Error Code 21 With Symptons

[Daboss]

Hey forum just wanting a little help in figuring out whats wrong with my car. The short version, Had misfire from about 4000 rpm, taped coilpacks fixed it, boosting the other day intercooler pipe blew off car ran like $hi% and stalled a few times hobbled it to a corner where i put the cooler pipe back on and made it home to fix the pipe back. Miss is now back at same rpm and Now car hunts a little at idle. If i let sit then start the car almost dies but catches and idles at about 12 - 1500 rpm but only when cold, then all is good will only hunt a little till warm. Can smell what I believe to be fuel coming from the exhaust at idle and normal driving, didn't check on boost cause car isn't running right so don't wanna cause any significant damage but, I guess it will be the same on boost as well, there is gurgguling and popping effect on deceleration more noticeably now than before. Wideband reads 14 - 15 at idle I can see smoke coming from the exhaust along with the weird smell and that whats confusing me why is it having an ok reading but I can smell and see what what seems to be fuel. On cruise car only richens up say around 2000 rpm gets to 12 -13 but if I keep it there it levels out to 14 -15 afr. Did diagnostic came back with an error code 21. Was able to do the coilpack test all changed the note of the car except the fourth one which I wasn't able to get to cause it was dark so do not have results for tht one. Unplugged cas and still only got 21 as error code. Cas still changes the timing which it does perfectly, car can start at anytime meaning its getting spark so the cas is ok. Do you think it can be the coilpacks need to be replaced even though all basically changed the note? Also why is it showing stoich but still seems to be burning rich? Whew I know its a mouthfull but just wanted to include all the info .

[paulr33]

stock ecu & misfire on boost?

get a real ecu or piggyback it

[Daboss]

stock ecu & misfire on boost?

get a real ecu or piggyback it

I have an afc neo with it. So what do you think it is? Coilpacks need replacing?

[Daboss]

Sorry to bring an old thread back up, but I am still getting this error code 21 and a slight hunting issue. I have checked all wires from coil pack to ecu and get continuity, replaced coil packs with spitfires, cleaned afm, cleaned aac valve, cleaned the contacts with electronic cleaner, reset ecu and still the code shows up. I checked hoses for vacuum leaks and all seems fine. I unplugged the cas and tried to start the car, naturally it didn't start, plugged it back in car started fine checked diagnostic and came back with error code 11 and 21. The 11 was expected as the cas was unplugged. I am stumped anybody has anything else I might have missed? I am figuring to just drive the car like that and ignore the 21, cause it runs ok besides the hunting issue which I feel is directly related to the code 21. Please anymore advice I really need it cause I am out of things to try.

[W0rp3D]

I get the same code but my car is running much worse than yours, 21 is an ignition fault, i changed the coil packs, afm, cas, ecu and igniter and nothing has fixed it, its at status tuning now getting sorted, when i get it back i will let you know what the problem was, maybe yours is the same.

[Daboss]

I get the same code but my car is running much worse than yours, 21 is an ignition fault, i changed the coil packs, afm, cas, ecu and igniter and nothing has fixed it, its at status tuning now getting sorted, when i get it back i will let you know what the problem was, maybe yours is the same.

Ok great, please keep me informed.

[cosmic starz]

Code 21 may indicate random break-down in coils so the test you did was not conclusive that your coils are Ok (and you say you never checked #4 either).

The Nissan factory has gone to all the trouble to publish an Engine Service Manual that tells you all the symptoms that cause code 21 how to test for them and how to fix - have a look at the Engine Service Manual which you can download free .

Taping/coating the coils is crap btw! Does not work if its internal breakdown.

[Daboss]

Code 21 may indicate random break-down in coils so the test you did was not conclusive that your coils are Ok (and you say you never checked #4 either).

The Nissan factory has gone to all the trouble to publish an Engine Service Manual that tells you all the symptoms that cause code 21 how to test for them and how to fix - have a look at the Engine Service Manual which you can download free .

Taping/coating the coils is crap btw! Does not work if its internal breakdown.

Yea I know I have the service manual and I did the test all came back with the results in the manual. Unplug coil one by one and listen if it changes how the car runs, unplug the ecu loom and test for continuity from coil to loom and then loom to ecu. I have not tried the output one with the car running as I am afraid to short something and completely mess up my ride. If you had read my latest post you would have seen that the old coils have been replaced by spitfires. Anyone else with something I have not tried?

[CEF11E]

is your ignitor bolted down and earthed? also is the earth wire near the ignitor bolted down

[Ultimategtr]

Hey bud, you got splitfires and gives you code 21?

I get the same thing for some reason, however i cant see/feel any difference, drives/boosts fine and hard. Im not sure if its a problem or not.

[Guilt-Toy]

guys make sure your ecu is bolted in correctly into the wire harness. alot of the time people get shy when doing up that 10ml bolt and it does not go in properly.

Remove the ecu, and put it back in, do up the bolt 2 turns then PUSH the plug in on both sides then repeat untill the 10ml bolt is firm and the plug is connected all the way.

