Exhaust Dash Light

[rdfcpete]

Guys,

Drove to the footy ground this evening, came back after the match and started up. Ignition light didn't disappear with the others after I waited and has stayed on. There's no loss in power at all or limit of revs, no change in exhaust note and the car feels as normal.

The weather was obviously very wet this evening, but I didn't do anything abnormal, hadn't given it too many beans. Is there a chance the relevant sensor/part(s) are just wet from the spray and it could dry out, or are the components too solid for that?

If it is the lambda sensor, how much are these £ usually re-fitted by VW?
If not, could it be something more expensive or substantial - Cat maybe?

Be cool to have some pointers so I can action it ASAP.

Thanks,
Pete.

[SteveP]

Most likely to be something like a sensor.

You need to get the fault codes read to confirm. 

[rdfcpete]

Cheers Steve.

Would an exhaust component sensor be covered under the used car warranty?

[SteveP]

It will depend on the policy terms TBH but I would expect it to. 

[john_o]

as Steve states you need the codes from the ECU.
Have you had any changes recently? filled with different spec/type of fuel?

[rdfcpete]

^^ I must admit I thought it would too Steve. Guy at Autohaus mentioned the warranty and that I wouldn't be billed in most cases anyway which is cool.

^ I haven't Johno mod wise, performance standard. No other engine changes either. I do use Supermarket super unleaded though which is probably why. Spoke to a guy at work today who's bit of a German car enthusiast and he said only use the bigger brands; Esso, BP, Shell etc... hence I've probably caused it inadvertently.

BTW, the lights gone off now in the dash, doesn't stay illuminated. The exhaust does make a loud'ish click noise when maneuvering at low speed though when applying low revs however, particularly up my driveway which I have to do daily.

Could this be a symptom of this problem?

Cheers.

[rdfcpete]

The light came back on for a journey this morning but has since gone off after driving again.
It's the tick sound that the exhaust makes that I'm more interested. Perhaps something is going/has gone.

I suspect one is causing the other - Any pointers appreciated.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I do use Supermarket super unleaded though which is probably why. Spoke to a guy at work today who's bit of a German car enthusiast and he said only use the bigger brands; Esso, BP, Shell etc... hence I've probably caused it inadvertently.

It depends which 'supermarket' superunleaded you are using - because Tesco 99 superunleaded has been repeatedly proven to be the best 'pump fuel' in the UK.  And I certainly would NOT recommend Esso or BP, because their 'superunleadeds' are only 97 RON, whereas the GTI specifically needs 98 RON - and only two fuels in the UK comply with that - either Tesco 99 or Shell V-Power - which are both 99 RON.

BTW, the lights gone off now in the dash, doesn't stay illuminated. The exhaust does make a loud'ish click noise when maneuvering at low speed though when applying low revs however, particularly up my driveway which I have to do daily.

Could this be a symptom of this problem?

As others have said, you really do need to get your fault codes read.  We could all make rash, un-informed 'guesses' - which could end up being wrong, even if we did offer advice with our best intentions.  Either take it to any Volkswagen Group stealer (so if an Audi, Skoda or Seat dealer are nearer, use them), or any VAG independent specialist which has the correct diagnostic equipment.  'Generic' diagnostic equipment will not give the full detail of any probs.

HTH

[TomB]

Hello Pete,

Sorry to hear you're having problems, so am I as my engine light also came on the other day.

Its nice to see the former Autohaus giving preferential treatment, I rang them and they wanted £69 just to look at it, and I'm on the VW used car warranty too.

I'm not too amused by this, so I'm taking mine to Lion Garage at Sixfields for the diagnostic work.  They are a well established VW specialist and genuine top blokes.  A cheap code reader got me a code but the description it gave me was vague.

[rdfcpete]

TT, you're right - cheers. I just wasn't sure what the audit log was like on the ECU's, I.E. can it pick up an error code when the light isn't even on any longer and, is the log wiped after xx days? It's been over 10 days since I last had the problem so I didn't want to leave it with the dealer to then find out there's nothing wrong with it, or that they couldn't obtain the error code.

Tom, indeed fella. Sorry to hear too. Any chance in the drive?
Mines done 56k so it's about right for any small niggles on mine. Yours has done a lot less hasn't it?

Yeah, not massively keen on Autohaus.
That's a cool heads up. I'd rather deal with a non dealer if they can do the same quality of service with OEM stuff at lower prices.

Let me know how you get on. Would be awesome to meet so I can show you this exhaust tick/click I've got, get your opinion on it. I suspect the cause for both my little problems is the same.