2013 2.0tdi 170 estate.

Driving along 5 minutes after start up, smell of something burning, acrid smell, assumed outside until I noticed smoke in the cabin! Pulled over walked around car no sign of smoke, popped bonnet, nothing amiss there. Drove off no problem.

On next start up oil level sensor warning light on. Oil level itself was fine.

Arrived home, reversing sensors not working. 

Topped oil right up to the max but oil sensor light still on. Disconnected battery for an hour to reset everything and sensor light now off.

Reversing sensors still faulty though and can't find a specific fuse for these?

 

Any suggestions as to what has happened? 

 

Shorts (brief electrical burn) and electrical fires have an acrid smell - so I would say you have had one of those. I'd get the car checked out ASAP.

3 hours ago, TheRobinK said:

Shorts (brief electrical burn) and electrical fires have an acrid smell - so I would say you have had one of those. I'd get the car checked out ASAP.

 

This ^^.

 

Had the micriswitches for the indicator stalk in my old mk3 Golf GTI short out and had the same experience. Mk2 SuperB still seems to have the same stalks...

 

Wisps of smoke and burining smells on a dual carriageway with no hard should isn’t fun!

The smell could be from engine oil spilled on the exhaust manifold or pipes.

It's a minor leak (for now).

 

See this too.

Edited 22 February, 20188 yr by RicardoM

Thanks guys. Amber oil light still flashing intermittently and no oil temperature reading on MFD. So maybe the oil level / temp sensor shorted? Any ideas where this is? Could it have taken out my parking sensors as well?

There will be a residual smell from the place that burned.

sniff close to the cabin fuse box, fan blower motor and anywhere else you can think of.

Door switches and seat buttons can get a soaking so check around them too.

look at all the fuses for any sign of warping or discolouration.

 

A VCDS scan is probably a good start too

Thanks guys. Amber oil light still flashing intermittently and no oil temperature reading on MFD. So maybe the oil level / temp sensor shorted? Any ideas where this is? Could it have taken out my parking sensors as well?

Had a chat with my helpful dealer about what else to check but couldn't find any burnt out connectors or shorted wires so took it to the dealer.

The problem was a burnt out 'air quality sensor'. It had a hole burnt in it and explains why the smoke came in through the vents. Apparently this (CANBus?) circuit also contains the oil level sensor and reversing lights which was why my parking sensors weren't working! Too complicated these modern cars.

£76 for a new sensor and apparently all it does is trigger the recirculating air in the car if it detects bad air. I think I can live without it especially since it likes to go on fire.

£50 poorer but everything working again.

Edited

Edited 23 February, 20188 yr by SuperbTWM

Where is this sensor situated?

Under the skuttle panel under the bonnet on the passenger side. Fits into small metal bracket.

Try Ebay for it and fit it yourself