Engine Managment Light

[Proc]

I think the vagcom units give out different codes to the ones off ebay. My code reader gave me 3 codes which i posted above. I got a guy out with vagcom and that brought up one code for the wastegate. My problem turned out to be a valve and sensor in the wastegate, got them replaced under warranty. Only thing now is the guy said if the light comes back on it could need the actuator replacing as well.

But you could tell them the codes, see what they say. But i suspect they'll want to get it on their diagnostic system to check for themselves.

 

[Bananaman]

LOL - you got it in one, Proc!

I phoned my local dealers up yesterday and told them that I'd had the engine management light come on, but that I'd already find out the fault codes and their meaning. I just wondered if the car was ok to drive until I get it in to them, and what the possible problem could be.

He seemed a bit peeved but said that I should be ok to drive over the next week, as long as I wasn't planning on doing much motorway driving. However, he couldn't give any advice other than that one of the codes indicated a possible leaky pipe, which may also explain the 'system too rich' code.

I also told him that because I've been having the 3-early-morning-beeps problem that a lot of you guys have, and it's now shown up on the fault as one of the codes ( faulty coolant sensor), I was thinking of just getting the coolant sensor replaced anyway and seeing if it fixed the other 2 codes. I mean, is it just some weird coincidence that I have no problems for ages and then 3 appear at once?!

The guy told me that I couldn't just have the sensor replaced, I'd have to have the expansion tank done at the same time - total cost, including labour and VAT, £50.

However, he did also say that they'd want to rig it up to their machine beforehand to check that they're not replacing something if it doesn't need it. The cost for that;
£25 if it's a 'quick test'
£65 if it's a 'longer test'

Are they pulling my plonker or is that fair? I was tempted to just get the cooolant sensor/expansion tank done for the £50 and see if it cleared the other 2 faults. Especially seeing as the 3-beeps indicates I've got a problematic sensor anyway and the work needs doing anyway. I don't want to shell out for a test at £25-£65 if it's not needed.

Any suggestions, please? Do I just get the sensor/expansion tank replaced at £50 and see if things clear, or do I pay Seat "£25-£65" for a test I may or may not need? Oh, and I guess my main question still is whether the car is still ok to drive while these faults are showing up? Apart from surging slightly (200-300 rpm) when the car is idling, it otherwise feels ok....

Cheers guys

 

[traumapat]

if the sensor has prongs that are covered in muck might be worth trying to scrape them clean?

might be the washer fluid im thinking of, but the sensor prongs can get fouled up and a clean might sort it?

 

[Danzibar9]

Hi, just been reading all this with interest. What does this emgine management light look like? When does it come on? I have a light that come on when i turn ignition on. All the other lights go out after a while, but it stays on. Turns off when i start the engine tho. It looks like and engine. How dumb do i sound lol...I know someone with VAGcom so i will go to him if its needed.

 

[traumapat]

it looks like...
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=151948&highlight=engine+fault+light

but... all the fault lights light upon ignition. its a self check.

you only need to worry if the light stays on after starting

 

[Bananaman]

Cheers for the advice, traumapat - although I'm not exactly sure where the sensor is so that I can clean it!!

Maybe it'd be worth just telling the Seat guys that the sensor's playing up first and getting them to look at it/clean it, before then going down the replacement sensor+expansion tank route....?

Although I'm quite prepared to pay them to connect it up and diagnose all faults if absolutely necessary, I'd rather actually fix the problem that I know for sure is there first, and if that doesn't clear the other 2, THEN pay the extra for their diagnosis. I don't want to pay their ambiguous "£25-£65" fee if I don't really need to....

Thanks again for the helpful advice,

 

[traumapat]

Cheers for the advice, traumapat - although I'm not exactly sure where the sensor is so that I can clean it!!

Maybe it'd be worth just telling the Seat guys that the sensor's playing up first and getting them to look at it/clean it, before then going down the replacement sensor+expansion tank route....?

Although I'm quite prepared to pay them to connect it up and diagnose all faults if absolutely necessary, I'd rather actually fix the problem that I know for sure is there first, and if that doesn't clear the other 2, THEN pay the extra for their diagnosis. I don't want to pay their ambiguous "£25-£65" fee if I don't really need to....

