Hi,

New Member after some help, the engine warning light (vRS 1.8T 20V) came on the other night, I took it to a garage who reset the light and said it was code 171 - bank 1 too lean,

They have suggested the front Lambda, but at nearly

Have a read of this -

16555/P0171/000369 - Ross-Tech Wiki

The TC light will come on with an engine management light of that nature as the engine ECU cant regulate throttle etc as it needs to for traction control if there is a fault.

Could do with the full fault code number to be sure of the fault but it could be a lambda probe, need to check what the probe is doing and see if its stuck in open loop rather than closed loop running.

Thanks for that.

I`ll check the pipes again and also the exhaust for leaks. How can I check the MAF, my Skoda dealer said to dip the MAF in hot water (not the plug bit) and then spray with carb cleaner - is this correct??

Cheers......... :)

I would think the first thing to check would be the vacuum pipes under the inlet manifold. With the hunting at idle and those possible causes its a pretty good bet.

the pipes again and also the exhaust for leaks. How can I check the MAF, my Skoda dealer said to dip the MAF in hot water (not the plug bit) and then spray with carb cleaner - is this correct??

PMSL, whats that to completely knacker it so you have to buy a new one..lol

Thanks LUMMOX,

I take it you need an occiloscope to check the Lambda? The code was read using only a hand held reader so thats the only code I`ve got.

Cheers...

Prob would knacker it - thats why I asked - I wouldn`t trust them as far as I could throw them !!!! Dodgy Dealers!!! :mad:

I`ll check the vac pipe and see if thats the cause (hope so)

Cheers...

A multi meter woul check it but the best bit of equipment you can get is VAG COM.

I`ve got a all singing and dancing Fluke Multimeter at work, how would I check it with that??

Thanks for all your help.

Depends on what you want to do, but anyhow I would think its down to an air leak, no point scrabbling around under the car if you dont need to.

My thinking is that if the probe is showing too lean it's doing its job and reporting back to the ECU. The problem will likely to be unmetered air, either through a faulty MAF or an air leak.

I have come across this twice recently and both times it has been a split breather hose to the right of the dip stick, with the engine running have a feel around there moving the hoses and listening for the tell tale hiss of an air leak.

Yeah thats the one, has a right angled turn in it IIRC and it splits along the turn.

I had this exact same fault - my turbo intake pipe had come off the turbo!

Thanks for all the advice, I`ll check the pipes today. I`m off Quad Biking in the Hills so I`ll check later (hoping its just a split pipe:) ) - sounds like it though.

Cheers Folks,

FAFVRS:)

Hi Again,

Thanks for all advice so far.

I have quickly checked the hoses mentioned and the look/feel o.k. can`t hear any hissing noises.

I`m going to have a better look some evening this week so I`ll let you know.

Took it for a good `burn` at the weekend (engine light still on) went for a meal, came out and started it up and NO engine light and it was flying felt much faster but by the time I got home (30 miles) the light was on again. Its driving me absolutely mental.....:confused:

Somebody suggested cleaning the MAF with IPA, should this be done??

Spoke to my local (unfriendly!!) skoda dealer and told them the code, they immediately said "that`ll be the first Lambda then". They want it in for a full diagnostic check - don`t know whether to give them it or not (remember they suggested basically boiling the lambda !!!!! - see above)

Can they diagnose the fault more accuratley than me (by using my mates cheap code reader)??.

They also asked if the charcoal canister solenoid was clicking (it isn`t) and said this would be related to the Lambda being knackered. Don`t know if I trust them..........:confused: :confused: .

Any advice gratefully received, I`m pretty mechanically minded (I`ve just done a nuts `n` bolts rebuild on a 106XSI track car:) ), but these computers drive me crazy:mad:

Cheers Folks,

FAFVRS

Both Lummox and fordfan are very knowledgable and qualified people when it comes to working on VAG cars. I have no doubt that if you took your car to a dealer and paid their labour rates they would eventually diagnose your faults for you - After all that's how Lummox and fordfan earn their wages (Have I said enough?? )

What it really depends on is your confidence/ability to carry out the checks that they recommend.

Thanks for that, I understand you `wink` `wink`, I trust you guys on here far far more than I would ever trust Skoda themselves.

I will give it a good going over this week (and hopefully find a split hose) - heres hoping

Cheers...........

Go with what Lummox says - he diagnosed an identical fault with my old Octavia in a few moments chat online. However I decided on that occasion not to listen to him and change all manner of other things because I couldnt hear the pipe hissing.

Turned out it was the pipe he said it'd be

Wiggle it here (where the arrow is, not the hand)

The pipe you need to squeeze with the engine running is the smaller diameter one that runs to the left of the arrow in this picture. You should be able to affect the idle this way.

Cost about

Thanks for that, I was looking round the front under the manifold, I`ll check this pipe later today.

Cheers for photos it makes it a lot easier.

I`ll let you know how I get on.

Cheers,

FAFVRS

Hi Folks,

Problem Found :D - Split Breather Hose Just as Lummox and Fordfan suggested - Thanks a lot guys:thumbup: - split along the turn just as you said.

Thanks to Goochie:thumbup: - spot on mate pics were well helpful it took me 10 secs to find it - big hissing noises!!!:eek:

Got the pipe ordered today -

Thats good news.

Glad to be of service.

Thanks to Phil for the pics.

Happy to see that you got it sorted, the pictures help no end.

A few more from one I repaired yesterday until I can get a new hose. This one is on an Octavia vRS.

The split pipe

The temp repair

Installed, worked a treat