So the other day my engine check light come on. I managed to get it on vcds and the code was for the temp sensor/thermostat, I cleared the code and gave it a good long run and light has stayed off.

I was wondering if it might be due to the weather? on the day the light come on it was a heat wave here and when I got into the car it was reading 30 on the display and the bonnet of the car was that hot I could have cooked food lol. could this cause the temp sensor to go bit wonky throwing up the code?

What was the fault code?

17704 - Error in Mapped Cooling System (check Temp-Sensor and Thermostat)
             P1296 - 35-00

Had this on my A3 1.8T changed the thermostat and temp sensor and was fine after

I not long stuck a new sensor and thermostat in it maybe 6 months ago, made sure they were proper ones and not cheap knock offs

Hmm bit weird that? Was the fault gone after you replaced them before?

It could be a faulty sensor, faulty thermostat or it could have been on the verge of overheating for some other reason. The freeze frame data from VCDS would be useful in this case. This is catch all fault code. Can you remember if the radiator fan was on full at the time?

had the same code appear before and that's why I replaced them and had the code cleared and all been good for the last 6 months, I keep an eye on it and if it happens again I will just replace both to be on safe side and cant say if fans were on, don't think so tho

Edited 15 July, 201411 yr by AndyRG