VW POLO 2003 1198CC Petrol Engine Light On

[su966]

Today I bought a sensor from VW dealer in Birmingham. It cost me £35. I think it is expensive compared to ebay. Someone has helped me to fit it. I now know where it is. I will take a picture of the location of the sensor. It is a 2 pin sensor and black(or ash) color as opposed to green and blue. I will see if this solves the problem. I will keep you guys updated. By searching internet I undestand that it is common problem. If I can solve the problem I will let everybody know how I solved it.

 

[Burnerman]

I think the pipe that became disconnected was a crankcase breather pipe....this does tend to make the engine unhappy and will certainly cause stalling on tickover. A disconnection doesn't automatically put the malfunction light on though.
A faulty coolant sensor may log a fault code...it depends on whether it is within the parameters set by VW.
Ideally the car needs to be code read (again); the fault codes (if any) should be cleared and then code read again if the fault comes back.
John

 

[Mickymoody]

Today I bought a sensor from VW dealer in Birmingham. It cost me £35. I think it is expensive compared to ebay. Someone has helped me to fit it. I now know where it is. I will take a picture of the location of the sensor. It is a 2 pin sensor and black(or ash) color as opposed to green and blue. I will see if this solves the problem. I will keep you guys updated. By searching internet I undestand that it is common problem. If I can solve the problem I will let everybody know how I solved it.

Thats a bit cryptic isn't it? What sensor have you bought, and what is the common fault? An EGR fault wouldn't have a sensor involved, as it's caused by excessive crankcase pressure to blow a hose off, so might be a air temp sensor?

Remember that you will need to reset ECU, by either pulling its fuse or disconnecting battery negative.

 

[su966]

I have taken the image of the location of the coolant temp sender.
//www.diynot.com/network/su966/albums/6030/24577
VW part numbers are as follows:
1. Temp sender: V06A919501A
2. O-Ring: VN90316802
3. Retaining Spring: V032121142
Last night I cleared all the fault codes. This evening I have taken the readings again by connecting the laptop. No fault codes found. Engine started every time. No engine light has come on until now. Hopefully the problem is solved. Coolant temp sender was giving three fault codes. Now no fault codes are coming back. Regarding the air pipe I am still puzzled. I had my car serviced on May 21, 2010. May be the technician opened it for some reason and forgot to close it. Many thanks to everybody for helping me out. I will keep everybody informed of any new developement.

 

[Mickymoody]

Strange that you didn't get overheat, maybe the sensor said the car was cold? In retrospect about the tubeing, it doesn't really matter where the CAI is located, best to direct warm air from the engine in winter, fresh air from outside in winter. Fingers crossed you nailed the problem! Good Luck!

 

[su966]

After changing the coolant temp sender my car did not give trouble (touch wood). No engine light, no fuel smell. Engine starts like new, car drives like new (I would say better than new).

FUEL economy: My car had a very poor fuel economy from new around 27mpg. I used to get fuel smell during startup. I complained many times to dealer and they did nothing. Now after changing Temp sender the fuel economy is 34mpg in short hop drives (like a mile short journey most of the time ). I have not tested in motorway which I will do after October. Considering the improvement in fuel economy I have lost around £2,500 to £3,000 in fuel cost over the past 7 years. I hate dealers now. VW made faulty POLO 2003 car which gave poor fuel economy. They have taken money from me 4 times for engine light everytime £150. They said coil pack is gone. All lies. One time I remember engine light came on just after a week after repair. I think they just reset the computer.
This forum has saved a lot of money for me. Also no headache now. Car is a joy to drive now. What a change I can not explain.
If anybody has poor fuel in 2003 VW polo then I would suggest to have a look at the temp sender.

MANY THANKS to everybody.

Regards,

SU

 

[Mickymoody]

After changing the coolant temp sender my car did not give trouble (touch wood). No engine light, no fuel smell. Engine starts like new, car drives like new (I would say better than new).

FUEL economy: My car had a very poor fuel economy from new around 27mpg. I used to get fuel smell during startup. I complained many times to dealer and they did nothing. Now after changing Temp sender the fuel economy is 34mpg in short hop drives (like a mile short journey most of the time ). I have not tested in motorway which I will do after October. Considering the improvement in fuel economy I have lost around £2,500 to £3,000 in fuel cost over the past 7 years. I hate dealers now. VW made faulty POLO 2003 car which gave poor fuel economy. They have taken money from me 4 times for engine light everytime £150. They said coil pack is gone. All lies. One time I remember engine light came on just after a week after repair. I think they just reset the computer.
This forum has saved a lot of money for me. Also no headache now. Car is a joy to drive now. What a change I can not explain.
If anybody has poor fuel in 2003 VW polo then I would suggest to have a look at the temp sender.

MANY THANKS to everybody.

Regards,

SU

The dealer sounded like a pain, throwing stuff at it, coil pack? eek! That would make a bank of spark plugs not work! How did they get that diagnosis?

BUT You have been chucking unburnt fuel down the exhaust pipe, and that's a CAT killer...Hopefully, it's OK, but if it's broken, you know the reason why, and that's resolved now....but my new Cat Convertor would have cost £600, but I found one on ebay! £60.

If I was you, I'd get an emission test done, (a friendly garage will do it for free, on downtime), as you don't want to get pulled by VOSA doing random checks, and they take the car off you..

Hope all continues well, and the CAT isn't broken too..thanks for replying back and not leaving the thread open ended.

