help!! engine failsafe prog.....engine acting weird!

vskchoi · #1 01-31-2011, 12:02 AM

hi all
this is what happens today, it is -25 outside, my gas tank is just a little less than half full....the car was stopped outside for 1 hr after a 30 mins drive.
when i came out, started the car, the idle needle is jumping...acting as if it will stall anytime...then i press the gas keeping the rpm up above 2000...when ever i release the gas, the car stalls....and so i left it like that for about 5 mins....until the idle stays around 1000....then i drove for couple mins...and all of a sudden it stall, and "engine failsafe prog" was on...and the check engine light was on....started it again, then stall again, went like that for a few times, then finally got it started and seems normal again.....went home, fill up the tank, everthing seems normal at this point, but the check engine light is still on...any idea whats the problem? could the gas tank be frozen becasue of less than half full??
thanks alll!!!

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vskchoi · #2 01-31-2011, 12:59 AM

update: check engine light gone, everything seems to be back to normal..
any idea??

xriderob · #3 01-31-2011, 11:02 AM

This has happened to me as well. Related to ccv freezing up as far as I know. Had the update done on mine and it still happens so beware of dealers "fix". Haven't figured out a cure besides a heated garage yet... Generally though the eng failsafe goes away after it warms up every time it's happened to me.

Helmuth · #4 01-31-2011, 12:05 PM

Isn't that normal when you are driving on gas? I was thinking you need to change to fuel the last kilometers when the temperature is that low. Maybe your gas is becoming liquid..

vskchoi · #5 01-31-2011, 01:14 PM

what kind of fuel? my tank was just a little bit less than half,....and this is the first time that happens...it was like -30 few weeks ago, and never happened before...

vskchoi · #6 01-31-2011, 01:21 PM

xriderobe: the ccv freezing up, does that mean the tubes inside the gas tank has water and is frozen?

xriderob · #7 02-20-2011, 01:17 AM

Negative. Not in gas tank, it is in the engine, technically considered part of the exhaust system. There are some good threads on here showing and explaining it more. It's beat to death since it can be such an issue in the cold. There is a valve on each side of the engine that regulates/releases the pressure in the crankcase. Attached a few photos from my first clean

diyanich · #8 02-20-2011, 11:43 AM

Did you pull any codes?
I had the same issue and my code Throttle Plate Temporarily Stuck.
It could happen only because of bad fuel or condensation on the tank walls mixing with the fuel and freezing in the throttle body.
Happened to me once and tank was close to empty.Happened to my mechanic once and tank was almost empty.Both times it was below -20 C.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vskchoi

hi all
this is what happens today, it is -25 outside, my gas tank is just a little less than half full....the car was stopped outside for 1 hr after a 30 mins drive.
when i came out, started the car, the idle needle is jumping...acting as if it will stall anytime...then i press the gas keeping the rpm up above 2000...when ever i release the gas, the car stalls....and so i left it like that for about 5 mins....until the idle stays around 1000....then i drove for couple mins...and all of a sudden it stall, and "engine failsafe prog" was on...and the check engine light was on....started it again, then stall again, went like that for a few times, then finally got it started and seems normal again.....went home, fill up the tank, everthing seems normal at this point, but the check engine light is still on...any idea whats the problem? could the gas tank be frozen becasue of less than half full??
thanks alll!!!

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