Motor Control System Failure - Check your Battery

[stuart.macintyr]

alfadiag only works for older cars! If its a newer euro3 you need somthing like the elm327.

[bpm147]

Alfadiag actually lists my ECU Stuart, so surely it will talk to it.

Ben

[stuart.macintyr]

Hi Ben I could be wrong but as far as I know alfadiag doesnt support a JTS. So as long as you dont have a JTS then it could be OK. I only started looking into diag software two weeks ago - when i looked at alfa diag web site it didnt list the JTS as a supported engine.

Stuart

[martinjks]

fantastic! my first post as well. my 156 motor system fail warning is going on and off too plus lack of power when it does. its just good to know im not alone!

[JollyJeweller]

Hi. Newbie here, just bought an 03 147 from a non Alfa dealer on Monday and i've got both the flashing ODO and an occasional yellow engine with the Motor Control System Failure. They told me the flashing ODO was the service reset warning, I've since read that it's a fault in the CAN line?
They think the MCSF light may be faulty spark plugs, guess this could be true ?

[Leitrim155]

Had my 156 1.9jtd m-jet into Coopers (Alfa dealer in Sligo) today for that motor control system failure. They said the ECU was/is duff! I said crap......... Gerry at T.I. Autos advised that it is with out question the battery. I am convinced that Irish Alfa Dealers are crap!!!!

[akouzo]

Originally Posted by Tinman

Just a quick note to say thanks to those who have posted with regards the above problems - Motor control system failure and VDC system failure.

I started suffering VDC failure a couple of months ago, but after a restart the fault cleared. Then just recently I started getting Motor control system failure. I was fourtunate to look on this great forum and found a possible answer. So on Friday I checked my battery and decided to change it. Its only been four days but I haven't had a fault yet !

Thanks guys !

My car has also been suffering from vdc failure but also abs failure as well I'm taking to the garage on tuesday I'll ask them to check the battery hopefully its only this as mine is a 2002 model what a great forum this is!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[akouzo]

Originally Posted by Paulus

YEY TROY! GO FOR IT!

The battery thing is a bit like the camera battery argument for using re-chargeable NI-MHs rather than Duracells.

If you put Duracells in a torch they start at (say) 6v then godown after 20% of their possible life to 5v; then another 20% of their life 4v (by which time they do not have sufficient VOLTAGE to power a camera so you only get 25% or so of the available power used), then 3v, 2v and so on if they still work. Sort of a straight line graph thing. Works fine on a torch or a bell though, probably go on for 90% of its possible life. Not on a camera which requires the higher volts to power its electronics.

On the other hand NI-MHs Volts stay within the 6v-5v range for a lot longer then suddenly fizzle out to almost zero and therefore are far more useful in a camers. AND you can recharge them!

Relating this to car batteries causing electronics problems in Alfas (and others) you will see that when a poor battery is being hard pressed (winter driving with all lights, screens, heaters etc. turned on, or WHEN STARTING!) the voltage may drop below the critical level and the electronics will get all confused and not know what day it is, yet the engine will still crank fine!

Well if you stuck through that I hope you got something out of it!

Paulus

I've got problems with the abs and vdc warning lights coming on its going to the garage on tuesday however I was driving it around last night with all the light and heating on and when I came to using the electric windows they were really slow, does this indicate it could be a battery problem??????

[duanew]

hi guys,
i just replaced my battery and alot of my problems dissapeared...abs warning light and the code key light used to come on on now and then but haven't seen them again plus my windows open and close much faster now!

[AlfaTemple]

Just sold my 04 156 1.9 Mjet SW today. Went down the bank and did the money came back for them to drive off in their new car and it wouldn't start and guess what it came up on display? VDC, ABS System Failure - Go to Dealer. I've had to give the money back and will call them tomorrow, but they still want the car and are very understanding, so fingers crossed.

Phoned Perrys who said have you had trouble with the battery and they're coming out tomorrow with the diagnostic gear.

