Check engine light but no other indicators - VW say OK to drive "but not too far"

[The J Man]

2013 Golf 1.4 103 highline

So I have a check engine light on with no other indicators (though the stop/start system does occasionally "fail", but that works after turning car off/on, and there's a nag about getting the car serviced in 65 days)

Called VW service - their next diagnostic appointment is in TWO WEEKS!
When I asked about driving it, they said "as long as it still feels the same it should be ok but don't drive too far"

WHAT sort of advice is that? What is "too far"? 20 x 5km? 1 x 100km?

Anyway - this is the first time I've had a check engine light in 8 months of ownership - and it's about two weeks after I had oil and water leaks repaired by VW.

Anyone got any suggestions about how I could at least get an idea of what is wrong earlier than 2 weeks?

TWO WEEKS! I'm rapidly losing the love for this brand

[MIG]

The car will flash the check engine light \ beep and tell you to stop for something serious.
Probably told you not to go far, as you may get stuck somewhere if it worsens.

Find someone local with a VCDS cable and scan the car to better understand what's wrong.

[The J Man]

Thanks MIG - hunting down a VCDS cable
(assuming OBDII won't do the job?)

[MIG]

OBDII will get you the raw codes; with a bit of Googling of the codes, you should be able to work it out.
VCDS work nicer, and it's a great product

[The J Man]

Thanks again - looks like I've found an owner of a VCDS who is also willing to lend me a laptop with Winblows and appropriate drivers + software

[Lucas_R]

Do yourself a favour and buy yourself either Carista or OBD11. It will pay for itself the first time you use it.

I use Carista personally. Its $65 to purchase initially, then approx $80 AUD per year for full access to the features.

Carista OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner – Android and iOS – AutoInstruct

As for the 2 week wait, where in Sydney are you? There are dozens of VW specialist workshops/mechanics in Sydney that im sure could run a scan on your car within the next day or two.

[The J Man]

Do yourself a favour and buy yourself either Carista or OBD11. It will pay for itself the first time you use it.

I use Carista personally. Its $65 to purchase initially, then approx $80 AUD per year for full access to the features.

Does the one subscription allow connection to more than one car?

As for the 2 week wait, where in Sydney are you? There are dozens of VW specialist workshops/mechanics in Sydney that im sure could run a scan on your car within the next day or two.

I'm in the Hills district
I'll look around if the VCDS doesn't pan out

Thanks

[Lucas_R]

Does the one subscription allow connection to more than one car?



I'm in the Hills district
I'll look around if the VCDS doesn't pan out

Thanks

Yes it works on an unlimited number of cars.

[The J Man]

Yes it works on an unlimited number of cars.

Cool - I have a VCDS now that
a) works
b) is on permanent loan as long as my brother doesn't buy a compatible VW

[The J Man]

So the VCDS is telling me I've had misfires on all 4 cylinders since the 19th of October (the day I picked it up from having oil/water leaks repaired)
As well as an issue with the Air Quality sensor

No idea why check engine light would only have just come on after 3 weeks of misfires - weird

Didn't reset the codes because I wanted VW to see what's been going on since they fixed the leaks
But now check engine is off

I DO notice though that at idle there is a bit of a hiccup now and then

Grrrr - I should buy a bicycle

[MIG]

Several drive cycles are required to mark a pending fault code to confirm the status and turn on the light.

If they had taken the intake off to do the seal, they may have introduced a small air leak creating a miss at idle.


If you use the VCDS to monitor the live data while the car is running, you should be able to see the counter increase.

[The J Man]

Thanks MIG

I assume the date/time of the misfire in the report is the FIRST one, not the latest?
That would put 3 of them on the evening after I picked the car up - the 4th cylinder was just past midnight (same night)

So it was 3 weeks ago - that's quite a few drive cycles!

It DOES look like they reset the faults on the day I picked the car up so I'm not sure if there were misfires or not before I left it with them.
I'm getting the other car serviced tomorrow so I'll have a chat to the service managers - they seem competent and friendly enough.


... I'm still looking for a bicycle though

[DV52]

So it was 3 weeks ago - that's quite a few drive cycles!

Forgive me if you are already aware and just to add to @ MIG sage advice, a "drive cycle" is a defined term in OBD II speak!

I thieved this from HERE

The VW OBD-II drive cycle is an eight-step process. Total drive cycle time is 12 minutes.

NOTE: Do not leave the key on prior to the cold start or the oxygen sensor (O2S) heater monitor may not run.

Step 1: Cold Start — The ECM determines the presence of a cold start by comparing the engine coolant temperature to the ambient air temperature during startup. The engine is considered cold when:

• Engine coolant temperature is below 122°F.

• Engine coolant and intake air temperatures are within 11°F of each other at startup.

During this period, the O2S heater, misfire, AIR, fuel system, and EVAP monitors run.

Step 2: Idle 2 1/2 Minutes — Turn the air conditioning (A/C) and headlights on to help the misfire monitor—the additional electrical loads help even out combustion pulses. During this period, the O2S heater, AIR, EVAP, misfire, and possibly fuel system (if operating in closed loop) monitors run.

Step 3: Accelerate — Prior to accelerating, turn off the A/C and headlights (if you had them on during step 2). Open the throttle halfway until you reach 55 mph. During acceleration, the misfire, fuel system, and EVAP monitors run.

Step 4: Steady State Cruise 3 Minutes — During this portion of the cycle, the O2S, AIR, EGR, EVAP, misfire, and fuel system monitors run.

Step 5: Decelerate — Gradually coast down to 20 mph without applying the brakes. Also, on manual transmission vehicles, remain in high gear and do not press the clutch. During this period, the EGR, EVAP, and fuel system monitors run.

Step 6: Accelerate—Apply ¾ throttle until reaching 60 MPH. During acceleration, the misfire, fuel system, and EVAP monitors run.

Step 7: Steady State Cruise 5 Minutes — During this period, the CAT, O2S, AIR, EGR, EVAP, misfire, and fuel system monitors run.

Step 8: Decelerate — Gradually coast down to 0 mph without applying the brakes. Also, on manual transmission vehicles, remain in high gear and do not press the clutch. During this portion of the Drive Cycle, the EGR, EVAP, and fuel system monitors run.

Don

[The J Man]

that's
...
complicated

[The J Man]

Update: misfires are likely due to carbon deposits (195000km engine)