Exhaust Gas Warning Help!!!!

[BigAl]

Hi All,

I'm looking for a bit of technical advice if possible as I ain't got a clue about techie stuff- I've got problems with my 56 GTi and I feel like crying!!

A few weeks ago, my Air Conditioning died a horrible death - took to dealers (Verve in Glasgow) who said the compressor had failed  - it was back order only and took 3 weeks. Anyway, it was replaced eventually and all was well. The day after it was replaced, driving home from work, the exhaust gas warning light came on. I went back to the garage where they kept it for the day. They said there was nothing wrong and reset the light. They also advised me to use super unleaded (I have used Tesco 99 since I bought the car!), and told me not to let the tank run low - I never let it run with less than a quarter of a tank! On Friday, again coming home from work, I stopped at traffic lights and the engine just died. It didn't stall, just died! It started again no probs and off I went - on to the motorway, came to a traffic jam, stopped and again it died. This morning, I went for a short drive to our local shops, and on the way, the car started "jumping", like kangaroo petrol. It seemed to clear but when I got back to our street, I stopped to turn in,  and again it died. No warning lights have came on.

I'm scared to drive to work tomorrow now in case it dies completely on the motorway.

Does anybody have any ideas? I'm now beginning to think that the dealers have broken my baby !!

Keep up the good work on the forum guys - love reading it  every day!!!

Alan

[dan_apps]

at the risk of being shot down in flames it does sound to me like an engine management problem, not sure why your dealer told you to only run on SU fuel and not to run it below a quater of a tank though as that sounds like rubbish to me.

[BigAl]

As I said above, I don't have any techie knowledge at all, but even I thought that sounded like rubbish too!!

Cheers mate!

[Incitatus]

Strangely I had the same problem with my car but the other way around. The emissions light came on and then the car would cut out sometimes when I was stopped at a junction. The dealer booked it in and changed something called the 'Thrust Sensor'. While it was in they did the recall on the fuel pump cam lobe wear problem, but my car was not one of those that required any work. What's really strange is that when I picked the car up I noticed straight away that the air conditioning was not working. Then after 10 minutes it would cut in and start working. I went straight back to the dealer and they assured me that they hadn't done anything that could cause that problem  . After booking it in they diagnosed the the compressor had failed and it was replaced under warranty. I must admit I don't buy that as an answer as it would completely stop working and not start up after a 10 minute delay if that was the case.

It seems very odd that you've had exactly the same symptoms as I did (although the other way around). I manage warranty for the company I work for and I just don't beleive in coincidences like this.

[BigAl]

That is a strange coincidence isn't it! I feel a conspiracy theory coming on!!!

When they replaced the "thrust sensor", did this solve the problem?

Cheers!

[R32UK]

How old is the car?? Do you have roadside cover? I called out RAC (VW Assistance) when I had a problem with mine and the driver had a full diagnostic kit and proved to be alot more help than the dealer, a good way to get a second opinion.

[BigAl]

The car is a 56 plate. I'm covered with AA - and you're right, it would be good to get a non-dealer associated opinion.

Cheers mate!

[Incitatus]

That is a strange coincidence isn't it! I feel a conspiracy theory coming on!!!

When they replaced the "thrust sensor", did this solve the problem?

Cheers!

Yes, no problems since.

[chungster]

sounds like probable lamda sensor failure...hope not due to the constant Tesco 99 usage (containing bioethanol)

remember the problems last year when cars conked out due to dodgy batch of fuel with silicon contamination? well greenergy was one of the sites that had the problem, and they of course supply the Tesco 99 fuel exclusively.

but lamda sensor fault doesn't stop your engine tho..it'll just go into limp mode until u have it replaced.

your dealer sounds a bit muppety too.

[BigAl]

Thanks for all your replies guys - just went for a short drive and evry time I stop, engine cuts out - I've now got tears streaming down my face! - looks like a call to the AA is in order!