Had a quick look on here keyed in VDC and went straight to this thread. Brilliant.

Hopefully get it sorted and the car on its way to the new owners tomorrow.

A big thank you to Alfaowner from me.

[JamesJTS]

This is a great thread and I’ve learnt plenty from it, even before I owned my Alfa during the ‘research’ stage.

Still, I bought my Alfa well under book price knowing from previous owners that it had the odd MCSF error but it had been fixed, by replacing a lambda sensor (apparently). After a while the car seemed to stutter a little throughout the rev range, feeling like slight fuel starvation, I had the cam belt done as routine and the battery checked which was fine.

The stuttering became worse under acceleration and was always accompanied with a MCSF warning which would disappear after 10 seconds. I bought a diagnostic kit but no error codes were recorded so I took the plugs out and cleaned them, noticing some moisture had previously collected round the plug in cylinder 4.

Eventually the MSCF remained with the ‘Go to Dealer’ order. The diagnostic kit picked up the error code as a miss fire on cylinder 4. One new coil pack later and the car is absolutely fine.

The real pain in the **** was sitting out the MCSF warnings until an error code was recorded.

All I have to do now is get rid of the bloody airbag light.

[Coupe Deville]

I am having problems with Motor Control System Failure, came yesterday no drop in power but I will check or replace battery, go advice many thanks

[gtgirl]

Hey

My 2.0 GT (2004) started the kangaroo acceleration yesterday in 1st - 3rd gears. Then this morning it felt a bit sluggish and had the same problem. This evening the EOBD Engine Control System Failure light came on, and stayed on. Power is still sluggish but driveable.

Does anyone know how long I can continue to drive it for? I am expecting delivery of the new GT 1.9 Q2 Quadrifoglio end of May / beginning of June and so do not want to go down the line of repairs, especially with this car as it already needs : -
1. new power steering pipes as existing ones are leaking
2. new alternator belt as the one fitted last August is frayed
3. brake pads and discs all round, even though it's only done 30k.

Will it keep me going for the next couple of weeks / 200 miles? Or is there anything 'simple' I can try to resolve it?

TIA

[topalfauser]

Nothing simple with Alfas.

Your list is nothing major at all for such a beauty.

The best thing is to hook it up to a diag tool. I have one but you're too far from me. I faced 2 years of unresolved troubles with my Alfa only to diagnose it myself to be a faulty coil pack which I replaced myself. I have been to an alfa dealer 4-5 times without success.

Diag tool will point you in the right direction.

You could carry on driving if it does not pose any risks like limp mode and be gentle with her. On the other hand it could cause more damage depending on what the fault it.

Hard to say.
R.

[gtgirl]

Thanks R.

The car today started making 'funny' noises, like the exhaust was rattling - tried revving it at a standstill with door open to find where the noise was coming from but it only appears to make it when the car is in motion.

So have succumbed to washing it and putting it in the garage until I get the call to tell me my new GT is here - and agonising 2-3 weeks. Having to slum it in an Audi S4 from work until then. Have already decided though that this next one will only be with me for the length of the warranty.

[AlfaRomeo.D.E.T]

With ref. to Ians post.

Yes the battery is the first place they should of looked at any fault, as specialy at first start up.

What happens is when you crank the engine on start up, the start motor with draw a lot of current, and at the same time the E.C.U,s (engine, a.b.s...etc) need there voltage to power up so that they can give there sensors there voltage, this needs to happen very quickly ( 1/10 of a sec .. ish )

So if you have a weak/poor battery it could give you alsorts of problems.

Remember also that the engine warning light can came on for lots of reasons, almost a hundred reasons.

[genesis156]

I would like to apologise if my english is not so good but i hope u'll get the point out of my post

Well, first of all...I have to say that this forum is as useful as a manual... I have read many useful posts and i think this will be the end in my troubles...

I own a Nov 2007 new Alfa !47 1.6 Exclusive and have been a happy driver...u know what i mean...since April 2008 when 2 signals came up to destroy my sleep...

