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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: Gemsie on 23 October 2012, 12:11

Title: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: Gemsie on 23 October 2012, 12:11
Hey,

Sorry if this has been covered elsehwhere. I promise I searched first but maybe I missed what I need.

I've been driving my 2001 Golf for a little over a week now. After having the car 24 hours I had to book it in for the emissions light which decided to make an appearance. The garage said they couldn't find anything wrong with the car, but think the computer has stored some old faults which have been rectified. He has reset it, but has also given me a list of 4 or 5 of the fault codes so he knows where to look if it happens again.

Now my worn brake pads light has come on and everytime I start the car the red display tells me to check brake pads. The brakes "seem" ok, but it didn't half freak me out as I was on a long journey when the light came on. So I shall be back to the garage this week.  :sad: I'm sure the previous owner said it hadn't long had new brakes, and the MOT and service was about 8 weeks ago.

Do you think this is something my fella could rectify at home? I have no technical knowledge personally (although I think I'm gonna have to gen up having the Golf!), and I'm starting to worry that I may have bought a dud car  :cry: Is it quite usual for the lights to come on a lot? Having come from an old Fiesta all this car computer stuff is new to me and I don't know if perhaps either the car or myself is being oversensitive.

Sorry for the long post, just concerned I've bought a dud, which would be a real shame because I already absolutely love it.

Cheers all.
Title: Re: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: Dalo Harkin on 23 October 2012, 12:45
get your fella to check the wires that connect to the pads, its not uncommon for the to snap off resulting in the code, you can see how much 'meat' is on them visually so if any are low get your fella to change them only takes an hour for all 4 with a caliper rewind took and a decent socket set :wink:
Title: Re: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: dan2252 on 23 October 2012, 17:30
If its had new brakes the guy who changed them will of broke the plug when he did the pads.
Title: Re: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: opel on 23 October 2012, 18:16
i would say it just be the wires if he just replaced pads
Title: Re: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: Nino on 23 October 2012, 20:56
Yip, I would also say the wire and been broken, its nothing major, Basically these are a very good bit of kit, it watches how much of the brake pads are left and when they are low, your car kindly tells you :) not many cars do this. However if the sensor has broken then it thinks your brake pads are low when they are not.

As for the emmisions I would advise that you buy this....
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_869339_langId_-1_categoryId_255221

Yes it cost alot more than Redex, but I have personally seem a benifit from this and I will continue to use this from now on.
Use it with a full tank :)
Title: Re: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: Gemsie on 24 October 2012, 09:39
Thanks everyone. Will get the old man to take a look at the weekend, I don't want to have to pay a garage unless absolutely necessary!  :grin:

I'll get some of that system cleaner too, anything to keep my Golf happy!

Now, best go order that Haynes manual...
Title: Re: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: dan2252 on 24 October 2012, 20:20
if you ask me you should put it on a computer and any faults in the system post up on here and let us lot on here give you some ideas, because alot of garages may have computers now but they still dont know what there doing with them, now im not sure what engine code your car is but if its a 1.8t you might wana go checking all your breather pipes, the go all under the inlet manifold too, lambda probes go down too, cats go wrong too, airflow meters go wrong every other day haha. coolant temp sensors are fairly common, secondary air pumps go wrong oftern too, do you ever get a werid noise on cold start ups? fairly common for boost leaks too just follow all your boost hoses till you see a hole or any signs of oil which normaly indicates you have a leak. diverter valves go wrong too, we had a 1.8t in at work that had engine managment light on and that was due to the standard diverter valve been faulty.
hope this will help you out mate let us know how you get on good luck!
Title: Re: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: Spacekid2009 on 27 October 2012, 22:47
Did you buy it from Sheffield by any chance?
Title: Re: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: Gemsie on 14 November 2012, 10:29
Did you buy it from Sheffield by any chance?

No, Milton Keynes, and the car originally came from Reading way.

if you ask me you should put it on a computer and any faults in the system post up on here and let us lot on here give you some ideas, because alot of garages may have computers now but they still dont know what there doing with them, now im not sure what engine code your car is but if its a 1.8t you might wana go checking all your breather pipes, the go all under the inlet manifold too, lambda probes go down too, cats go wrong too, airflow meters go wrong every other day haha. coolant temp sensors are fairly common, secondary air pumps go wrong oftern too, do you ever get a werid noise on cold start ups? fairly common for boost leaks too just follow all your boost hoses till you see a hole or any signs of oil which normaly indicates you have a leak. diverter valves go wrong too, we had a 1.8t in at work that had engine managment light on and that was due to the standard diverter valve been faulty.
hope this will help you out mate let us know how you get on good luck!

I'll have to get the list of codes the mechanic gave me out of the car. But yes, I do get a weird noise on cold start ups! Mines a 2 litre rather than a 1.8.

Thanks guys :-)
Title: Re: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: Gemsie on 14 November 2012, 10:53
Right, I've got the list of codes and other codes the mechanic has listed in brackets:

16518 (P0134)
16556 (P0172)
16684 (P0300)
16688 (P0304)

Oh, and the brakes did need doing!
Title: Re: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: golfyste on 14 November 2012, 14:24
16518       P0134             O2 Sensor Cir.,Bank 1-Sensor 1 No Activity Detected

(Sensor 1 is the sensor located before the catalytic convertor)

16556/P0172 - System Too Rich, Bank 1

Possible Symptoms
Irregular behaviour

Possible Causes
Fuel system
Excessive fuel pressure
Leaking or contaminated fuel injectors
Leaking fuel pressure regulator
Low fuel pressure or running out of fuel
Vapor recovery system
Air leaks after the MAF
Vacuum leaks
Improper seated engine oil dipstick
Stuck EGR valve
Oil overfill
Cam timing
Cylinder compression
Exhaust leaks before or near HO2Ss.


16684/P0300/000768 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected

Possible Causes
Air Intake System leaking
Fuel Supply faulty
Injector(s) faulty
Ignition Cable(s) and/or Spark Plug(s) faulty
Ignition Coil(s) faulty
Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve (N18) stuck/open
Camshaft Position Sensor (G40) faulty

Possible Solutions
Check Misfire Recognition
Check Air Intake System
Check Fuel Supply
Check Injector(s) and Injector Sealing
Check Ignition Cable(s) and Spark Plug(s)
Check Ignition Coil(s)
Check Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve (N18)
Check Camshaft Position Sensor (G40)

Special Notes
This DTC indicates that one or multiple cylinders are misfiring, but the ECU fails to identify the cylinder.


16688/P0304/000772 - Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected

Possible Causes
Ignition system
Fuel injectors
Fuel pressure
Running out of fuel
EVAP canister purge valve
Evaporative emission system
Low compression
Base engine problems
Controle Module damaged

Special Notes
This feature search for engine misfire in a specific cylinder. Most of the time the cause for a misfire is a lack of combustion in a cylinder due to absence of spark, poor fuel metering, or poor compression.

Title: Re: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: golfyste on 14 November 2012, 14:26
so looks like you have a faulty o2 sensor and a misfire on cylinder 4 to start with.

so start by replacing the o2 sensor and check your spark plugs and ht leads to try and find the misfire then work from there  :smiley:
Title: Re: Worried I've bought a dud
Post by: Nino on 15 November 2012, 12:08
Could that have anything to do with the coil packs?

But yes if this was my car I would personally do the following....

The "System bank running rich bank 1" I had that and I also had the O2 sensor crap after doing the above problem solved. :)