Engine fault light on after (nearly) running out of fuel
 

Hi,
I'm a newby here so appologies if this is covered elsewhere. I recently got a C30 1.6D DRIVe to do the weekly commute. I've probably clocked up about 1k miles in the few weeks since getting it and the car has been great so far and has been a joy to drive.

However, I nearly ran out of fuel the other day and since then the engine light has been on.

Basically, it went like this:
1) went out to the pub the car for a carvery, fuel was a bit low but it was running fine (fuel warning light was on);
2) left the pub, the ca was struggling for power a bit on acceleration, particularly up hills but no warning light;
3) filled the car with diesel (half a tank);
4) left the petrol station and the warning light came on;

I checked the 'secret menu' and I have DTCs in a few places including the Engine Control Module and Info Control Module. However, I don't have a proper DTC scanner to read the individual codes and the Volvo dealer quoted me £138 per hour to diagnose the fault (!!!).

I've ordered a cheap bluetooth DTC scanner to see if I can at least get the generic codes off the ECU, but in the meantime I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas what might be the problem, eg:

1) can running out of fuel cause a DTC (on its own) or is it more likely that it could have caused a knock on problem?
2) If it was just a temporary problem should the engine management light go off at the next start cycle or does it hang around until the code is deleted?

Any comments or suggestions would be welcome.

NB - I have done a few miles since in the hope that it was just a bit of crud that had got into the system hoping it would pull through.

Cheers,

Wil

scanner.
 

hi where can you get the scanner from,and how much ?
sorry to jump in.

Hi Tails, I ordered it from Ebay, but I'll refrain from recommending it yet.
I'll post how I get on with it once it arrives.

Cheers,

Just as a bit more info. When I turned the key on this evening to drive home I got a (!) warning light with an 'Engine System Service Urgent' message.

I pressed and hold the trip reset button (as seen on some Youtube channel) and got a '020' fault code up.

Anyone know what this code is for?

Cheers,


PS the car seemed to drive ok this evening (pick up good, etc) but the engine management light is still on.

If you ran the car quite low on diesel it could have dragged all the crap up into the fuel filter.

If it hasn't been changed in a while, might be worth changing it now.

Quick google search and fuel filter is mentioned along with 020 DTC.

Thanks Petey. That's pretty much what I suspected.
Hopefully, the OBD scanner will come tomorrow so I'll post the results of that for anyone interested.

However, I think changing the filter will be a good shout. I've no idea when the last service was done so it might be worth giving it a good service anyway so I know where I am with it.

Cheers,

A new Filter would be my starting point.:teeth_smile:

Cool. Thanks S60D5.

I'm thinking of getting a service kit, just so that I know that Oil, fuel and air has been done.

Does anyone know what these cheap kits are like?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-C30...5Aek:rk:4:pf:0

Or is it worth payuing the extra £20 for Volvo parts?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Service-K...YvYr:rk:1:pf:0

Cheers,

I take the happy medium and usually get;

Castrol Oil - Tesco or Asda usually have 4 litres on offer.

BOSCH Oil filter - Euro Car Parts sell fairly cheap.

Ford Fuel filter
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-F...53.m1438.l2649

or

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-FOCU...53.m1438.l2649

BOSCH Pollen filter - Euro Car Parts sell fairly cheap

But it's all down to personal preference and budget.

I'd probably get a Bosch air filter as well but replaced mine with serviceable Ramair filter - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RAMAIR-Re...TbO0:rk:7:pf:0

Can be found cheaper if you look hard enough.