirty throttle body or numerous other problems.

 

i had this prob it is your o2 sensors.....

 

i figured it out, and it's a simple fix. ya HB, you're right it is the o2 sensors, i got my cats fixed but the ecu wasn't updated or remapped.

Here's the fix:
Disconnect the battery connection, so the ecu has no power. Step on then brake a couple times, and hold it for a little, maybe 30 seconds. Reconnct the battery, and viola, remapped ecu and probelm solved.

If it's a serious problem it'l come back on. Luckily mine didn't

 

It doesn't "remap the ecu". It just clears out the saved values and faults. You don't have to hold the brake down either. Just disconnect the ECU or the battery for a half hour or so.

 

make sure you have your radio id code though, lot of people doin that dont have the code and it ends up costin them $$$

 

WOW! This is a lot easier than what I thought in clearing the CEL. I thought you have to disconnect the battery, open and close all windows, open the trunk, open all doors and then step on the brake for 5 minutes. [sm=burnout.gif]