I am trying to track down a problem with the bulb in my MIL (check engine light). It appears the bulb is fine but that there is a broken wire somewhere in the power to it. I have the following wiring diagram, but I am just not good enough at reading them yet:
Can anyone tell me from either this or another source, what colour the power wire is for the MIL - Malfunction Indicator Light?
I think it might be Orange from this, but I am unsure.
It should be an orange wire, coming out of pin 45 of the M26 connector (see the diagram at the bottom of the page, inside the dotted lines). Don't confuse it with the orange wire coming out of pin 47, which is for the washer.
MattyDK23: Thanks for the info - Next question - Is the M26 connector easily accessable? Is it plugged into the ECU? Where could I most easily find this wire in order to test its continuity?
My mistake... technically, the power comes from the fuse block illustrated at the top left. It comes in via pin 66 of the M26 connector (a white wire with a brown stripe), and supplies power to the air bag, MIL, and low washer fluid indicator lights. (The low washer fluid light is Canada-only).
Once it passes through the MIL, power goes through the M32/F23 harnesses, then leads into the ECU. The ECU grounds the circuit when an error code is present.
I'm not sure about the location of all these wiring harnesses, though; I just bought an '03 last fall and haven't had to do any electrical work on it yet. A simple test would be to start your Pathy; if the air bag light comes on for a few seconds, then it should have power.
Whether it's being grounded properly or not, well, that's the fun work. You can strip the orange wire and ground it yourself, then start the Pathy; the MIL should come on. If it doesn't, either the bulb is out or there's a bad connection between where the power is split for the air bag/mil/washer lights and wherever your grounded it.
Last edited by MattyDK23 : Jan 30th, 2008 at 04:37 PM.
Correct. The light has to have (a) a power source, and (b) a ground, in order to light up.
In this case, the white and brown wire provides the power when the ignition is on. And the orange wire leads to the ECU, which grounds the light when there's an error code in the computer.
If the light isn't grounded, the MIL will never come on, regardless of whether the ECU is trying to light it or not. The orange wire being cut or disconnected could cause that.
An easy way to test the circuit is to disconnect the ECM, turn the ignition key forward and apply a ground to pin #38. The check engine light should light up. If it doesn't then make sure you have 12 volts at first pin #66 of the combination meter and then pin #45 with the key on. The problem could be with the combination meter?? The pin out chart for the ECM is at the bottom of the diagram you posted.
Alright - can anyone help me figure out how to cut the check engine light wire in the easiest manner possible - The thing is tripping out yet not storing any codes - I will use my scan tool to scan it weekly for real problems, but for now I want that damned light gone - any suggestions - I took the lower dash apart but i couldnt figure out where to cut, as none of the plugs matched that diagram
first off, what do you mean by tripping out? have you tried doing a diagnostic test on the ecu yet? which codes did it give you? what ever the code is, you fix the code, and maybe your M.I.L. will turn off by itself... maybe. but like the guy before me said, if you really really want to just cut the wire to the light... you do it right before the light.. that way you don't mess up any other circuit. you cut anywhere else along that circuit and you may end up disabling power/ground to other components.
i don't know how your dash is, but on mine it has 3 connectors going into the back of a my dash inlet display. those 3 connectors take care of engine speed/tire speed, coolant temp, gas level, MIL, and all the other warning lights, the clock, the odometer. so you may have to see how you take out the indash display to get to it...
i don't know how yours is, but i'm lucky enough that my indash display comes out without having to take off the dashboard, but it's not easy, being that you have to be real careful not to bust off any plastic pieces.
__________________
dblclutchn lik a mofo, save me that clutch
damn government and their incredibly expensive tickets, hows a good natured racer supposed to stay legit?
gd... if i could only make it past the lower class, i'd be rich. damn facists.
HELP - M.I.L Wire Color - 2001 Path
Linear Mode