 

[chainsaw_masochist]

BUT You have been chucking unburnt fuel down the exhaust pipe, and that's a CAT killer...

Which gives rise to the question: how come the vehicle did not fail the previous MOTs, as the CO would have been well in excess of the permitted level?

 

[su966]

If CAT converter is gone then financially I will be in big trouble. Not having any knowledge in car and trusting 100% the dealers has bring this trouble on me. I always thought that the dealer is the best. But they were making me tired. Asking money all the time. I could not continue financially with the dealer anymore. MOT is always in the hands of the dealer. They can pass or fail it. They can fail MOT when the car is good. They can pass MOT when the car is bad. I remember that when my car went out of warranty they failed MOT on the ground of wishbone bush. They charged me around £600 to repair, do annual servicing and MOT. They have done it twice. This year they have told me again that the wishbone bush is going (advisory item in MOT). I do not hear any crank sound and don't feel any problem in driving. I am really worried about the CAT converter though. I will have my CAT tested in a local garrage. I will tell them to check the car overall.

Thanks everybody again.

Regards,

SU

 

[Mickymoody]

BUT You have been chucking unburnt fuel down the exhaust pipe, and that's a CAT killer...

Which gives rise to the question: how come the vehicle did not fail the previous MOTs, as the CO would have been well in excess of the permitted level?

Because the temp sensor only failed recently presumably?

OP - You are daft taking the car to the main dealer if it's a 2003 model, an independant can easily do any work required for easily less money. And as your car is pre-1994, it might not have a CAT fitted? And on A VAG car, the replacement price shouldn't be as much as I quoted, mine is a Toyota Celica, a Polo CAT will be a lot cheaper, and available from a scrapper. A simple job to replace for a garage.

Also the wishbone is ONLY an advisory, so in reality nothing needs to be done with that. My Dad had an advisory item a few years ago, then next MOT, it wasn't mentioned! Same garage!

So - everything works, you are short on cash, keep an eye on things, and don't worry! Sorry to worry you.

 

[chainsaw_masochist]

Because the temp sensor only failed recently presumably?

I thought that was not the case, as Su966 said: My car had a very poor fuel economy from new around 27mpg. I assumed that they regard the temperature sender as the cause of the problem that has lasted so long. At least this is now (hopefully) resolved.

Agree with Micky about a good independent outfit being better than a main dealer. Try Which? local trader if you have access or maybe give 4 digits of your postcode and I will try to find some for you.

Re the CAT here is a page from Eurocarparts. That's less than half the VW list price. Clearly not as good as Micky's ebay purchase, though.

Also the wishbone is ONLY an advisory

Don't think that's right, though. Certainly not according to
this selection.

 

[su966]

Hi chainsaw_masochist,
My postcode is B662HU.

Regards,

SU

 

[chainsaw_masochist]

There are quite a lot of favoured repair specialists but most only manage to obtain one review. I have selected the following:

Hollier and Sons
2 good reviews, none bad
Sandpit, Acacia Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 2AH

Smallbone & Son Ltd
5 good reviews, none bad
116 Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, West Midlands, B29 6HQ
Tel: 0121 4727139

Cornwall Road Auto Services2 good reviews, none bad
102B Cornwall Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B20 2HZ
Tel: 0121 523 2544
1.5 miles from your location

Humphreys Garage (Bearwood) Ltd
2 good reviews, none bad
Anderson Road, Smethwick, West Midlands, B67 5DR
Tel: 0121 429 1741
2.1 miles from your location

Swallow Garage 2 good reviews, none bad
11 Well Street, Birmingham, B19 3BG
Tel: 0121 554 2830
2.4 miles from your location

Good luck with these, Su, or any other outfit you choose to use.

 

[Mickymoody]

Hi chainsaw_masochist,
My postcode is B662HU.

Regards,

SU

You have NO ISSUE with your vehicle at present. You fixed the origional problem. You have one garages OPINION as to what MIGHT be wrong..then you have "Chainsaw Masochist", advertising (which is banned in this forum!)..does his name suggest to you that he might not be looking out for your interests?

Your car PASSED it's MOT, it has a couple of advisories, but works perfectly well...SO use it, and worry ye not. IF your CAT was flooded with petrol, then the best way to restore it is to drive hard and fast; then worry next MOT time, like we all do. But don't be taking the motor to a main dealer, but a local trusted dealer that your friends use and trust.

 

[su966]

My car is giving me trouble again. This time it is a different problem. The car does not have enough power. It struggles to go forward. Engine light comes on if I try to go forward. The light goes off if I easae off the gas. I stopped driving car in this condition. I will connect my laptop again to read the error code and see what reading it gives. I misplaced my vag com cable so I ordered a new one. Could not find the cable when I needed it most.
The problem started on Friday. I noticed very minor jerking. I drove on motorway on Saturday around 80 miles roundtrip. I noticed that when I accelerate the light comes on. Uphill light comes on. Downhill light goes off.
Yesterday situation was worse. Only drove few miles. Today did not drive the car. Car is sitting idle at home. I am riding bus.
It will take couple of days for the cable to arrive.
If you guys have faced similar problems please let me know.

Note: A similar problem happened in the past when someone put a stone through the exhaust. Dealer told me coil pack. But I knew it was not a coil pack. It was a stone. I could hear it. This time I am not sure if someone has put something through the exhaust.
Thanks
SU