Is it MEMs 3? If it is then it should work. Anything else it won't.

Easiest check is if the ignition coil packs are on the top of the engine under the plugs cover then it is a MEMs3 ECU.

This is the MEMs 3 coil packs on top of the engine.

 

Hi Guys.

This may be a stupid question, buy if my MGF has an OBDII socket in the fuse box, is it safe to assume that it's ODBII capable? It's a year 2000 car, manufactured in May of that year.

Thanks in advance for and info.

It is not quite as easy as that. If you have
mems 3 ECU you will be OBDII compatible but if you are MEMS 1.9 you are not.

If you look at the ECU, if it has a small black pipe going into it next to the large plug it is MEMS 1.9 and therefore not OBDII

 

When did they put the bend / sensor in the cat, was that the same time?

 

That was spooky.

 

The MEMS3 system also has 2 O2 (Lambda) sensors. The extra one is just after the catalytic converter.

 

Copycat! :lol:

 

Stop it, you're scaring me now.

 

Cheers for that, but I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking for!

 

Take the engine inspection cover off and look at the top of the engine.

 

Okay, the ECU does appear to have the small pipe going into it under the main plug, so I'm assuming that it's not OBDII capable, which is a shame!

I've just had a new exhaust and the guy who fitted it said that he thought there was only one O2 probe, so that probably confirms it.

All this has come about because the car had just failed the MOT on emissions (Co2 rather than hydrocarbons), and I wanted to check for a slow reacting Lambda before the retest.

I only bought the car in May - mid life crisis purchase - and for what looked like a fine example, it's cost me a fortune. New Exhaust, brake pads all round, new rear caliper, and a body shop repair to the drivers side rear sill, but I suppose it will be worth it when it's done!

 

All this has come about because the car had just failed the MOT on emissions (Co2 rather than hydrocarbons), and I wanted to check for a slow reacting Lambda before the retest.

Emissions fail:

Can be dodgy lambda, or cat.... BUT... just as likely to be:

* Vacuum leak
* Air filter
* Plugs
* IACV
* TPS

You can measure the DC voltage back from a lambda if you know what you are looking for without need to run up diagnostics.

Quite a few older Fs are borderline on emissions - a really good warm up is usually sufficient to get them thru though.

 

If your ECU is a flat box with 2 connectors - red and black

eg:

Or if its a rectangualr box with a single connector AND a vacuum hose like this:

Then No, its not OBD2.


If its wedge shaped and looks like this:

Then yes it is.

The other giveaway is generally that if you look under the back of the car at the cat you will see it has a lambda sensor screwed in on OBD2 compliant models, and not on older ones (though be aware some jap imports will have this and still not be OBD2)




* Apologies to anyone whos pix Ive just grabbed I cant find any of mine as quick as google does

 

It's the second type of ECU, so it's not.

Thanks for the help!

 

Im guessing from your user name Anglsey??

Just looking to see if there is anyone that part of the world with a T4 who could look at it.... no one comes instantly to mind

(A T4 or its clones is the "official" diagnostic tool pre OBD2 for the MGF)

If there is a landrover garage near by they may have one.

Edit: Conway landrover in llandudno "might" be worth a phone - 01492 580 000

 

Anglesey?, nah, I'm about 15 miles from Pembroke.

There is a guy in Pembroke who advertises MG/Land rover diagnostics, but I wanted to avoid the fee if I could.

The guy at the garage said to get it "nice and warm" before the retest. It's a brand new CAT, so if it fails again, I guess we're down to changing plugs and looking for air leaks, duff or incorrectly set TPS etc.

So it'll be of to the man with the right tools!

 

ahh... Ok... yep A T4 would make life much easier as far as diagnosis goes.

If you have a new cat, then look for leaks etc first - swap the lambda as a last resort

 

time for clive to do a "high emissions" howto ... hint hint

 

Mark,
As has been mentioned earlier, its REALLY important to get the emissions test done with the engine hot. My son's VVC had poor emissions at his last MOT and the problem was that whilst the coolant gauge showed the car was up to temp the oil was still far too cold. I gave the car a hard drive for 20 miles and then went straight to the garage and asked them to test the emissions, the car flew through and was well within spec. The cat needs to be at a high operating temp to work. My advice would be to try this process before anything else as the Lamdba sensor is a right pig to change and also expensive.
Nigel