VAG-COM codes help!

[slicecbr]

The engine light came on the car Sunday, I had an ebay cable around and a trial/lite version (I suppose) of VAG-COM which came with the cable.

Anyway, scanned the car and got:

3 Faults Found:

17972 - Throttle Actuator (J338): Under-Voltage during Basic Setting
P1564 - 000 - - - Intermittent

17591 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
P1183 - 000 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent

17604 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs
P1196 - 000 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent

From research 17591 / P1564 - is something to do with the battery, my cars almost 10 years old, so is due a new one.

And the other two could be to do with the lamba sensor?

Any help with this would be great!

Thanks.

 

[RUM4MO]

Yes 17591 and 17604 does make it look like your first lambda probe, mounted in the manucat is faulty. As you say, the other one is related to the throttle body. If the battery is still okay why change it, normally the power steering system would tell you if the battery is a bit lazy.

Resetting fault codes, I think that you can reset them from within the controller that covers the source of the codes, in your case the ENGINE controller. Try clearing them and see what happens over the next few days as these could be very old codes, especially the throttle body adaption one. In my experience, lambda probes (O2 linear sensor), fail slowly at first, which means that you will get some days/weeks free from new faults being logged before it becomes a hard or solid fault. If you end up needing a new sensor, I'd suggest buying from your local VAG dealer.

BTW, which engine does the car have, 75PS 1.4 16V BBY ?

 

[slicecbr]

Thanks for the reply. My PAS light came on now and again a month or two ago, not been on since, so will probably get a new battery soon, looks like it's on it's way out.

Also just seen that the engine light did not come on slighty earlier when I had to use the car? It had been on since sunday.

So the codes will stay there until I reset them? How you were saying to reset them, does that require VAG-COM?

Yer 1.4 16v, pretty sure it's BBY.

 

[RUM4MO]

I suppose at around 10 years if you have any doubts about the battery then its best to change it before it catches you out. My 2000 VW Passat gave me a timely warning last winter even if it is always garaged, so I bought a new Bosch S5 battery - seems they are the same as Varta, so buy which ever is cheaper for the same "grade".

Fault codes will stay in the controller's memory until erased either using a VAG compatable scan tool, Gendan (www.gendan.co.uk) do one for about £40 delivered - that might be good enough for your usage, I have VCDS and a cheap Gendan tool (it stays with the car), so I know they both work. The Gendan one I have covers ENGINE, AUTOTRANS, SRS (aibags etc) and ABS.

The reason that the engine light has now gone out is that the fault has not returned for the following maybe 6-off engine starts, but as I've said the actual codes will still be held in memory in the engine's controller.

Seems that these BBY engines like to complain (I see now that you have "Mk4 5dr 2003 1.4s" on your signiture - my bad!) - I'd reckon that that engine is very close to in serial number) the one in my wife's car, her car was built in September 2002 and picked up a week later.

BTW, her car asked for a new S1 lambda sensor a few years ago - so you have been lucky that this is just starting to happen to your one now.

Edit, just looked on the Gendan site, selected Audi VW Seat Skoda cars from the list, now see that the one I suggested is £37 - but there is one that covers all other car systems for £60 - and that will include AC Power steering and service light reset AND it will operate as an EOBD scan car on some other cars (that part tends to be hit or miss as some manufacturers are not playing the game fully yet).

 

[slicecbr]

Thanks for your help RUM4MO, I appreciate it.

I'm going to look into some scan tools, never heard of Gendan but looks pretty good. Seeming as the cars getting on slightly and things are starting to need to be replaced, just had a coil pack changed so the others will probably soon follow, I think a scan tool with the ability to re-set would be good. The £60 Gendan looks pretty good for that. Got some friends with VAG cars so could make some money back on it aswel or some free beers!

You mention that your wifes car asked for a new lambda sensor a few years ago, did that reset or did you have to replace it?

 

[RUM4MO]

I reset the "lambda fault" codes a few times, maybe three times over a period of 14 days (a guess) before ordering in a replacement one, luckily for me, by the time it had arrived (usual two days), the fault light was on again and this time it was logging a permanent fault - replaced probe, cleared stored fault codes and that was that. The thing about Gendan is, they are a company that survives by selling scan tools, and they just happen to put their name on a couple (or maybe even designed them), there are plenty other places that sell scan tools and offer no support - I know which company I'd rather deal with. I think that they even quickly answered any "pre purchase" I asked, certainly, if in stock, they can get the scan tool on your door step very quickly. You are probably making a good choice going for the better (than I have) scan tool, as I can fall back on VCDS for serious stuff.

Also, remember that the £60 tool seems to have the means to operate as a standard EOBD scan tool on some other (non VAG) cars.