Emmisions Control System

[SuperCharger28]

Hello,

This morning the emmisions control system light came on my vehicle. It is a Apr/May 2008 A6 2.7 Le Mans edition and I was just wondering if these vehicles have a DPF fitted? If I accelerate hard I can usually see some smoke behind me. I'm really hoping that this is not serious or expensive to fix. I've read it could be something as simple as a sensor which is about £100 max.

P.S - its done 58,500 miles

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[AxeMurderer]

The light 'just' means there is a persistent engine fault. You should get the codes read to find out what it actually is.

Mine is lit because of the swirl valve linkages. These can only be obtained as part of new inlet manifolds and at £2K they are staying unfixed. Hopefully yours is something cheaper.

[SuperCharger28]

What are your symptoms?

[AxeMurderer]

There are no symptoms I can detect. Fuel economy seems unaffected on longer journeys, but might be marginally worse on short ones.

But you need to get your codes read as it could be anything (well, any of a number of things).

[Brycie]

Just another possibility, my problem started after around 60-65k on the clock - emmissions light came on, heavy black smoke out of the rear & intermittently the turbo would fail to kick in (the turbo problem would go away at first when I stopped & restarted the engine). As you've not mentioned your car losing power I hope your problem isn't the same as mine, but mine was due to a split in the intercooler.

When I had this problem & asked for help on here, people were suggesting that based on my symptoms I should also check the all the pipes and the MAF meter, so it may be worth checking those.

Hope your problem is simple & cheap to fix.

Cheers,
Paul.

[Dpanic]

Hi,

have you any loss of power?

Take the Engine plastic cover off (just pull .. only clipped on) and check your rubber hoses to and from the EGR valve - check for splits!

Then do the same for the turbo, take the intake hose off and look at the fly wheel on the turbo - any oil

But as the rest of the chaps say, it needs the code read to be sure.

[Blackavant]

My EGR sensor failed 2 weeks ago on my 2010 2.0tdi, luckily still under warranty. There was no idication of a problem other than the engine fault light came on, called out Audi roadside and the guy says its a common fault and the new sensor is an upgrade. Seems to be an issue caused by the AC unit?????

[SuperCharger28]

I will do the checks in the morning. And no I've not noticed any loss in power. It still pulls like a train and is smooth throughout the power. Where abouts is the EGR valve located?

Thanks.

[Dpanic]

It's just to the left of the passenger side bank, silver module - lines feed to and from - the from goes to a intercooler I believe.

Sorry hard to explain, others might explain better - I'll take a pic and post it from my 3.0dti - same layout I believe if you cannot locate it.

But as you have no loss of power, it's not going to be this - mine when into limp mode (trip gear box - 40mph max) until EGR was replaced £300 - then hose went after £20 (free from Audi - as they broke it swapping the valve)

Regards - rob

[SuperCharger28]

Right. Took it out with a lead foot and my god it has lost some power. I can't believe it. It's only been the missus that has been driving it the past few weeks and I doubt she noticed. (im on a manual) and the engine does sound a bit louder overall I am really praying now that its not the turbo. Can an EGR be replaced by your average joe?

[Crasher]

First of all, do not panic. You need to get it code read to avoid guessing what is wrong and armed with the results of a code read we can help you further.

[AxeMurderer]

Before panicking, get the codes read! Other than the horror stories we are all posting on here, there are also cheap and easy-to-fix problems that can cause the light to come on, and loss of power. A split hose is one example...

Did I mention getting the codes read?

(and good luck!)

[SuperCharger28]

Hi,

I've tried booking it in but audi wants £90 for the liberty and my local indie is fully booked all week. I was thinking of just buying a VAG com cable and software myself and doing it that way if possible? Also under heavy acceleration its started chucking out smoke.

If you could let me know which type of cable is needed I would appreciate it.

[SuperCharger28]

Here are some VAG-COM scans. The glow plug is fine as I think it just needs replacing but the manifold flap thing has me worried.


