cookie Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 (edited) Gah, had my Lupo for a couple of weeks now and shes decided to flip out! I have the engine check light on (picture of an engine with a lightning-bolt through and "CHECK" underneath) and then this morning trying to move the car the 'EPC' light came on and it would not rev. Being a computer engineer naturally I switched her off, waited 30 seconds and switched her back on! This seemed to clear the 'EPC' error - for now at least.Have booked her into the local VAG specialist but they are busy until next Thurs Sometimes I wish I had my mini back - clockwork cars are easy to fix yourself Edited April 22, 2008 by cookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbo Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 Same thing happened to mine just after i got it, but not the EPC light, it seems to come on every time it rains, i'm choosing to ignore it until something major happens. Heard a lot on hear about problems with lamba sensors, also heard a lot about garages not being able to do anything as they cant figure out the problem, seems to be quit a common fault with loops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clairey Fairy Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 heard a lot about garages not being able to do anything as they cant figure out the problem, seems to be quit a common fault with loops. You're not wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted April 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 (edited) Maybe I'll try and whip the lamba sensors out for a clean then - can you just dump 'em in a tub of white spirit overnight and then give 'em a scrub? Edited April 10, 2008 by cookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigkingdingaling Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 ive just had mine plugged in and i have a faulty coolant temperature sensor... does your temperature gauge work properly?? if not that might be the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyp Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 clean throttle body also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted April 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 Temp gauge appears to be working fine.Will give the TB a good 'ol dose of carb-cleaner whilst I'm at it then, cheers for the tips guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthie Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 Temp gauge appears to be working fine.Will give the TB a good 'ol dose of carb-cleaner whilst I'm at it then, cheers for the tips guys.The temp sender has two outputs, one to the dash and one to the ecu. Normally the dash reads correct but the ecu feed brakes and will give you an uneven running problem...along with a few other 'glitches'. Get it plugged in and checked, a GOOD garage should have no trouble telling you what is wrong if they know what they are doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted April 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Well, I just dropped her off at the garage. Pulled into the garage, switched engine off, chatted to one of the guys in there and we walked over to the Lupo, he got in, switched it on and the f***ing light didn't f***ing well come on! What are the chances?! Oh well, left it with them to have a poke at and check over anyhow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted April 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Well the garage couldn't find anything wrong and reset a couple of lingering fault codes and all was going well until the evening when the dreaded light decided it wanted to come back again Does anyone know what size spanner is needed to get the lambda sensors out? I tried last weekend but I haven't got a spanner big enough in my set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthie Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 What fault codes came up? did they tell you?I can ask the guys at work what size it is on Monday for you, I seem to remember there being a tool made for taking them out that fits on a wratchet, it is like a ring spanner but has a cut out in it because of the wire on the end of the lambda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flip2k3 Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 EGR valve? had to have mine changed the week after I bought it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyp Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 are all your plugs,leads etc in good state?? as if it wont rev then thats in 'safe mode'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthie Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 EGR valve? had to have mine changed the week after I bought it!This is what needs doing on my one, the fault has not come back after re setting it though so fingers crossed it was a glitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northwick Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 Same thing happened to mine just after i got it, but not the EPC light, it seems to come on every time it rains, i'm choosing to ignore it until something major happens. Heard a lot on hear about problems with lamba sensors, also heard a lot about garages not being able to do anything as they cant figure out the problem, seems to be quit a common fault with loops.Its not just lupos though. I had a Corsa with the same thing - only did it in the rain. It took me a good few months to figure it out but would have cost £100s at garage doing it with trial and error, spraying water on it etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted April 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 OK, more stuff to clean out/check over then!Where might I find the EGR valve and what does it look like? Sorry about the daft questions but I'm used to my old mini engine that only had 5 moving parts I think the plugs and leads are OK but will double check when I get a chance - it seems to drive just fine though, revs all the way to 5K anyway The garage didn't say what fault codes were hanging around and TBH I'm not sure what reader thingy they had there as the guy say 'our code reader can't go in depth and find out exactly whats going on' and then recommended the local bosh dealer/specialist who could?! Some VW specialist they are That would be awsome if you could find out Stealthie, will save me having to ask to take a handfull out to the carpark and give them a try at Halfords Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted April 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 Just thought as well - when I go to whip the airbox off there is a big rivet-type-thing on the top left corner that looks impossible to undo/remove, does anyone know how to undo/remove it? It is just a silver colour flat metal head, about 10mm across with a big tapered rubber washer under it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted April 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 OK, not sure if it is fluke/temporary like when the light went out for the mechanic but I have just filled up on shell V-power, given it a blast 5 mins down the road and the light has gone out - I'll keep an eye on it and see if the V-power has made any sort of difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackcat Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 clean throttle body alsoHow exactly do you clean a throttle body? As my car seems to jerk back and forth as I'm lightly pressing on the accelerator, if I push down hard it accelerates and has no probs..J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackcat Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 How exactly do you clean a throttle body? As my car seems to jerk back and forth as I'm lightly pressing on the accelerator, if I push down hard it accelerates and has no probs..JP.S Just interested by what BORKED means also! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted April 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Clean the throttle body with carb-cleaner (pick up a can from a motorfactors/halfords) and blast away!Borked = playing up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted May 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Well, it's been a couple of weeks now so I thought I would report back on the situation.I have now covered however far you can on two tanks of petrol and the dreaded emissions light has stayed off. Both tankfulls have been using 'premium' petrol (V-power or equivalent).I think I will try switching back to 'normal' petrol and see how long it is before the light comes back, run some more 'premium' through her to turn the light off, clean up the lambda sensors, run her on 'normal' petrol again and see if that makes a difference. This experiment may take a little while as I don't drive loads currently but I'll be sure to report back with my findings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigz™ Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Didnt LINCONSHIREGTI have this problem, after he was forced to use cheap fuel?Filled up with Optilop and all was well again.If yours is a Sport you should be useing the good stuff, thats the fuel the car was mapped on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niche Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 I used optimax for a week and I found that the car lagged its tits off. Put your footy down and nothing happens for a good 3 seconds, went back to 95 RON and all was well again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted May 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Aaaaah, the sport's have expensive tastes do they I'll stick to the good stuff from now on then. She seemed a little more 'eager' on the premium gear too, that's good to know, cheers Tigz.Niche - is that from low-ish in the revs? 16 valve engines tend to be a bit poop lower in the rev band, mine feels sluggish to respond below about 2800/3000 RPM but is much sportier from there on up to the red bit on the right hand side! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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