I have been trying to diagnose low power and smoke for a while on my 06. I thought it was the intercooler hoses, but one had already been replaced and the other was in decent shape. While I was under the hood I unplugged the MAF (I had cleaned the MAP not long ago.) No help, and I was contemplating my next move when I noticed the CEL did not come on after unplugging the MAF. I let it be for a bit, but still didn't come on, and it's been over a week of daily driving. So I finally pulled the codes, and got the following:

P0403
P0102
P0101
P0299

So there are codes, but no CEL? Then I looked more closely, and discovered that the CEL isn't coming on [i]at all[i]. Doesn't light up when the key is turned on.

I see 2 possibilities. First, that the light has actually burnt out. I think this is the least likely - when was the last time that happened to anyone? The more likely is that the previous owner disabled it. Obviously the previous owner had some issues - the replaced intercooler pipes - and I have the suspicion that the PO had some other issues that were unaddressed and figured out a way to disable the CEL.

So here's the question: is there an easy way to disable the CEL that I should look for? I want to plug it back in so that it can actually serve it's purpose. I'm hoping it's a simple plug that is easy to find, reach, and plug back in. I know, like that's going to happen. I'm afraid he either went into the wiring harness and snipped a wire or, heaven forbid, got into the instrument cluster. If it's actually burned out I'll take it in to the dealer - emissions related equipment is warrantied for 100k. But I'm afraid I'm going to take it in and get a call saying "We found the problem, it's been tampered with, and you owe us $500 in labor to track it down."

Any advice?

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06 Liberty CRD, Alive, Stant inline tstat
97 Passat TDI, also down
02 Golf TDI - gone, wife killed it

If you remove the panel you'll most likely find that the LED has been covered or removed.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=62890

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Dose it have a GDE tune to disable the cel?

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05 Liberty CRD Sport with Leather 115k
GDE ECO, No EGR, no FCV, (system gone)
Oil Drain plug P/N 090-039
K&N Air Filter, 2nd gen Fuel filter head
NEW Rockers & lifters
Mobil 1 0w-40
Stant 13519 195 deg inline Thermostat.
0 281 002 845 MAP
Etecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs
Advance Gold 800CCA Battery
Traded it for a Quality VW TDI

My understanding is that the GDE tune disables the EGR in a manner that it doesn't throw a code for that fault; I didn't think that it disabled the CEL completely.

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06 Liberty CRD, Alive, Stant inline tstat
97 Passat TDI, also down
02 Golf TDI - gone, wife killed it

Thanks - I even searched on "CEL disabled" but it didn't show up. I'm betting it's been messed with, and I'm also betting that the Chrysler dealer I bought it from knew about it. Well, I can live without it for a bit - the smoke/lack of power is more important. Vacuum solenoid tomorrow.

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06 Liberty CRD, Alive, Stant inline tstat
97 Passat TDI, also down
02 Golf TDI - gone, wife killed it

I did not think a CEL would come on with the MAF removed, if you had a GDE tune. But i could be wrong.

Did you check to see if it will light up when you turn the key to run? (prior to starting)

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05 Liberty CRD Sport with Leather 115k
GDE ECO, No EGR, no FCV, (system gone)
Oil Drain plug P/N 090-039
K&N Air Filter, 2nd gen Fuel filter head
NEW Rockers & lifters
Mobil 1 0w-40
Stant 13519 195 deg inline Thermostat.
0 281 002 845 MAP
Etecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs
Advance Gold 800CCA Battery
Traded it for a Quality VW TDI

I did. Nothing.

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06 Liberty CRD, Alive, Stant inline tstat
97 Passat TDI, also down
02 Golf TDI - gone, wife killed it

I agree with dirtmover here....led has probably been covered up or removed....you can re-solder a new led in.
The CEL led should light briefly when ignition is ON...you can also test all lights and guages by holding down the Odometer trip push-button while turning ON the ignition.

You need a working CEL light in case something in the engine is about to blow.

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2002 Export CRD 2.5 Sport

My cel light no longer comes on with MAF unplugged. I did come on With MAF unplugged but i now have GDE tune don't know if thats the reason!

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2005 jeep liberty CRD GDE Full Torque Eco tune,Blue Samcos,Transgo shiftkit,Provent,V6 Airbox, Facet 40109 fuel pump ,Straight piped . OME lift 235/75/16 Hankook DynaPro ATM tires,weeks101 elbow kit FCV/EGR delete

Yes, the GDE tune is the reason for the MAF cell not coming on when the connector is unplugged.

You can reconnect it, it no longer needs to be unplugged, the GDE tune turns it off and keeps the cell light off too.

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2006 Liberty Limited CRD, Deep Beryl Green, Yeti tune, Arp studs, new cams, rockers, lifters, TB. "Green Monster"
2005 Liberty Sport CRD, Deep Beryl Green, GDE Hot Tune, ARP studs. "Rocket"
1982 Fiat 124 Spider Convertible. "Fiona"

An update. After checking the links to the suggested threads I looked at the vacuum assembly in the rear passenger side of the engine compartment. I was about to switch hoses around when something looked funny. I realized that one of the hoses had come off at some point - no idea how, as I've never worked around there. So I plugged it in, and took it on a ride to pick up the kids about 1.5 hrs away. What a difference. I felt like Dr. Frank-en-steen. "It's ALIVE!" One Italian Tune Up later it only smokes at WOT, and I think that is from an oil overfill.

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06 Liberty CRD, Alive, Stant inline tstat
97 Passat TDI, also down
02 Golf TDI - gone, wife killed it

I took the dash out of a Saturn 3 years ago and it had black electrical tape over the check engine light!

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2006 Liberty CRD -- Spare tire replaced with Veg tank, semi filter for veg, FPHE, Electric common rail line heater, fill vegetable oil tank every 3 days. ORM, EHM comes out in front of the passenger rear tire. Wife has new job and 20 mile round trip to work. I borrow her Jeep a lot and live in South Florida.

This is surprisingly common. I would never buy a used vehicle, either privately or from a dealer, without scanning for DTCs. Heck, you can pick up a basic code reader for $20 or less so there's no excuse for any buyer to not have one.

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Share your ideas freely at https://www.facebook.com/groups/libertydiesels/

I have seen a post by GDE that specifically states that the tunes totally disable the air pressure sensor on the side of the air box, the one with the small Mercedes logo, but have not seen one that says the tune also disables the MAF. I'm guessing racer is right on the MAF being disabled also but I don't know for sure.

Regarding instruments and cluster lights you can test them by - Instrument cluster test can be invoked by holding the trip odometer button while turning the ignition on. It will cycle through all bulbs and gauges. The FSMs are poorly organized but if you check you can find what the gauges are supposed to do during this test. If the CEL does not light up during the test or during the key on bulb test it's disabled or dead; the former is more common than the latter. If disabled 1) paint or electric tape over the spot are common or 2) clip LED lead behind instrument cluster. If burned out or clipped don't let dealer sell you a $700 cluster plus labor as the LEDs are about $2 each and replacable. See http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f202/how-re ... hts-26151/ for pulling dash and drop me a PM or email for lgoodbar's how to on replacing the LEDs

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Sold to LOST member my 05 Ltd, GDE Stg II turbo + TCM tune, SunCoast TC w. Transgo kit, Steiger window regulators, Samcos, Fumoto valve, 2nd gen filter head with Lub. Spec. bleeder, Hayden clutch & 11 blade fan, inverted spare, P-1 battery, BF Goodrich Long Trail TAs, Etecno1 glow plugs, timing belt at 50K miles/8 yrs