Thanks again for the helpful advice,

have a search mate. somebody will have done it. its usual if the sensors dead to replace the whole tank but if you can get away with cleaning the prongs, disconnect battery for 10 mins, reconnect and see if its solved?

best of luck with it

 

[Stan 24v]

Probably a silly question, too, but I'll ask anyway...

If I go into the Seat dealer and tell them the 3 codes I've found that are causing the dash light to stay on, will I save myself the £60 they'd normally charge to hook the thing up to their PC?

I mean, surely if I've already got the error codes, they've just got to fix the related problems, right?!

I'm just trying to save as much money on the repair as possible this close to Xmas, especially if the other 3 faults turn out to be expensive!

Maybe, but you never know. Where do you live? If there is a specialist nearby it would be better.

 

[Bananaman]

Big thanks, matey - I've just done a search meantime and found the instructions on how to clean the sensor. I'll give it a go tomorrow when things outside are a bit lighter - and when the bottle of red wine I had with my Sunday lunch is out my system.....

It also made me look at the 16502 fault code a bit clearer on this site;

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/16502/P0118/000280


Maybe I should have actually read the detail on there rather than jump to conclusions with the 3-beeps problem I've had for a while. It's made me realise that I probably have 2 problems;

1. Faulty/dirty coolant LEVEL sensor = 3-beeps problem on cold mornings
2. Faulty/dirty coolant TEMPERATURE sensor = engine management light, plus irregular idling speed.

Now that I've actually read the above linked page, I was reminded that last year, I did have problems with the engine temperature display. It would take ages to actually register that the engine had warmed up and suddenly jump from 70 to 90, and then while driving, I'd glance down and it had dropped to 70 again. I'm surprised it's taken so long to register on the engine management warning, but oh well.....


Plan of attack now is to;
a. clean coolant LEVEL sensor ( and replace if 3-beeps doesn't go away)
b. take car into garage to get the G62 coolant TEMPERATURE sensor cleaned/replaced ( and hopefully get rid of the 3 faults that have shown up recently)


Cheers for all the help you guys have given - I'm a muppet when it comes to cars and taking my car to the dealers makes me feel ill, 'cos I just know they're gonna take my open wallet and empty it due to my ignorance!!

Thanks all - I'll let you know how I get on!


EDIT: cheers Stan. I live in Burton-on-Trent, near Derby. I don't know of any specialists nearby, but I'll try the Seat dealers AFTER I've tried phoning around a few other independent garages..... ;-)

 

[Bananaman]

Ok guys, just a quick bounce of the thread to say thanks - I think it may now be sorted!

After the advice on here, after buying a fault reader off ebay and after using the very useful search facility on these forums (!), I got the G62 engine coolant temperature sensor replaced last night. I have to confess, I took it the Seat dealer in the end and got it done - £58 all-in, for anyone who's thinking of doing the same.

I know it's not been long, and I don't want to tempt fate, but the car already feels better. The mechanic must've cleared the faults after fitting the new sensor, 'cos the light was off when I picked the car up, and it's stayed off since. The erratic idling seems to have disappeared and the acceleration feels so much smoother. ( There have been times recently - even before the warning light came on - when I've put my foot down, and the car has almost stuttered or faltered, before finally accelerating...)

Just a big thanks guys! You've saved me from paying the £65 that Seat wanted to hook it up to their machine, and gave me the confidence to go in and ask for just a repair of the sensor. If I'd not known about the fault reader on ebay, they could've told me anything needed replacing/repairing and I'd have had to believe them.

Cheers again!

 

[traumapat]

glad its sorted..... and in the process your now a temp sensor expert

 

[Bananaman]

Well I probably wouldn't go that far, but I can now spot the difference between a black and a green sensor!!

 

[Stan 24v]

How far is Newcastle-Under-Lyme from you mate? Im sure its not that far, and it has one of THE best specialists in the country there:

www.psituning.com

Glad you got it sorted.

 

[Bananaman]

Cheers Stan, I'll bear that in mind for next time - 'cos there's bound to be one!

N-U-L's not far at all - about 35 miles away. I was seeing a girl from there until recently, so if I can make that much effort for a woman, I can sure as hell make it for my car.......


( Only kidding, but bring on the ....... !!)