Suddenly... a "Motor control system failure" and a "VDC system failure" beeped simultaneously!!! Then i felt i lost a part of the torque and power of my car! I took my car to the exclusive dealer and the examiner showed failure of course....

Well, till then they have changed my potentiometer which had no effect as long as MCSF and VDCsf continued to occur simultaneously...Then they changed the ECU...For about a month the signals ended up but two days ago... the signals beeped again...So i have to take it again to the dealer..AS they have told me they think of changing the whole wire system (I think it is called CAN).

However, i am afraid that neither the ecu nor the wire(cable) system is the problem..

Another important thing is that the failures occur only when i have low rpms...Also, if i stop and start up again VDCsf disappears but not MCSf. MCSF disappears after a lot start-ups.

IF there is anyone who could give me more answers about my problem please answer to my post..

So
1st: Alfa 147 1.6 (New, Bought Nov 2007, problem firstly appeared April 2008)
2nd: "Motor control system failure" and "VDC system failure" simultaneously, when in low rpms
3rd: Changed potentiometer had no result, Changed ECU had no result.

Thank you!!!

[snackage]

Hi,

If you want advice you might be better posting in a new thread as this one has been going for a while. Anyway:

This thread is mainly about the fact that an old battery may be the cause of warning messages due to low voltage. (Low voltage means the ECU will not always work properly or read sensor readings correctly). However, if your car is factory new, then you would imagine this is not the case.

If the car was purchased from new (presumably from a Alfa dealer) then I would just go with whatever they say - as long as they are paying!

If you are paying then I would look at whether the alternator is charging your battery correctly at low revs - therefore whether the voltage is abnormally low. Otherwise you have to go by whatever information the ECU is providing. Personally I doubt cabling is the issue, so I wouldn't trust this unless you are not paying for the replacement.

[elian99]

Hello! just bought a 156jtd and motor control system failure!
its going to alfa tomorrow.Should i tell them about the battery?

[topalfauser]

Let them run diagnotics on it first. If they can't sort it then come back here for advice.

[ellzman]

motor control system failures may mean high emissions are being released from your vehicle.

if this is so, how can this be fixed?

[m_j_ratter]

Tried the new battery to no avail, new throttle position sensor sorted it though, running like a dream ever since

[DAN55]

ive had EGR valve seals done but still duff - so looking at doing the MAF next :/

[DAN55]

Originally Posted by gtgirl

Hey

My 2.0 GT (2004) started the kangaroo acceleration yesterday in 1st - 3rd gears. Then this morning it felt a bit sluggish and had the same problem. This evening the EOBD Engine Control System Failure light came on, and stayed on. Power is still sluggish but driveable.

Does anyone know how long I can continue to drive it for? I am expecting delivery of the new GT 1.9 Q2 Quadrifoglio end of May / beginning of June and so do not want to go down the line of repairs, especially with this car as it already needs : -
1. new power steering pipes as existing ones are leaking
2. new alternator belt as the one fitted last August is frayed
3. brake pads and discs all round, even though it's only done 30k.

Will it keep me going for the next couple of weeks / 200 miles? Or is there anything 'simple' I can try to resolve it?

TIA

not surprised about point 3 - looked at my discs the other day and they look pretty knackered :/ although they seem to work as well as i could expect - edge of disc is breaking up!

[peeps]

Hi,

I also have problems with the message:

MOTOR
CONTROL
SYSTEM
FAILURE

This only 2 days after buying my 2002 147. When i started the engine this morning i didn't turn the key properly (but it started OK when i managed to do it) which sort of leads me to believe that this was the reason i've had the warning on. Still drove OK, no noticeable changes detected

Bit annoying though since i only bought it at the weekend and all i've been doing is showing it off. But it looks like i'll be going to a garage to hook it up to a diagnostics tool (any rough ideas how much this might cost?) I have no specific car knowledge other than driving and general maintenance so wouldn't know how to change a battery if that's the problem.

Any help anyone can swing my way would be gratefully received.