How seriously to take fault codes?

[wfdTamar]

I bought a used Octavia which comes with a 3 month statutory warranty. I read the fault codes with my VCDS and got a few. The place I bought it from are saying, 'just delete them they mean nothing. They get caused by voltage fluctuations.' My thinking is they indicate potential or actual problems and should be investigated (as they could be subject to a claim on the warranty).

I don't have any lights on the dash and the car seems to run fine.

Here's the faults:

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Address 01: Engine Labels: 03G-906-021-BMM.clb

1 Fault Found:

012295 - Camshaft Position Sensor (G40)

P3007 - 000 - No Signal - Intermittent

Freeze Frame:

Fault Status: 00110000

Fault Priority: 3 (this is on a 1-5 scale, 5 being most serious)

Fault Frequency: 254 (the maximum that can be stored. It could be higher than that)

Mileage: 65557 km

Time Indication: 0

Date: 2000.00.00 (I've read that the date is not registered right)

Time: 16:30:08

Freeze Frame:

RPM: 1659 /min

Speed: 5.0 km/h

Load: 38.4 %

Voltage: 14.21 V

Bin. Bits: 00001100

Idle Stabilization: 18.1°KW

(no units): 48.0

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 01: Engine Labels: Redir Fail!

1 Fault Found:

000833 - Camshaft Position Sensor (G40)

P0341 - 000 - Implausible Signal - Intermittent

Freeze Frame:

Fault Status: 00110000

Fault Priority: 3

Fault Frequency: 254

Mileage: 65557 km

Time Indication: 0

Date: 2000.00.00

Time: 16:30:08

Freeze Frame:

RPM: 1659 /min

Speed: 5.0 km/h

Load: 38.4 %

Voltage: 14.21 V

Bin. Bits: 00001100

Idle Stabilization: 18.1°KW

(no units): 48.0

This is what the Ross-Tech says about the codes:

19463/P3007/012295 - Camshaft Position Sensor (G40): No Signal

Possible Symptoms

Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) ON

Possible Causes

Fuse(s) faulty

Wiring and/or Connector(s) from/to Camshaft Position Sensor (G40) faulty

Camshaft Position Sensor (G40) faulty

Possible Solutions

Check Fuse(s)

Check Wiring and/or Connector(s) from/to Camshaft Position Sensor (G40)

Check/Replace Camshaft Position Sensor (G40)

16725/P0341/000833 - Camshaft Position Sensor (G40): Implausible Signal

Possible Symptoms

Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) active

Possible Causes

Wiring from/to Camshaft Position Sensor (G40) faulty

Camshaft Position Sensor (G40) faulty

Timing misaligned

Possible Solutions

Check Wiring from/to Camshaft Position Sensor (G40)

Check Camshaft Position Sensor (G40)

Check Timing

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Address 08: Auto HVAC Labels: 1K0-907-044.lbl

1 Fault Found:

01317 - Control Module in Instrument Cluster (J285)

004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent

Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 3C0-937-049-30-H.lbl

2 Faults Found:

02071 - Local Databus

004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent

Freeze Frame:

Fault Status: 00100100

Fault Priority: 2

Fault Frequency: 5

Reset counter: 143

Mileage: 0 km

Time Indication: 0

Date: 2005.09.13

Time: 31:63:63

01317 - Instrument Cluster (J285): No Communications

Possible Causes

CAN-Databus Wiring/Connectors from/to Instrument Cluster (J285) faulty

Fault(s) stored in Instrument Cluster (J285)

Possible Solutions

Check CAN-Databus Wiring/Connectors from/to Instrument Cluster (J285)

Check Measuring Value Blocks (MVB)

Usually Measuring Value Blocks (MVB) 125+ show the current Communication Status

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 3C0-937-049-30-H.lbl

2 Faults Found:

02071 - Local Databus

004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent

Freeze Frame:

Fault Status: 00100100

Fault Priority: 2

Fault Frequency: 5

Reset counter: 143

Mileage: 0 km

Time Indication: 0

Date: 2005.09.13

Time: 31:63:63

Freeze Frame:

OFF

Voltage: 12.15 V

OFF

ON

OFF

OFF

OFF

02071 - Local Databus: No Signal/Communication

Possible Symptoms

Control Modules connected to Local Databus not functioning

Possible Causes

Wiring/Connectors from/to Control Modules in Local Databus faulty

Control Module in Local Databus faulty

Possible Solutions

Check/Repair Wiring/Connectors from/to Control Modules in Local Databus

Check/Replace Control Module in Local Databus

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 17: Instruments Labels: 1K0-920-xxx-17.lbl

2 Faults Found:

01299 - Diagnostic Interface for Data Bus (J533)

004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent

Freeze Frame:

Fault Status: 00100100

Fault Priority: 2

Fault Frequency: 2

Reset counter: 145

Mileage: 1048575 km

(bit worried about what this means. Has the car really done this many km's but the signal to odometer has not been getting through? Car shows 67,000 km on the odometer)

Time Indication: 0

01299 - Diagnostic Interface for Data Bus (J533)

008 - Implausible Signal - Intermittent

Freeze Frame:

Fault Status: 00101000

Fault Priority: 2

Fault Frequency: 1

Reset counter: 154

Mileage: 1048575 km

Time Indication: 0

01299 - Diagnostic Interface for Data Bus (J533): No Communications

Possible Symptoms

Warning Lamp On

Possible Causes

Wiring Harness Issue

Defective Control Module

Possible Solutions

Notes

If the fault is only found in one control module, then most likely that module is the issue. However, if the fault is found several different control modules, then the CAN Gateway could be the issue.

[stever750]

I wouldn't be surprised if most cars are driving around stuffed full of fault codes that are minor discrepencies between sensors and controllers. Imagine a world where windows works reliably 100% of the time..and before anyone shouts Mac! that's the equivalent of comparing a bicycle.

[bearthebruce]

Camshaft position sensor needs attention. The others many not be a real concern. The camshaft position sensor will effect the performance of engine so I would think you would want to resolve that.

[LB123]

I would inform the garage you are going to log and record these codes, then show them a printed record and then clear them. If any return, and I suspect the cam sensor ones will, then you will expect them to sort it out at their expense. See if they are happy with this. If not then they can clear them and sort any recurring codes.

[xreyuk]

Any idea why the dates seem to go a bit bonkers?

[john.errington]

When my Volvo had problems - started dropping into limp home mode- the local guy (Paul at Blueline Taxis -they are great!) checked the codes. There was a million. The codes had never been cleared for at least 6 years.

He cleared them all and I drove around for a few miles and returned. Only two fault codes appeared.

1: the internal air temp sensor (which got a blast from an air line; that fixed it!)

2: a wheel sensor.

I'd advise anyone to ignore fault codes if they have not been cleared recently, you will be chasing rainbows. If theres a real fault it will appear in a week or so's driving.

[rwbaldwin]

Mileage: 1048575 km (1048575 is 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 in binary or -1 in decimal)

Clear the codes and see what returns.

[john.errington]

And interestingly 65557 km aint far off 65535

many digital systems experience glitches when a lot of bit values go from 1 to 0 at the same time.

1048575 is 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 in binary

1048576 is 1 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000

[Volvomeg]

Erase them and run car a couple of days, if they come back then worry about getting them investigated

[wfdTamar]

New sensor solved the cam one. The others have gone after clearing.