Engine light on dash

[Cuppa]

Can anyone tell me what the potential causes for the engine light to illuminate on the dash are please?

Ours has been coming on & off for a while, but only when on the more severe corrugations. It started after I had changed the main fuel filter. I've checked the wiring connection which seems ok, but am wondering if somehow it could be the float mechanism at the bottom of the filter jumping around........ or something completely different. I recall it happened for a while when we were back home, but can't recall what resolved it, I think it may have just stopped by itself.

[MudRunnerTD]

Mine comes on constantly. drives me nuts. Mine is linked ot the Tacho Sensor which also drops out on mine causing the Aircon to also stop. I need to replace my Tacho Sensor which is about $500 damn it.

As i understand it it is also linked to the sensor on Number 1 injector to the fuel pump. Mine no longer has this sensor so became redundant but yours dies. I expect it is a loose wire to be honest in that environment if all else is fine. Spray the injector 1 with electrical contact cleaner and jiggle the wires around a little and se it that helps at all. Trace that wire from Number 1 and unplug t and clean the plugs.

[Yeti's Beast]

Or take the globe out [emoji1787]


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[0-TJ-0]

As with Darren mine was doing similar things and it turned out to be the tach sensor in the front of the motor. If that goes it puts the whole egr system into a limp mode of sorts. I don't think it will illuminate even if there is an error with no1 injector though, I've had my no1 unplugged before with no light.

I think the sensor in the fuel filter illuminates a seperate light doesn't it?

[MudRunnerTD]

As with Darren mine was doing similar things and it turned out to be the tach sensor in the front of the motor. If that goes it puts the whole egr system into a limp mode of sorts. I don't think it will illuminate even if there is an error with no1 injector though, I've had my no1 unplugged before with no light.

I think the sensor in the fuel filter illuminates a seperate light doesn't it?

Yeah i was hoping it would stop when i put the 12mm pump in and no longer run the #1 Injector link. It cuts out the Aircon and Tacho which sux. Did you replace yours? I am struggling wth the $500 replacement cost but might have to bite the bullet.

[Cuppa]

Where in the front of the motor is this tacho sensor? Is it worth checking out if I have had no problem with tacho readings, including when engine light is going on & off?

[nissannewby]

There is a connector on the bottom of the injector pump on the td42ti engine. It will throw the engine light if there is a problem or its disconnected. Being towards the bottom of the engine they can sometimes have a dodgy connection. Also in the rough it could be the wires going to it.

[0-TJ-0]

Yeah i was hoping it would stop when i put the 12mm pump in and no longer run the #1 Injector link. It cuts out the Aircon and Tacho which sux. Did you replace yours? I am struggling wth the $500 replacement cost but might have to bite the bullet.

Yep I did mine when I was still running the TI pump. Didn't pay $500 though. I reckon you want the 3 wire https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2 F292405095715. That looks like a patrolapart item $300ish. Think they were a touch cheaper when I got one.

Cuppa, it's on the front of the engine towards the top middle. You should be able to see the cable for it, 3 wire jobbie i think. Sorry I don't have mine to reference.. It's getting some love after a knob-end ran into the back of it. I think when mine started to fail the tacho was still working. Also check that connector that nissannewby is talking about. That's about the only other sensor that would set that light off I think.

[Hodge]

Not 100% on this ....
I've read two or three times that a possible culprit could be the ambient sensor.
Apparently when this fails connection with the pump, or gets damaged , it can throw a ecu light.

This is meant to be behind the grille somewhere ,but I never found it on my car.

https://patrolapart.com.au/product/genuine-nissan-patrol-gu-td42ti-ambient-air-temp-sensor

[mudski]

Not 100% on this ....
I've read two or three times that a possible culprit could be the ambient sensor.
Apparently when this fails connection with the pump, or gets damaged , it can throw a ecu light.

