C3185 Diagnostic Trouble Code

C3185 is a kind of OBD-II Diagnostic C-Chassis Diagnostic Trouble Code.

It is considered generic because it applies to all makes and models of vehicles, although specific repair steps may be different depending on your car model.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a C3185 diagnostic trouble code may include:

Poor fuel economy
Possible spark knock (detonation / pre-ignition)
Misfire
The light may stay on or light intermittently as the DPF regenerates. The engine will be sluggish on acceleration.

Possible Causes :

Low fuel pressure caused by a clogged filter, failing fuel pump, failed fuel pressure regulator or clogged or leaking injectors.
Low fuel pressure caused by a clogged filter, failing fuel pump, failed fuel pressure regulator or clogged or leaking injectors.
A large vacuum leak would cause a massive amount of un-metered air to enter the intake manifold resulting in an overly lean mixture.

Repair Processes :

Find out what kind of system you have and verify that voltage to the fuel level sensor is present at the fuel pump wiring harness. If the engine displays a miss and there wasn't a code, determine which cylinder is misfiring. If the exhaust manifold is visible, spay or pour a small amount of water on each cylinder exhaust port. Water will evaporate immediately on good cylinders and slowly on the missing cylinder. If this can't be accomplished pull the plugs and check the condition. Check to make sure they are not burnt or corroded. If in doubt, get some Electrical Contact cleaner at any parts store if cleaning of the terminals is needed.

Process Tips

Diagnostic trouble code C3185 is not difficult to diagnose and repair. Thus, it always pays to have a qualified technician to look after your vehicle should this error code arise.

Diagnosing this code requires the engine to be in good running shape, without unmetered air entering the engine. If other codes that relates to misfiring condition, lean running or air entering the engine is present, then you must first fix those error codes before C3185.

Fortunately, C3185 is a fairly common OBD code, meaning that it applies to all makes and models of vehicles made after 1996.

C3185 Trouble Code For Specific Cars

C3185 Bizzarrini A3c Brake Pressure Switch Mechanical Failure
C3185 Kleinschnittger F Servo Motor Potentiometer Airintake Right Circuit Open
C3185 Hertz D Passenger's Seat Forward Switch Circuit Short to Battery
C3185 Lanchester Dauphin Speed Vehicle Signal Circuit Failure
C3185 Mitsubishi Canter Audio Navigation Unit is Not Responding
C3185 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Right Lamp Outage Signal Circuit Short to Ground
C3185 Opel Astra K Decklid Ajar Rear Door Circuit Open