Emission Control light on (S3)

[Nicki]

Hi guys,

Have only had my S3 for 2 weeks. All was fine for the first week, but I noticed on Friday morning that the car seemed a little lumpy on tickover when I started it - I put it down to it not having been used for a couple of days & having done a couple of short journeys (<10 miles) the week before.

Today I had to do a 35 mile round trip for work and on my way out (about a mile from my destination) the emissions control system light flashed on & off a couple of times, but then stopped.

Had my meeting, returned to the car about an hour or so later & when I started the car, the emissions control system light came on & stayed on

Quickly opened the manual before I set off & googled it / searched on here & then drove very carefully, very slowly the whole way home to be on the safe side. My searches seemed to bring up a lot of diesels who've had problems involving the emissions light, but I could only find one S3 with the issue reported. Any of you guys had any problems involving this?

The car came with a 3 month warranty via one of the warranty companies, so going to ring the dealer I bought the car from in the morning (120 miles away) & then book it into a local garage - I'm hoping I'll be allowed to use the local Audi dealer?

 

[RedDejavu]

do you have any mods installed? if not whats the milage and do you know if camfollower has been ever changed? Where has it been last serviced?

 

[Nicki]

It's completely standard & has done 48,000 miles (it's a 57 plate). No idea re cam follower. Last service was at the independent garage where I bought it the week before I picked it up. Prior to that, it had always been serviced at Audi & had the cambelt done a few months ago at 44,000 miles.

Any input appreciated

 

[CHEZ]

take it back to where you got it from and get it scanned nicki!
see what they can do, but make a note of fault codes with a pic of readout! for reference!
then refer to here for assistance!

 

[Nicki]

Cheers Chez.

Don't want to take it back to where I got it from because it's so far away, but the warranty can be used locally. Will get them to give me all the fault codes.

I assume this is something VW would be able to do? (Is VCDS the same as VAGCOM? I'm new to Audi, remember!) I've got a friend who works for VW locally, who may prove to be very helpful...

 

[CHEZ]

yeah nicki, it is the same! vagcom/vcds
just go local and get them to scan, but use your phone to take a pic of the codes on the screen before they delete them so you can check on here!
it could really be a thousand of possibilities! broken maff, damaged lambda sensor, catalytic converter or a dirty big moth in your intake! who knows lol, until you have that data!
good luck, but i think it will be nothing much!

 

[Nicki]

Thanks Chez

I'm hoping it's something minor. Car has been otherwise fine so doubt it's anything too serious.

I'm also hoping that while they've got it in, they'll have a look over it for any other potential issues that can be sorted whilst the warranty is still valid...

 

[actionslax]

Mine appeared on Saturday. I'm now on a roll - third thing to happen in as many weeks! I hope this time its not serious. Mine is the 2.0T engine and like you most if the issues on the board are for diesels. Going in for a scan as soon as I can get it out to garage. Engine wasn't lumpy or lacking in power - mind I was driving like a 90yo when I clocked the light.

 

[Nicki]

Hope you get it sorted

It was driving absolutely fine until the light flashed on & off a couple of times, at which point it became a little stuttery and hesitant. Obviously, as soon as I spotted the light, I eased off. Drove fine on the way back, but like you I was driving very very carefully.

Making the phone calls at lunch to get it booked in - hoping to get it booked in for tomorrow if I can...

 

[essIII]

Hope you get it sorted

It was driving absolutely fine until the light flashed on & off a couple of times, at which point it became a little stuttery and hesitant. Obviously, as soon as I spotted the light, I eased off. Drove fine on the way back, but like you I was driving very very carefully.

Making the phone calls at lunch to get it booked in - hoping to get it booked in for tomorrow if I can...

Mine used to do this when the Spark Plugs or Coil Packs were on their last legs - brief misfire causing the Emission light to flash on quickly.

 

[actionslax]

Got my girlfriend to take it in today as I've a good relations with the guys at the garage and I've been in every week for the past few weeks LOL.

They've done a scan and they're saying it is the DV. I had this replaced a few months ago and bought a replacement one from a user on here. Yet to get the full break down of the issue but at the moment its the DV. Should have bought a new one instead of a second hand one!

 

[RedDejavu]

Mine used to do this when the Spark Plugs or Coil Packs were on their last legs - brief misfire causing the Emission light to flash on quickly.

Seems like worn spark plugs or busted coil packs as essIII says.

 

[mmalh0151]

Actionslax- go for the upgraded Forge DV valve. I got one fitted when I bought my 2007 S3 and discovered it has a stage 1 Jabba remap on it so replaced the DV and now its a rocket!

My emission light came on but changed the charcoal cannister and all is fine....so far....touch wood!

 

[Nicki]

So, news from the garage...

The car is reporting a misfire on cylinder 4. Garage has swapped the coil pack with cylinder 3 and that didn't help, so it's not the coil pack. They then swapped the spark plugs over with cylinder 3, and that didn't help, so it's not the spark plugs. Next option is the injector, which he said would be about 3 hours labour alone to swap with cylinder 3 & test, so is just going to replace it. He's 95% certain that it's that (and I have faith in him - he used to work at my local VW dealership, has now gone independent and obviously the S3 engine is very similar to the Golf GTI engine)

New injector is £120, so with labour, I'm looking at £200+VAT.

Phoned dealer I bought the car from and he's confirmed that it will DEFINITELY be covered by the warranty. So I've got to pay the bill, get it invoiced to the dealer, and he will then sort it out with the warranty company or pay me himself.

Feeling significantly more relieved than I was this morning.

Only problem is that the garage are so busy (which is a good thing!) that he might not be able to fit it in til next week. I've said I'm happy to leave the car with him for as long as it takes so he can work his magic and he said he would try to squeeze it in as soon as possible.

 

[RedDejavu]

Good luck Nicki and happy to see some good progress with your car. Hope it will get sorted quickly:].

 

[Nicki]

Thanks

I just want to be able to drive it to be honest - it's like being a child and getting a new toy but having your parents tell you that you're not allowed to take it out of the box!!!

 

[Nicki]

Picked the car up last night and it's as good as new. Cold start this morning was much smoother too.

Fault code (for those interested) was P0304 - new injector was £120.79 plus VAT, so grand total was £280.79 plus VAT. Invoice has gone off to the dealer I bought from for him to sort with the warranty company so hopefully I won't have to wait too long for my refund from them!