This is meant to be behind the grille somewhere ,but I never found it on my car.

https://patrolapart.com.au/product/genuine-nissan-patrol-gu-td42ti-ambient-air-temp-sensor

That amibient sensor is for the Ti models which have an outside temp display and climate control.

Cuppa, try just disconnecting the loom to the fuel filter and leave it off for a while. If the issue goes you know where to look...

[Hodge]

That amibient sensor is for the Ti models which have an outside temp display and climate control.

Cuppa, try just disconnecting the loom to the fuel filter and leave it off for a while. If the issue goes you know where to look...I didn't know there was a Ti variant in td42 range...


Straight off Patrolapart:
Suit GU*Patrols with TD42ti (factory turbo intercooled engines ONLY)

This is the ambient air temperator sensor that is connected to the engine ECU.

This is very important that is is in good working order, as it adjusts the timing of the injector pump to suit the ambient temperature.

[Cuppa]

Checked the wire & connectors under the fuel pump first. All seemed ok, or at least the engine light didn't come on when I was jiggling them.

Next looked for & found (I think) the tacho sensor wire. Whether this was the cause or not - it needed attention. It's connector - higher up on the top left front of the motor - had broken off it's steel mounting plate, the able had also come out of a cable holder bolted to the motor & was obviously able to flop around quite a lot. The corrugated plastic conduit around the cable had obviously made contact with the fan blade & was torn. Amazingly though the cable itself appeared undamaged. Connector re-mounted with cable ties & measures taken to ensure the cable can't get close to the fan blades again, or onto the belts below it. I held the fan blades whilst MrsTea started the motor (I knew I could, but still scary) & then jiggled the cable, sensor rubber cover & connector (with a length of stick - not putting my hands down there whilst belts are moving in close proximity!). Still no engine light coming on.

Couldn't find the ambient temp sensor, but didn't look too hard as the ambient temp was in the 'bloody hot' category out in the full sun.

Will now wait until we drive on corrugations again to see if the engine light coming on as been sorted.

BTW I thought the denomination for the factory intercooled TD42's was TD42i ..... Not TD42Ti :) I'll look for the ambient air temp sensor if the engine light is still coming on .......& when we have a shadier spot to park up.

Supplementary question 1: What light illuminates on the dash if the fuel filter gets enough water in it?

Supplementary question 2: I have had issues with a few of Nissan's plastic cable connectors either breaking or being seized closed over the past couple of years, they are buggers especially when difficult to reach & often appear unneccesarily complex. At 13 years old they seem to be getting toward the end of their life. Can they be bought & if so are there model numbers for them? Or what are the best aftermarket connectors to replace them with, given that many are supposed to be waterproof. A couple I couldn't get apart I just cut off & replaced with spade terminals + tape, but it might be good to carry a few waterproof multi pin connectors as well?

[0-TJ-0]

I thought it had its own little fuel filter light on the TD42s.. but doing a spot of light reading it could be the engine light. Wish I had mine here to test it!

You should be able to take it apart and lift the float up with the key in the ON position and whatever light it is will come on. Alternatively i understand you can just bridge the connection as the float is just a switch so to speak. I guess if you know you have a good tank of fuel onboard you could just run it unplugged over a few hundred rough km and see if it stops the issue.

[mudski]

I didn't know there was a Ti variant in td42 range...


Straight off Patrolapart:
Suit GU*Patrols with TD42ti (factory turbo intercooled engines ONLY)

This is the ambient air temperator sensor that is connected to the engine ECU.

This is very important that is is in good working order, as it adjusts the timing of the injector pump to suit the ambient temperature.

Yeah strange. This is straight from the Genuine Nissan parts program. Check out the year range. The TD's stopped before this date. Somethings amiss I reckon. I think its supposed to say ZD30...Unless this applies to the overseas models.
79318




BTW I thought the denomination for the factory intercooled TD42's was TD42i ..... Not TD42Ti :)

N/A = TD42, Factory Turbo = TD42T, and Factory Turbo and Intercooled = TD42Ti (Turbo intercooled)