Arnage EPC Throttle Control

[gjlelec]

My 2008 Arnage T has "failed to proceed" Fault shown on the display is EPC Throttle Control. The car starts, idles for a second then stops. Pushing the throttle to the floor and starting it with the throttle held down makes no difference other than the car goes straight to high revs then shuts down. The fault is intermittant, it'll stay imobilised for a few days then miraculously start and run fine. The car has a Bentley Heritage warranty, was returned to the supplying agent JCT 600, but they claim no fault codes have been logged and that is has started every time with them. Any ideas gratefully received-thanks

[WelshBentleyBoy]

Try resetting the throttle.

Ignition on
Full throttle
Throttle off
repeat five times
Ignition off

Thanks to Paul Yorke for this. It cured my Arnage T twitchy throttle

[jeyjey]

Thanks for posting that WelshBentleyBoy. I had gotten it from Paul some time ago, but failed to write it down anywhere.

Cheers,
Jeff.

[Jinto100]

I had something similar - it was actually the key not switching off the immobiliser properly. It would unlock the doors fine but I experienced the same. I then tried the spare key and had the same problem (not yet realising it was the immobiliser). However, once the AA had spent 2 hours trying to figure it out, we locked the car with the duff key, then unlocked the car with the spare key and it worked fine - faulty key all along.

[gjlelec]

The car still continues to start without hesitation at the dealers - jinto 100, i'm guessing if this was down to an immobiliser gremlin, the car wouldn't start at all, It did start but shut down after a couple of seconds- thanks for the input guys

[Jinto100]

Just FYI, with the immobiliser / key issue I had, the car did fire up for a second or 2 each time and then stopped.

[gjlelec]

Update- Touch wood, the car hasnt broken down since, so it looks like the battery (passenger side) was the the culprit. Think i'm right in stating the passenger side (uk cars) battery runs all the brain power while the drivers side just cranks the starter ? While i'm on the subject, does the integral charger socket in the boot charge both batteries ?

[jeyjey]

gjlelec said:

... Think i'm right in stating the passenger side (uk cars) battery runs all the brain power while the drivers side just cranks the starter ?

Correct.

gjlelec said:

While i'm on the subject, does the integral charger socket in the boot charge both batteries ?

Not sure. But since only the passenger side one sees a quiescent drain, it's the only one that really needs it.

Cheers,
Jeff.

[gjlelec]

Thanks for the info jeyjey. Anybody know the average time taken by the quiescent drain before the car plays up ? In other words, how many days should i be able to leave it without a charger, assuming the car just stands-thanks
Edit- my car has a tracker so i assume this will make matters worse

Edited by gjlelec on Wednesday 28th June 15:07

[LWG95]

I have found that after only 3 days, the remote key fob will not unlock the car. So, use it manually, but it will not start by putting the key in the dashboard socket. On hooking up to the 'Bentley' charger it indicates a totally flat battery... damned inconvenient, to say the least.

So if one was to leave the car at an airport, in order to take a 2 week holiday, on one's return there appears to be zero chance of being able to start the car to return home.

This is appalling, surely we can do better than this, what do Bentley advise, they cannot be unaware of this 'glitch' ?

[gjlelec]

I'm wondering what the milli- amp draw should be per hour ? I have seen similar before on Mercedes SL, same system, two batteries but when the Mercs were playing up, going flat after a few days it was because the car was doing something it shouldnt. I can't believe Bentley or anyone else would release a car with a system so flawed the car is unusable after three days. There must be an acceptable cut off point the draw shouldnt go above-mA/hr rating

[LWG95]

Hi gjlelec,

A very good point. Someone must know the answers and the capacity of the brain and cranking batteries in amp hours, so that the timescale can be calculated...

[jeyjey]

I would suspect a half-dead battery, or something drawing too much current.

Mine will go at least 2 weeks; I've never tried longer. No tracker, though.

Cheers,
Jeff.