Yesterday shortly after a cold start the amber engine icon light came on. Today it is still on and I plugged in an Autolink OBD11 reader which tells me I have a the code as in the subject. Anyone had this and what the likely cause / cost of rectifying could be? The mileage is only about 26,000 and was serviced a couple of months ago.

 

Thanks!

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

Any other symptoms/issues you've noticed with the car, any other codes.

 

That one code in itself doesn't tell you a lot, have a read to the end of that article and see if that brings up more info. -  https://www.700r4transmissionhq.com/p2096-volkswagen-golf/

 

ETA: what was done at the service a couple of months ago, has the air filter been changed?

Edited 27 September, 20223 yr by nta16
ETA: Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

I’m also getting this code now with the engine light. If I reset it it tends to be about 500 to 1000 miles before it triggers again. The car seems to be running fine. It’s odd that it doesn’t trigger after being reset. So it seems to be intermittent. Any clues without me going to a Skoda main dealer and being charged a fortune?

@ThamesValley

Welcome.

 

Servicing can not have been much is it.

Oil and filter changes and looks sees. 

No Air Filter changed or Spark plugs at 4 years and only about 26,000 miles.   ?Has the Air Filter even been looked at?

 

.............

Bottom in green, pre 2020 Servicing,

how it used to be. Minor & Major Servicing or even Major & Major.

 

Edited 27 September, 20223 yr by roottoot

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

30 minutes ago, MKOK said:

I’m also getting this code now with the engine light. If I reset it it tends to be about 500 to 1000 miles before it triggers again.

Is it just that code or with others, see link (from my previous post), that one code in itself doesn't tell you a lot, have a read to the end of that article and see if that brings up more info. -  https://www.700r4transmissionhq.com/p2096-volkswagen-golf/

 

As above has full servicing been done, on the engine at least, air filter. plugs, what's your mileage and usual journeys, any noises, smells, vibrations, bit more info, what tool exactly are you using to reset the error code light.

 

Have you checked for leaks or pipes, hoses, connectors, loose, wires and connects loose or dirt/contaminated - it's all a very wide field.

 

Edited 27 September, 20223 yr by nta16
ETA: Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

So it’s been doing this for a few months now. The garage I go to have been resetting it for me and then trying to work out what is causing it as there are no other codes. The car runs fine. It’s done 61k miles and is probably due a service soon. The last service it had was earlier this year which was an oil service only. The car is t nagging for a service or counting down yet. 
 

every other week I do a round trip of about 250 miles. A couple of weeks ago I went near London on a 200 mile trip and then back a couple of days later. Again no problem. We have physically checked pipes and cables to the sensors. No hissing noises present. Once into October I’m looking at getting a full service with plugs and filters. I suspect it is a misfire that I’m not hearing or feeling as surely after a reset it would trigger quite fast if there was an obvious problem but it’s not. It can be weeks. As I said it’s anything g from 500 to a thousand miles before it triggers again. 

1 hour ago, MKOK said:

So it’s been doing this for a few months now. The garage I go to have been resetting it for me and then trying to work out what is causing it as there are no other codes. The car runs fine. It’s done 61k miles and is probably due a service soon. The last service it had was earlier this year which was an oil service only. The car is t nagging for a service or counting down yet. 
 

every other week I do a round trip of about 250 miles. A couple of weeks ago I went near London on a 200 mile trip and then back a couple of days later. Again no problem. We have physically checked pipes and cables to the sensors. No hissing noises present. Once into October I’m looking at getting a full service with plugs and filters. I suspect it is a misfire that I’m not hearing or feeling as surely after a reset it would trigger quite fast if there was an obvious problem but it’s not. It can be weeks. As I said it’s anything g from 500 to a thousand miles before it triggers again. 

I'd go for the after catalytic O2 sensor is faulty or the actual Catalytic converter is on its last legs.

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

The oil service is just an oil and filter change, or possibly partial oil change the way some garages do it, and often "free health check" I'm not sure how much road testing is done, more of an engine oil & filter.  Have you had the car from new, do you know if the spark plugs and air filter have been changed - if not I'd certainly look at changing the air filter as soon as possible (tomorrow) and have a look at the state of the inside of the filter box and tubing.  If not already done changing the spark plugs could help and would be overdue.  The car reset will be on the engine oil change so you can do other work to help the situation.

