Am I being a plum?

[bleedingout]

Did a deal on an 05 3.0 A4 cab < 30,000 miles but engine light came on near the purchase date - owner offered to pay for main dealer to investigate and fix.

Two weeks later, main dealer have done a 139-point check, spoken to the engine design expert in Germany, test driven and re-tested and can't find a problem, both mechanically and electrically.

However, light still on, next they want to do a compression test, but next week.

I've said to owner, give me the car and £200 and I'll take it from here, because fed up of waiting and feel if it's been that tested with no problem, then it's not a dealbreaker, right?

Am I being a plum?

[zollaf]

well if the em light is illuminated, there is a fault code in the ecu. if it wont go out, the fault still exists. it could be very costly to put right.

[bleedingout]

what's the worst case scenario - surely they would have picked up any significant problems, not losing water or oil, low mileage and driving normally with no abnormal engine noise - whatever the fault is, can't be too serious right?
:confused:
And what's not picked up in a 139 point check?

I can hear myself now and I know it's a risk, but really need a deal to happen since looking for way too long now...

[zollaf]

worst case scanario? a new ecu, a new turbo etc.. could cost a bit more than £200. could also be a duff temp sensor, and thats cheap. without knowing the fault code its impossible to say, but one thing for sure, i would not buy a car with the em light on.

[bez101]

where did he take it and why a 139 point check just plug it in to VCDS if theres a fault it will show

[RickT]

if the light is not going off at all after its been reset you may have an issue..

Get it onto Vag-com and read the codes..

Worst case it could be a dodgy ECU... not sure on price.. but you wont have much change at a dealer with fitting i bet!..

if itsa coolant sensor.. will cost you £20 to fix..

Take a look at our VAG-COM section and see if there is a member near you who will read the codes in exchange for a 6 pack of beer!

Rick

[Corb2000]

I'd only done 125 miles or so after picking up my 02 3.0 cabrio in mid march when the EM light came on, at which point my heart sank as I expected something unpleasant and expensive. Car was still running fine though....

My local audi independent did a VAG-COM fault reading which said there was an obscure problem with the air inlet on one bank of cylinders. This was easily and fairly cheaply sorted out, once the air leak had been located in a flexible air pipe.

I'd suggest you be there when anybody does the VAG-COM reading as this will at least allow them to see the history which might help in explaining the current problem.

Ultimately, if the software says there is no fault but the EM light remains lit then the whole purpose of the system is undermined so I'd leave well alone.