just came on during journey home!

Car sounds/runs fine

can this be due to the dodgy coolant temp sensor? or will i need to book it into a main dealer to have a diagnostic check?

also, its been telling me it needs a service now for about 2 weeks (it doesn't, it had one 3 months ago but at an independant dealer so they probably didn't reset the ecu)

also, how do VW dealers fare compared to Skoda dealers for services/diagnostic checks?

Thanks

Could be anything. You need to get it scanned and get some codes.

£58.75 for a diagnostic check from smith Knight Fay VW!!!

£45 from Skoda dealer IF it takes 30 minutes!!!

Try disconecting the battery for 1/2 hour, it often works, if its still there or clear but comes back on again afterwards then you have a problem & worth getting a diagnostics check asap but probably nothing too serious if the cars running Ok

Look on the VAG-COM owners map (VCDS) for a member local to you and get it done much cheaper!

Look on the VAG-COM owners map (VCDS) for a member local to you and get it done much cheaper!

theres one member (therevrendjr) local to me, how do i contact them????

Do a search for them and send them a PM (personal message), however their Last Activity on the forum was:on 01-02-2009, so it may be worth contacting someone who is a bit more active?

Or buy yourself a code scanner for about £30, get the codes and then begin the investigation

Or buy yourself a code scanner for about £30, get the codes and then begin the investigation

where can you get these???

where can you get these???

E-bay but get advice as some are better than others, I bought one on spec & it was fine but cost around £100

found a local garage just down the road (recently moved house) which did a full diagnostic for £35

Two fault codes found:

16500, or P0116, engine coolant temperature circuit-G62: Range performance, sporadic

16555, or P0171 system sporadic: too lean bank 1

fault codes have been cleared and tested again ok, been advised to see if one or both of the faults turn up again, as one fault may be the cause of the other!

according to the print out i have, they used a X431 tool for the diagnostic

anyone else have any views on what was found???

Ok latest update...

warning light came on again on the drive home last night so i called in at VW dealers and parted with £30 for a new (green) temp sensor.

Just been out now and changed it on my lunch hour, only to find the existing temp sensor is also the later 'green' version!

Now i was under the impression it was only the older black sensors which were faulty?

Anyway, i've now disconnected the battery and will wait 30 mins before reconnecting (as advised earlier) and hopefully the fault won't reoccur, and the temp gauge will actually work!!

If not...well, it'll be bye bye more hard earned cash!

Nope, apparently the green ones can go too.

Nope, apparently the green ones can go too.

i seriously hope so!

just moved house, bought new carpet, sofa, and the wsashing machine has just packed up! :eek:

all connected back up, but warning light still on.

Not had time to run the car to see if the gauge is working.

Is there any way other than paying a garage to clear the code?

can't afford another £40 just to get rid of a dash light!!

all connected back up, but warning light still on.

Not had time to run the car to see if the gauge is working.

Is there any way other than paying a garage to clear the code?

can't afford another £40 just to get rid of a dash light!!

Someone on here will have Vag Com, stick up a "Anyone near (wherever you live) with vag Com type post & see what happens

Also I had acouple of green ones fail

Right, i'm now a mixture of confused, demoralised, and downright p*ss*d off!

Changing the temp sensor has made no difference whatsoever! it's still bahaving erraticly, but when i got in the car this morning the engine warning light didn't come on!?!?! the temp gauge didn't even move from its stop on the run in this morning.

Check the sensor plug for corrosion/loose wires. Check the wiring back as far as you can.

Check the sensor plug for corrosion/loose wires. Check the wiring back as far as you can.

everything looks (visually) fine! nothing loose, or corroded.

Engine warning light now back on! radiator fan on too after engine turned off, and when i felt the coolant pipes from engine to radiator this was warm, not hot!

could it be a faulty thermostat? but would this show up as a G62 temp circuit range fault?

getting more confused as i go along!!!

also what is the other sensor connected to the collant pipe in the below pic?

ps the image is upside down!

Edited 4 September, 200916 yr by curiousyellow

just been googling the fault code P0171 system sporadic: too lean bank 1, and found one possible cause is "gas leak in exhaust system" and had one of those 'oh no'! moments!

A few weeks back i reversed (or tried to) onto the car port where i live only to hear as i was half on horrible scraping noises!

It didn't appear at the time anything was damaged, just scrape marks on an obtruding lump of concrete in the middle of the car port.

I'm now thinking this has 'holed' or split the exhaust, but can this also generate the P0116 fault code?

continued...

right...the temperature gauge doesn't seem to move much at all now! (it does slightly!, just over the 50 degrees mark)

and even on small journeys of 1-2miles the radiator fan is on!

why is this? the car cannot get up to temperature on such short journeys so i'm now thinking theres some kind of fault in the electronics that's telling the fan to kick in because the engine temp is high (when it clearly isn't)

This might explain why the temp gauge is always so low now...because the temp IS low!!!

any help please? i can't afford to take it to a garage to have them spend all day at £80 an hour to look over it!

Ignore the fan for now - when the car is moving the airflow is far more than the fan provides.

If you go on a long run, do you reach normal temperature? If so then it sounds like the thermostat is stuck open.

Ignore the fan for now - when the car is moving the airflow is far more than the fan provides.

If you go on a long run, do you reach normal temperature? If so then it sounds like the thermostat is stuck open.

My commute to work is 25 miles each way. about 10 miles are A roads the rest motorway.

It usually doesn't reach normal temperature (90), in fact for the last week, 10 days its hardly gone past the 50 degrees mark! i think just once it got to normal temp and this was at the end of my journey.

also, on the rare occasions it does reach normal temp, the fan isn't on! (after i've stopped) confusing?

Did you sort it out yet i had the same problem ,the thermostat on my car had a sensor built into it .i changed it and all is fine now ,,the fan has a temp switch that brings on the light as well ,,

Did you sort it out yet i had the same problem ,the thermostat on my car had a sensor built into it .i changed it and all is fine now ,,the fan has a temp switch that brings on the light as well ,,

not sorted yet.

when i have some cash at the end of the month i'll change the thermostat and hope that works! i don't have as much as 2 brass washers to rub together at the moment!

What seems illogical though is the fact that the engine isn't getting up to temp, but the fan comes on!!

When the engine does get upto temp (if sat in traffic for long etc) the fan doesn't come on!!

also, i'm sure i've read the thermostat on my model octy (BFQ engine) is ecu controlled!