Engine Management light on ( P0299 )

[colin2x2]

Hi guys, decided to fit the new air filter, so will have to wait to see if this is the answer to my P0299 problem, ie, the new filter will let more air in.

As you can see from the photo, it was the orignal air filter (seven years old).



The job of getting the new filter in there was hellish, and reminds me not to buy another Cdi

I unscrewed two large screws as shown in pictures, and pulled back the air pipe to get the air filter cover out
(note that there is an electrical sensor/electrical wires on the air pipe into the air filter but, does not need to be pulled out, just watch it as you pull the air filter cover out, and move it to the side, out the way.

The other rubber pipe is the small length of curved rubber pipe into the engine that was getting in the way for air filter cover removal, so unscrewed and pulled back as picture, to give some room for removal.







You undo the three clips on the air filter cover and slide the cover out like a monkey puzzle.
Replace with new filter, then slide the cover back in, reclip the three clips (the middle one is hard to get to) and reasembe the piping. One hell of a job!

[pinger]

Is that a job that would be made easier by dropping the subframe (relatively easy for a dealer with ramps, etc) or will the turbo always be in the way?

[tolsen]

I see on Evilution that the official unSmart way is to jack up rear end, remove left rear wheel and left rear wheel arch lining to provide access to air filter.

[Mjolinor]

It isn't necessary to remove anything but the air pipe connected to the lid of the air filter box. I have done mine several times (with DPF) and the early 2009 (without DPF), both the same way unfastening the same things.

[colin2x2]

I fouind the above method I used, the best (thanks to Mjolinor's advice in previous comments), but I still needed to move that air pipe to the engine out the way, to wangle the cover out, without damaging anything.

Likey Mjolinor is used to such car mechanics, but I am a bit on the rusty side, so I needed to move that pipe to get enough clearance to get the air filter cover out.

Been driving two days now with the new air filter, too early to tell if the P0299 fault is sorted, but I can tell you there will be a far better air flow now with that new air filter, as the original was totally manky. I will report back at end of month.

As a matter of interest, what is that electrical sensor on the air filter pipe?

[Mjolinor]

Mass air flow sensor. It gives a voltage output reading that is inversely (probably) proportional to the volume of air flowing through the pipe.

[colin2x2]

OK Guys, and its a month later with the new air filter and TOTAL SUCCESS, car is running great

So the problem was air starvation due to a seven year old manky air filter. Thanks guys for the solution.

Hence if you ever find your Cdi slowing down with loss of power all of a sudden, and the P0299 fault comes up, it might just need the above cheap fix, by replacing the air filter.

I would recommend changing the air filter in your Cdi anyway, if you do not know how long it has been in there.

[pinger]

Air filter is a service item so clearly not serviced as it should have been.

On any secondhand car I have ever bought, the first thing I always did was give it an engine service. On the basis that when one was last performed was entirely unknown.

[Mjolinor]

Particularly true on a Smart. The inlet and exhaust are so close together and if the wind is the wrong way the exhaust just gets sucked back in. Minis were really bad for that if the exhaust was blowing slightly at the manifold you could clog a new air filter in less than 10 miles.

[colin2x2]

Air filter is a service item so clearly not serviced as it should have been.....

Have to agree that the location of the air filter on the Cdi puts people off, it certainly made me put it off, till I had no option but to do it.