Fault code
#1
Advanced
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Post](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Can someone with the manuals tell me what fault code 1221 means (read out by causing the check engine light to flash)? I drove the car up tonight and the check engine light came on at startup, it hunted for idle and ran terribly. But it cleared up after a little while. I assume it was just because the car sat for a week in very cold temperatures and built up moisture, etc. It is reading out the above code. Thanks.
#2
![Post](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Code 1221 is for the air flow sensor. The first digit "1" indicates it's generated by the DME, the second digit "2" indicates it's detected an intermittent problem (usually a loose wire or connections) and the last two digits "21" indicatee it's the air flow sensor.
Good Luck, <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
Bill Wagner
Good Luck, <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
Bill Wagner
#4
![Post](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
The list I got off the web gives
1_22 Idle speed control
1_21 Air flow sensor
I recently read my engine light codes and got what looked like 1_221 which I interpreted as 1_22 (Idle speed control). I had previously had a 1_24 code (O2 sensor) and figured I had read an extra one at the end of the sequence to get 1_221.
Be advised that I am no expert about this, only recently informed by a similar problem.
Rick
1993 C4
1_22 Idle speed control
1_21 Air flow sensor
I recently read my engine light codes and got what looked like 1_221 which I interpreted as 1_22 (Idle speed control). I had previously had a 1_24 code (O2 sensor) and figured I had read an extra one at the end of the sequence to get 1_221.
Be advised that I am no expert about this, only recently informed by a similar problem.
Rick
1993 C4
#5
![Post](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Rick:
I'm not sure what your underscore "_" is supposed to represent. With DME codes, the first digit is always a "1", the second can be a "1" or "2", with "1" meaning a continuous problem and "2" meaning an intermittent problem (like wiring), and the last two digits identifying the source ("24" for an oxygen sensor). The only exception to this rule is code 1500, which means no faults are detected, and this appears as a single flash followed by five flashes (I guess the 00 in 1500 means the flashes don't appear). 1500 is the only DME code that shows up on the check engine light with zeros in it. Some of the Porsche or Bosche documents I've read (and maybe even quoted) use the "_", because it's always a single or double flash if a fault is reported.
A code 1-2-2-1 would be the air flow sensor in intermittent failure. I know a guy who had this and all he needed to do to fix it was clean up his air flow sensor connector and make sure it was seated properly...hardly need for a replacement of the unit! Maybe your AF unit is bad, but I'd look at wiring/connectors first since they're a LOT cheaper to fix..particularly if the problem is intermittent.
Good Luck, <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
Bill Wagner
I'm not sure what your underscore "_" is supposed to represent. With DME codes, the first digit is always a "1", the second can be a "1" or "2", with "1" meaning a continuous problem and "2" meaning an intermittent problem (like wiring), and the last two digits identifying the source ("24" for an oxygen sensor). The only exception to this rule is code 1500, which means no faults are detected, and this appears as a single flash followed by five flashes (I guess the 00 in 1500 means the flashes don't appear). 1500 is the only DME code that shows up on the check engine light with zeros in it. Some of the Porsche or Bosche documents I've read (and maybe even quoted) use the "_", because it's always a single or double flash if a fault is reported.
A code 1-2-2-1 would be the air flow sensor in intermittent failure. I know a guy who had this and all he needed to do to fix it was clean up his air flow sensor connector and make sure it was seated properly...hardly need for a replacement of the unit! Maybe your AF unit is bad, but I'd look at wiring/connectors first since they're a LOT cheaper to fix..particularly if the problem is intermittent.
Good Luck, <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
Bill Wagner