Emissions control light?

[Wallm0nkey]

Last night this started flashing car seemed ok until put under load which caused it to hesitate and struggle. Now the lights constantly illuminated and the car is struggling feeling a bit lumpy and the idle has got worse dropping off then picking up.
Am I on the right track suspecting a leaking pipe or pipes? I have had the car a week today and this engine is totally new to me a little bit annoying happening so soon!

 

[hades-]

what engine is it ?

 

[Wallm0nkey]

Sorry about that completely forgot it's a 2001 S3 Amk engine.

 

[hades-]

a coil pack gone down ?
they make the light flash and misfire ?
get it on vcds for codes.

 

[<tuffty/>]

As above, scan for fault codes, look up what they mean (links in the FAQ sticky) then post up the findings... we can help out with anything you are not sure of from there

<tuffty/>

 

[Wallm0nkey]

I think I'll order vcds as I had intended to just not quite so quickly! I was trying to find somewhere to get it scanned but not had much luck being a Saturday local vag specialist was shut. Not keen on racking up too many miles whilst it's running the way it is.

 

[<tuffty/>]

the light is not just for emissions btw... the CEL (check engine light) comes on for a number of reasons... if it flickers on and off then it could be from a misfire... if its stays on then it normally means an important sensor is showing a fault (typically the MAF)

Scan for codes first and have a look for split pipes etc under the inlet manifold...

<tuffty/>

 

[Wallm0nkey]

It is the only light I've had so far it was flickering then going off now stays lit then flickers under load. I did have a feeling it wasn't an emissions issue my Vw bora threw up a glow plug light if a brake light was out.
I've messaged about buying vcds so with any luck I can get it sorted early in the week bit of a pain but I suppose these things happen!

 

[hades-]

where do you live ?

 

[Wallm0nkey]

I'm in Stourbridge near Birmingham from looking at the map the nearest people with VCDS are in Walsall. Could be about 40
mins or so drive and no where to grab parts from tonight so I'll hopefully be able to scan the car Tuesday.

thanks for the advice so far I am pretty clueless with this car at the minute but can see myself learning plenty and many dark evenings grazing my knuckles on it!

 

[Wallm0nkey]

Bit of an update I've got my engine covers of and hoping I have found the issue... Under the manifold near the right hand side as you face it there is like a 90 degree bend coming up from the bottom appears to be plastic or metal? To the right of this there is a rubber pipe I assume should be attached as they line up both quite oily though I can't seem the get them back together. The rubber pipe looks as though it has a smaller pipe running off it. I'm going to strip it down a bit more tomorrow as access is fairly tight and I was just having a quick mess. I know my description is vague but does that sound likely to anyone?
I can see a few more pipes that look like they need replacing but nothing oily or that stood out like the one mentioned. Next month I'll hopefully get as much as I can replaced with silicon.

 

[<tuffty/>]

Pics?

<tuffty/>

 

[Wallm0nkey]

Ok heres best I could do with the photos first one shows the actual pipe that has come apart. The second photo shows where it terminates in the top right is the hockey puck shape thing the pipe that's came apart is the one below it with the silver clip at the top.

Thanks for taking the time to help also had an offer of someone scanning my car if I don't get anywhere so thanks again!

 

[Wallm0nkey]

Ok got a better picture it appears to be a hard pipe that's broken cant see it had a join where it's split? It's on that elbow where it has a lip looks like a clean break. Managed to break out the dipstick holder too!

 

[vrbob]

That part is prone to breaking, I broke mine trying to remove it when fitting my catch can. New part is about £30 from TPS or Audi and whilst your there you can pick up a new dipstick holder as they are about £4.

Basically at the mo you have a boost leak hence the hesitation under load. Might be worth doing the N249 removal and also a catch can setup (check the stickies for guides) as this will help remove other old pipework and simplify the setup.

 

[Wallm0nkey]

Just an update and thanks to all that helped me! Due to time constraints and needing to be at work plus needing the car back ASAP. I just didn't have the time to go about it the way I wanted Vcds would of been here on Tuesday and I was going to struggle collecting up the parts I needed after that. So took the easy route and I popped to the garage I use this morning and explained, they were fully booked but had a phonecall at 17:30 that I can collect tomorrow. Crankcase breather pipe broke again on the removal giving them some fun but that and another pipe that was split have been replaced as is dipstick and holder. Car was scanned and I had two knackered coil packs which have been replaced along with a new set of plugs.
So car will be back and my idle issue cleared for tomorrow

I'm still planning on getting myself VCDS and want to give my sump and pickup a clean next I seem to have grown a massive list of things I want to do and change now but thats my starters and it's just my second week of ownership I feel like I'm at the top of a very slippery slope!