Address 01: Engine Labels: Redir Fail!
Part No SW: 4F5 910 401 K HW: 4F0 907 401 C
Component: 2.7L V6TDI G000SG 0020
Revision: --H05--- Serial number:
Coding: 0011322
Shop #: WSC 02335 785 00200

2 Faults Found
005660 - Glowplug for Cylinder 3 (Q12): Open Circuit
P161C - 001 - Upper Limit Exceeded
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01100001
Fault Priority: 0
Fault Frequency: 1
Mileage: 91698 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2011.07.04
Time: 19:23:07

Freeze Frame:
RPM: 1092 /min
Torque: 117.0 Nm
Speed: 2.2 km/h
Duty Cycle: 6.0 %
Voltage: 13.91 V
Duty Cycle: 23.7 %
Temperature: 21.6°C

004120 - Intake Manifold Runner (Bank 2): Lower limit not reached
P1018 - 001 - Upper Limit Exceeded - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100001
Fault Priority: 0
Fault Frequency: 17
Mileage: 93296 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2011.09.10
Time: 18:16:31

Freeze Frame:
RPM: 0 /min
Torque: 0.0 Nm
Speed: 0.0 km/h
Voltage: 12.39 V
Duty Cycle: 20.5 %
Duty Cycle: 88.8 %
Duty Cycle: 20.5 %

Readiness: 0 1 0 0 0

[SuperCharger28]

This was done from cold by the way. Should it be re-done at warm/after a drive?

[Crasher]

but the manifold flap thing has me worried.

Yeh, OK, Panic...£447.64 per side plus labour to fit and it is not a quick job.

[Guest 2]

I diagnosed my runners early so didn't experience limp mode or anything.

As Crasher says, expensive and it's not something that can be done in a day.

Fortunately my Audi Extended Warranty helped me out in this situation.

I also had a faulty glowplug at the same time as the runner fault but it was on cylinder 6, we're these related Crasher?

[SuperCharger28]

I'm gonna have a stern talk with the dealer about this and try and contact audi about this. The cars just gone 3 years old and has barely even touched 60,000 miles. Bang out of order. What if I don't get it fixed? Are there any consequences

[EssexGonzo]

Erm....I'm not a techie but this does sound familiar. *****RTFM***** before taking any advice from me...!

Judging by the age of the car, you almost certainly have a DPF fitted. IIRC, the single emissions control light (not sure if its the one inside the clocks or the one outside the clocks which should come on first) means that your DPF needs to burn off some sooty bits and that you've not taken it for a good thrashing lately. I may have my warning lights muddled and I have not ventured out into the night to retrieve the manual from the glove box - but worth a look before the toy throwing starts.

Basically, a 20 minute + drive at over 2000 rpm (hold it in a lower gear manually) should clear the light if its the DPF. A couple of years ago I was driving into London regularly and as mine's an auto the revs rarely got to 2000. Lots of stop start with the DPF doing what its meant to do, collecting the particles in town. After seeing the light and reading the manual, drove home down the A13 in 4th gear all the way.......light went out.

Then there was the time when the second light came on which meant the Dr Who treatment (regeneration at the dealer). That's the one to panic about as it's not cheap.

[AxeMurderer]

It isn't the DPF (if fitted) as the scan doesn't report anything for that, just for the glowplug and intake manifold (swirl flap linkage, most likely).

As for what happens if you don't get the swirl flaps fixed, I have yet to see a proper answer. But I suspect nothing very bad happens at all.

[SuperCharger28]

Took it to audi. They told me "it needs to be changed or the engine will die". Fat chance lol. Bloody idiots. The bank 2 manifold is stuck open meaning a constant airflow, how the hells it gonna die, also people on this forum have had theirs as mine is for months without any problems. I'm going to contact audi head office as dealers had lied to be about the car being put on diagnostics etc and try and get them to pay for the manifold change as goodwill or atleast half of it as the dealer wants £650. Otherwise I'm going to have to shift my motor with deep regret and downgrade to a 3.0 TDI S-Line B8 A4 :(

[SuperCharger28]

Result!

After a few days negotiations between both me, the dealer and audi UK they have cut the price from £700 all inclusive to £300 all inclusive including the glowplug replacement free of charge. Exceedingly good value considering the part itself would cost £427.

Word of advice kids. Always try it on with them, You could get lucky!