Just seen this cause dramas like this plenty of times and figured it wont hurt to check

[Ultimategtr]

CEF - Sorry are you referring to me? If so, then, thats a good question. I will have a look at it tonight first thing when i get back from work!

Mine is a series 2 tho, so does your question apply to me?

[Daboss]

is your ignitor bolted down and earthed? also is the earth wire near the ignitor bolted down

Series two so no igniter.

guys make sure your ecu is bolted in correctly into the wire harness. alot of the time people get shy when doing up that 10ml bolt and it does not go in properly.

Remove the ecu, and put it back in, do up the bolt 2 turns then PUSH the plug in on both sides then repeat untill the 10ml bolt is firm and the plug is connected all the way.

Just seen this cause dramas like this plenty of times and figured it wont hurt to check

Well I make sure its in tight, but it can't hurt to check it again. So will do.

I think I have exhausted all options, right now I am just about to chuck it up as unsolvable. Car runs fine except for the occasional hunting and ohh yea it misses when I boot it hard at around 3000-4000 rpm and please don't say plugs or coil packs because I have a new set of both.

[cosmic starz]

SEEMS YOU GOT A CHALLENGING PROBLEM - ONLY CODE 21 TYPE THINGS LEFT SEEM TO BE TO CHECK THE WIRING LOOM TO COILS AND AS YOU DID NOT MENTION THE FOLLOWING : WHEN YOU PUT SPLITFIRES IN DID YOU PULL THE SPARK PLUGS TO SEE WHICH ONE(S) WAS(WERE) FOULED BY THE MISFIRE?- MOST TIMES YOU CAN SPOT THE TROUBLE SOURCE BY DIFFERENCES IN CONDITION OF SPARK PLUGS VIZ. ANY COATED WITH UNBURNT FUEL /EXCESSIVELY CARBONED UP

[Daboss]

SEEMS YOU GOT A CHALLENGING PROBLEM - ONLY CODE 21 TYPE THINGS LEFT SEEM TO BE TO CHECK THE WIRING LOOM TO COILS AND AS YOU DID NOT MENTION THE FOLLOWING : WHEN YOU PUT SPLITFIRES IN DID YOU PULL THE SPARK PLUGS TO SEE WHICH ONE(S) WAS(WERE) FOULED BY THE MISFIRE?- MOST TIMES YOU CAN SPOT THE TROUBLE SOURCE BY DIFFERENCES IN CONDITION OF SPARK PLUGS VIZ. ANY COATED WITH UNBURNT FUEL /EXCESSIVELY CARBONED UP

Did that today got continuity for the ground, the white wire and the coloured wires in each of the plugs for the coil packs. Yea I pulled the old plugs and all had carbon build up all were coated in black soot so I changed them all. I briefly got a 55 today on the diagnostic, so I immediately went on a run got the misfire and when I returned and checked the 21 came back up again . Also I noticed the Mitsubishi sign in my cas spins, is it suppose to do that? Only thing I did today was check for continuity from coil pack to ecu, disconnecting the battery while I did this and then connected everything back up. Didn't change a thing. So how did the 55 appear? Even more lost now if that is even possible ! At idle the car runs smoothly, free reving it and letting it fall it idles right under 1000rpm even when driving, but other times only when driving and I let the revs fall by sinking the clutch and coming to a stop it nearly cuts off and then begins hunting. Then there is the miss when flooring it and reaching about 3500-4000 rpm under boost.

Edited January 20, 2009 by Daboss

[Guilt-Toy]

did you check your ecu ?

[Daboss]

did you check your ecu ?

By check what do you mean? If you mean switch it with a known good ecu then the answer is no. If you mean check continuity from loom to inside ecu then yes I did with positive results. Think I figured why I got the 55, I had the battery disconnect so it reset the ecu and when I did diagnostic the car had not been started just placed in the on position. So that resulted in all sensors seeming to be ok until the first start of the car , then the ecu was able to pick up the fault and that's why after the drive i came back with the error 21. I also wanted to know if the Mitsubishi sign in the middle of the cas is suppose to spin when the car is idling?

Edited January 20, 2009 by Daboss

[Guilt-Toy]

By check what do you mean? If you mean switch it with a known good ecu then the answer is no. If you mean check continuity from loom to inside ecu then yes I did with positive results. Think I figured why I got the 55, I had the battery disconnect so it reset the ecu and when I did diagnostic the car had not been started just placed in the on position. So that resulted in all sensors seeming to be ok until the first start of the car , then the ecu was able to pick up the fault and that's why after the drive i came back with the error 21. I also wanted to know if the Mitsubishi sign in the middle of the cas is suppose to spin when the car is idling?

check post #11

[Daboss]

check post #11

Ohh yea I already did what you suggested in post #11. I wanted to know if the Mitsubishi sign in the middle of the Crank Angle Sensor is suppose to spin?. Also I did the last test in the manual today which says to check ignition pins when car is idle and at 2500 rpm, says at idle you are suppose to get approximately 0.2-0.3v which I got and at 2500 rpm you are suppose to get approximately 1 volt which I did not get I got .5 volts on all pins. Anymore insight to helping me with this problem?................................... Anyone?