Hello!

 

Now that the temperature is about 15C below zero here in Finland I've noticed a couple issues with my Superb. It is an '09 with 2.0 tdi DSG.

 

When I start the car, 80% of the time the MFD shows bulb warning for all side lights, license plate and brake lights, even though all the bulbs are working. This never happens in warm weather or in a warm garage. I am using LEDs for front side lights and license plate lights. The car was VCDS coded for LED license plate lights a couple years ago (although that didnt help for simple led bulbs and I had to buy proper ones with a resistor)

 

The second issue is that when I wash the car in a warm self-service wash booth, take the car out in the cold and start driving something weird happens. At low speeds in the parking lot everything is ok, but when I start accelerating on the road, the car stutters and wont shift up from 2nd. I then shift into 3rd manually and it starts going, leaving a huge puff of smoke behind. Maybe something with water in the intake?

 

Thanks.

Is it an estate (wagon) or Twindoor (sedan)?

 

The Twindoor has always been finicky with it's rear lights and the 'blown bulb warning' and there have been numerous reasons over the years from water ingress to incorrect bulbs to stretched / brittle wiring.

 

The most common issue, and one most likely related to the cold, is the brittle wiring. I suspect the plastic coating on the wires in the extreme low temperatures becomes more brittle than normal, and what you're experiencing is the beginning of this issue...

 

 

When the car is warm the wiring softens, becomes more pliable and the issue temporarily disappears?

 

Or, you have an estate and I am completely wrong 😀

 

Edited 21 December, 20214 yr by silver1011

As for the second issue, what colour is the puff of smoke out of the rear? White, blue or black?

 

Presumably no warning lights on the dash?

 

A refusal to change gear might log a fault code of some description, it might be worth getting the car scanned to see if anything is stored?

 

There is a section in the air filter box, underneath the air filter that had a tendency to trap debris on my 2012 CR140 TDI. Remove the top of the air filter box (8x Torx screws), lift out the air filter and remove the mesh underneath. Check for leaves or debris that might be holding or pooling water after a direct hit from the jet wash?

17 minutes ago, silver1011 said:

As for the second issue, what colour is the puff of smoke out of the rear? White, blue or black?

 

Presumably no warning lights on the dash?

 

A refusal to change gear might log a fault code of some description, it might be worth getting the car scanned to see if anything is stored?

 

There is a section in the air filter box, underneath the air filter that had a tendency to trap debris on my 2012 CR140 TDI. Remove the top of the air filter box (8x Torx screws), lift out the air filter and remove the mesh underneath. Check for leaves or debris that might be holding or pooling water after a direct hit from the jet wash?

Thanks silver. It is indeed a twindoor. Might have to look into that issue at some point. Do you think hitting the wires with ptfe spray or something would help? On the other hand I might end up selling the car anyway as my daily commute will be changing radically next year

 

The smoke (looks more like steam lol) is white and the car shows no warnings. To me it seems that the refusal to change gear is a consequence of the car not revving up to the shift point, as the rpm's stick to around 2k-2.5k if I remember correctly. I did clean the filter box about a year ago and I dont think there will be any leaves or anything as I haven't been around trees. But I will check that as well. Thanks again!