Morning All,
We have a 2001 VW Beetle 2.0 petrol, which has covered 88,000 miles. On the way home from work last night, the engine emissions warning lamp (I think it also doubles as an engine management warning lamp) flashed up. This was only about two miles from home and there was no apparent change in the performance of the car, so I carried on home. Tried turning off and on again, but the light remains.
I've checked the connection to any sort of sensor that I can see under the bonnet and all appear to be in order. Checked air filter and this is free of blockages. Have disconnected and reconnected the air flow meter, both with engine running and when switched off and light remains on. Fluid levels all OK and having done a quick forum search, both rear brake lights are working, as a blown brake light caused the emissions warning lamp to show on someone elses car with the same engine. No funny eggy smells and the car drives normally and isn't in any sort of limp home mode. Too soon to say whether fuel consumption has increased.
The obvious next step is to take it in for the codes to be read, but I just wondered whether anybody could suggest any other basic checks that I can carry out. The light did come on some while ago (c. 40k miles) after VW had installed new piston rings (under warranty) to 'cure' high oil consumption (it didn't cure it at all!). On that occasion they took the car in for 15 minutes and, I believe, did something with the lambda sensor. Could be the same again I guess... Would a fault with the air mass flow meter put it into limp home mode?
Thanks for your help. David
Edited by Pugugly on 16/08/2008 at 12:58
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A faulty MAF rarelly gives a CEL (check engine light) but it can, but you'd notice a fall off in performance long before you saw the CEL
It could still be the brake light switch even though the bulbs haven't blown, it contains 2 switches, one for the brake lights the other tells the ecu your braking, its this part of the switch that puts the CEL on the dash, £8.50 or so from VW, when faulty the performance remains good.
A scan is the way forward with this.
HTH;o)
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hi dox
i have a 01 beetle auto 1.6 ltr
both brake light bulbs have blown and the engine emissions light is now constantly on
are the two problems linked??
any advice to help fix this engine emissions light
thanks steve
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David
Have a look in the usual places for the engine code; [cam-belt cover etc.] there's quite a few possibles, but why do I have a feeling that it will be the dreaded AQY.....?
One very worthwhile check would be the condition of the engine oil-fume breather hoses - look hard, as they often crack and set one of the fuel trim codes, something like P0171.
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...and sure enough, it's an AQY engine code! That explains quite a lot re this engine and the work that VW have done on it udner warranty (new piston rings as mentioned earlier, new engine management unit...)
Given that the car is certainly not in a limp home mode, am I safe to continue to us it for the time being? Service is due at 90,000 miles (which will be in a month or so) and I would prefer not to have to take it in twice. Will check the breather hoses when I get a chance. If I do 'cure' the problem myself, will the light go out, or does it need resetting?
Thanks for your replies.
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Although having the MIL on seem to be an almost normal condition for an AQY; it would be better to at least know the code, even if the repairs had to wait.
The light will clear if the fault goes away or the fuel trim comes back into line - the length of time depends on the code.
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Got in the car to drive home last night and the warning lamp is no longer showing!! Perhaps yet another dodgy sensor? Will get any stored codes read at the 90k service in a few weeks time.
Cheers
David
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hello david
i have a 01 beetle auto 1.6 ltr
both brake light bulbs have blown and the engine emissions light is now constantly on
are the two problems linked??
any advice to help fix this engine emissions light
thanks steve
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Steve,
If both lamps have failed, including a high level lamp if fitted, then the chances are the brake lamp switch requires replacing. A very common failure on vw's.
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