 

The car can be misfiring without putting up any warnings, it will though show on a scan tool that's not just a code reader.  So if anyone is in your area that can give you a health report or better still also live data to read from to help pin down what to look at or for.

 

I'd have thought the garage would have said about getting any due or overdue servicing work done like replacing air filter and spark plugs so perhaps it is more than this but this is where you'd start, with the basics.  You put there was no hissing noises did you also try spraying around.

 

Again a good scan tool would give you live data and historic data to diagnosis from but sometimes an intermittent problem can only be recorded when it happens or when the conditions are replicated, obviously you can't drive around for 500 to 1,000 miles waiting to see something happen on the scanner.

 

As you've found the engine can still chug along not in the best of health or with interference from the sensors, their wiring connections or communications or the computers and their programs.  More important are the brakes, the brake fluid would have been scheduled for two changes by now if on the 'Skoda Servicing and Maintenance'.

 

Do remember a full service isn't just work on the engine, brakes, steering and suspension are more important (all three include tyres), then on to safety electrics and glass, lights, wipers, horns, blower, windows and mirrors, then engine and transmission and other stuff.

 

I hope your issue isn't anything too difficult or serious, my wife car is up to a year older and 12k-miles more to go on yours.  Have you had any issues with your front dampers (shocks)?

 

Edited 28 September, 20223 yr by nta16
ETA: Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 I’ve had it Skoda serviced all the way except for the last oil service. A service is due next month. I haven’t noticed a problem with the shocks so far but I’m guessing a few things will turn up now my mileage is getting higher. By the way my fuel consumption is not going up, it ticks over fine, pulls fine and runs smoothly. I don’t really want to go to main dealers. It almost feels like they program in something like this to get you back lol. 

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

Apart from the 250 miles every other week round trip and your recent 200 mile trips what is your usual mileage like, my wife car averages 8,000 miles but the majority of the regular journeys are only 2 miles.  I'm wondering if your car battery (my pet subject) might be dipping in charge and then getting picked up again.  Often if the battery is low, but not low enough to prevent the car starting and the lights seem bright enough and you get no battery warnings, but still low then often just driving the car may not be enough to fully recharge it or even drain it more.  The computers work off a meagre meal and ifs ration is reduced or restricted by poor connections, wires, corrosion then they can get even more brain-farts than usual.

 

Have you tested your battery or garage test your battery and alternator?

 

Front dampers was a(very annoying) side issue from my wife's car and I wonder if your 2016 model had any too.

 

I think the battery is ok as the engine still stops when I stop at lights etc and the light never comes on when I’m stationary. I’m going to get a full service in a couple of weeks with plugs and filters and I’ll get the battery checked at the same time. I really hope it’s not the cat!! Cheers

 

just adding my usual trips are around 10 miles so maybe 20 miles a day. I do however do the 240 mile round trip every two weeks so you would think that gives it a blast out. 

Edited 29 September, 20223 yr by MKOK

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

Fair enough then all sounds like it could be OK.  With the 120 miles how much of a clear out it is depends on how it's driven.  120 miles at the legal speed on a motorway where you're in top gear so low revs gives some systems some exercise but most are at a gentle groove.  But this and your 10 mile or 20 mile shouldn't be that bad for the car, certainly not compared to how lots of similar cars are used.

 

I'd have thought, but without evidence, that it'd be more likely other than the cat.  Personally as I put I'd just change the air filter and plugs asap because my wife would worry and I'd delete the error code and have her drive the car and see if it comes back before the next "service" but for you as it's been going on months and your car is still running fine and it takes 500-1,000 miles hopefully by then you'll be at your October service.

 

I don't know what you're using to reset the code but do check before you use it each time that you have the latest software installed on it.  From the very little I know and limited experience it seems to me the basic code readers do appear to be just that and different tools show can show more information and different programs are more successful at clearing some codes than others.

 

Good luck, let us know how you get on.