2011 Fabia 1.6TDI CR 105ps. almost 52000 miles. EGR replaced about 15 months / 12000 miles ago.

 

Twice now the flashing orange coil light has started with a brief workshop warning on the display. The car did not drop into limp mode. Each time it has cleared on restart.

The first time was about 15 miles into a gentle trundle, the second at about 175 miles of a 180 mile run of which the first ~150 miles was dual carriageway then motorway then ~ 15miles of 40 - 50mph roads and finally 60 - 70mph dual carriageway.

 

At no point has the car seemed not to be running totally normally e.g. rough, jerky on-off power or low power even briefly.

 

I have been into my local VAG specialist for a diagnostic check. Their diagnosis presumably from the fault codes stored, which I do not know, is the air sensor - MAF sensor ?

The estimate to check the system and wiring then presuming nothing is found supply and fit the genuine part is just over £200.

 

I guess the ECU detects faults earlier but when the MAF sensor failed on my A4 with the 1.9TDI PD the car was intermittently running rough.  Also there was no dashboard light nor anything stored in the ECU. The difference then was ~100,00 miles and allowing for inflation less than half the cost to replace.

 

Has anyone else had the same or similar situation ?

 

I should have stated in my first post that this car has NOT had the EA189 ' fix ' nor been to a VW group dealer since March 2014.

 

It was last serviced by the independent specialist about 8 months and covered less than 5000 miles since.

Edited 24 July, 20187 yr by delta925

MAF sensor takes about half hour to fit and can be purchased from ECP for around £63 to £109, with a discount code. There is also a refund of about £36 when you give them back your old one. (Bosch version, not cheap one). May be a different sensor for your model but still, similar. Even cheaper on the 'bay!

18 hours ago, mrgf said:

MAF sensor takes about half hour to fit and can be purchased from ECP for around £63 to £109, with a discount code. There is also a refund of about £36 when you give them back your old one. (Bosch version, not cheap one). May be a different sensor for your model but still, similar. Even cheaper on the 'bay!

 

mrgf,

 

Thanks.

 

Given unlike the dealers the independent doesn't charge ( directly at least ) for diagnostic and their hourly rate is half the dealer rate I'm not going to cut them out the loop as without them I have no specialist local support.

 

Rather while I don't doubt the fault code(s) directly imply an air sensor fault given absolutely no running issues and a couple of posts on the 'net I wonder if the air sensor is not the real problem. If after replacement the fault reoccurs I can go back with a clean conscience and they have a responsibility.

 

While of course I don't want others to have faults I was hoping I was not the first with this scenario.

ive heard similar problems where an injector is at fault, however as your car has been scanned and they say a MAF issue then it is probably not an injector.

4 weeks later .... neither has the flashing coil light appeared again nor any poor running symptoms. This week for 3 days I have done a 40+ mile run twice a day rather than the usual 11 miles twice a day.

 

I did remove the MAF connector and spray with contact cleaner and look at the wiring. I can see how the wires could fracture from movement / vibration.

 

I'm expecting a recurrence in time as rare for faults never to reoccur. At least this doesn't drop the system into limp mode.

 

 

Edited 18 August, 20187 yr by delta925

Remember to download "Honey" for chrome it is a promotion code add on!! I use it on Euro and GSF all the time

 

My flashing coil light was caused by a going faulty DPF pressure sensor but over time it then went to a EML. 

Your 40 mile trip must have allowed the DPF to regenerate properly. It sounds like your 11 mile trips are just not enough to get the DPF hot enough for the required time to complete a DPF regeneration.

Directly this is most likely not DPF / regeneration related due to short journeys although it could eventually turn out to be a sensor in the system. I had a temperature one go soon after a year that was replaced by the breakdown callout guy.

 

As stated in my first post the second time the light came on was after 175 miles of a 180 mile journey. Ten days earlier I had done the outward 180 mile journey too.

 

The indicator is the coil / glowplug one, not the DPF or engine one, plus the message is something like ' Engine fault Workshop ' .

 

I totally respect the comments about short journeys and if I knew now what I did when ordering or if the dealer had asked about my journeys and advised newer diesels were not suited to short journeys I would never have bought. I have though never had the regen warning so specifically had to go for a 20+ mile fast drive. About half of the 11 mile journey is dual carriageway and usually at least 60mph which must help compared to a journey that is all urban or slow roads. In addition when I notice a regen while on the urban roads I try keep to revs up at 2000+. A regen can end up split over three journeys.

 

The MAF fault has come up just once more back in September. Again the same circumstance of no throttle and downhill. I can now check as I found the Android app ' OBD Car Doctor ' with my ELM327 will read at least some fault codes. Torque does not read any fault codes.

 

At Christmas and again last weekend I had long runs both with several significant uphill / downhill sections but a MAF fault was not triggered.

 

The car has been running fine and last week a clean MOT pass.

hows this going for you now please ? my 1.6tdi is flashing coil light (never eml)usually off throttle ive noticed ,very intermitent .happens on long or short trips , like you no effect on running and resets on re start .. my carista diagnosis says maf sensor .. i have ordered maf cleaner spray which hasnt arived yet.

 

cheers.

The fourth and most recent occurrence was the end of April or the beginning of May.

 

While not due at last service hence not changed then I changed the air filter. The one fitted was UFI and had all the VAG logos moulded, not just printed, so I presume was genuine VAG / TPS sourced. For the service when fitted I had requested genuine parts.

ECP listed several brands but I went for Bosch. The removed filter didn't look particularly dirty or clogged.

I also sprayed contact cleaner ( not WD40 ! ) into the MAF electrical connector and just managed from above to remove the MAP sensor connector and do the same.

 

With the new filter the car felt to run better plus so far no more P0101 or any other errors.

 

Despite feeling to run better there is no noticeable improvement in the abysmal mpg though ...

 

Edited 21 August, 20196 yr by delta925

I have ordered a new o ring seal and will prob get the Bosch filter like you did. This is my seal on the airbox side which I'm not sure is affecting it ? Must have been trapped for a while looking at it. Cheers..

 

been out today in it after fitting new seal and no light yet, tried to provoke it as i have managed to before and nothing , i noticed it was coming on at 1400 rpm off throttle engine braking so tried that in all gears still nothing so fingers crossed .. 

 

one question tho ,why would a bad o ring on the airbox side make any difference (other than dirt getting through) as the airbox is open to atmophere anyway ??

gone quiet on here ?

The bottom line is if the light is staying off you have found and solved the cause. As to why a slight leak would be an issue I don't know, a change to the air flow i.e. turbulence is perhaps a possibility.

 

 

Looking back for some time before the first appearance of the coil light my car didn't feel to be running freely compared to now. I wonder if the UFI air filter is more restrictive than the Bosch ?

I havent fitted my new bosch filter yet and the light is now staying off no matter how i try to provoke it. i got my filter thats in at the moment from ebay as part of a full service kit its not a bosch filter tho.

 

I think you're prob right about the turbulence idea , thats all it can be surely. oh well been a journey of learning/discovery and its nice if you get it licked isnt it.. 

 

thanks for your help👍...

 

Dave.