When my GF got her 1.4 mk4, it had the same symptoms. They changed the lambda & was problem solved. It was still under warranty thankfully. They're expensive little beggars I think

I wonder is that what's wrong with mine?

Where is the lambda, on the downpipe or further down?

 

Ok I just fixed it, and it wasn't the lambda.

So who can guess what the problem was?

 

air flow meter??

 

QUOTE (Trev.B @ Aug 21 2008, 03:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>air flow meter??

X2

 

Bogey spark plug or plugs??

 

loose vacuum hose???

 

No. Simpler than that. It was the old reliable vacuum leak.

 

QUOTE (Geo @ Aug 21 2008, 03:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>No. Simpler than that. It was the old reliable vacuum leak.

 

Do I get a prize George?????????????

 

I have the exACT same peoblem at the moment!! Annesley told me it was the Lambda sensor too, they changed it and everything was okay for a while. It does it every now and again but not as bad as it was doing it. It used to do it everytime it idled, but now it just does it once or twice a week. Just Jinxed it now tho! SHARE THE SOLUTION!!

QUOTE (Geo @ Aug 21 2008, 02:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I am trying to sort a 1998 1.6 (AKL) Mk4 Golf which has idling problems. The idle is very erratic, sometimes it is ok, sometimes it hunts up and down and sometimes it seems as though the engine is missing.

TB clean and adaptation made no difference.

There is one fault code logged.

00537 - Lambda (Oxygen Sensor) Regulation: Upper Limit Exceeded

Which would imply that it is running too lean.

The Ross-Tech Wiki suggests either a lambda problem or a fuel delivery problem.

The car runs perfectly when you are on the road, it pulls well through all the gears so I doubt it has fuel pressure or delivery problems. The problem only happens at idle.

Lambda voltage is stuck low.

Coolant temp sensor readings look ok.

Air mass readings look ok.

Anybody got any ideas?

I generally don't like changing lambda probes as I reckon 90% of the time when they are changed they don't need to be and the problem isn't solved by changing them but in this case I am starting to think maybe it is the lambda.

 

where was the leak geo outa interest?

 

It was on a small pipe that attaches to the main intake hose just before the throttle body.

 

QUOTE (Geo @ Aug 21 2008, 08:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>It was on a small pipe that attaches to the main intake hose just before the throttle body.

I assume that because it was a leak it was idiling erratically all the time? Mine goes without hassle for a day or so, then does a bit of freestyle idiling for a minute or so, then back to normal for another while. I've had throttle bodies cleaned and Lambda Sensor changed, and went grand for about two weeks, now it's slowly creeping back! Dont suppose you can shine some light on that?

 

No it was intermittent actually. Sometimes it was ok, sometimes it was on the verge of stalling.

Is yours 1.6 as well or is it 1.4?

 

QUOTE (Geo @ Aug 21 2008, 10:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>No it was intermittent actually. Sometimes it was ok, sometimes it was on the verge of stalling.

Is yours 1.6 as well or is it 1.4?

Oh okay, so mine could possibly be the same problem. I thought it was going to stall there tonight now, it was the most erratic I'd seen it. It's a 1.6 as well.

 

Well if you fancy motoring down to Portlaoise I'll take a look at it for you.

Before doing that though it might be an idea to get someone in Dublin to do a VCDS scan on it for you. Then post up the fault codes if there are any and we might be able to figure out a likely cause.

What year is the car by the way and do you know the engine code?

 

QUOTE (Geo @ Aug 21 2008, 10:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Well if you fancy motoring down to Portlaoise I'll take a look at it for you.

Before doing that though it might be an idea to get someone in Dublin to do a VCDS scan on it for you. Then post up the fault codes if there are any and we might be able to figure out a likely cause.

What year is the car by the way and do you know the engine code?

Might just have to do that, not sending it into VW for the 4th time for the same problem! Where would I get a VCDS scan done? It's a 2001, havent a notion what the engine code is, I'll get it for you though if it's any help?

 

Where in Dublin are you? North or south? Chances are someone close to you could do it.

If you could get the code it would help alright, is it an 8v or a 16v? 2001 could be either as far as I know.

 

QUOTE (Geo @ Aug 21 2008, 10:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Where in Dublin are you? North or south? Chances are someone close to you could do it.

If you could get the code it would help alright, is it an 8v or a 16v? 2001 could be either as far as I know.

I'm north, just over in Raheny if that means anything to you. I'll try get the engine codes tomorrow, I'm guessing they're hidden in the engine bay somewhere so it'd be tricky to find right now. It's a 16v too.

 

The one I was working on today was an 8v and is a totally different engine and engine management system so don't get your hopes up just yet

There are a few guys around the northside with VCDS. I'd say if you head to the next meetup in Santry you could get someone to do the scan for you there.

 

QUOTE (Geo @ Aug 21 2008, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The one I was working on today was an 8v and is a totally different engine and engine management system so don't get your hopes up just yet

There are a few guys around the northside with VCDS. I'd say if you head to the next meetup in Santry you could get someone to do the scan for you there.

Ahh right right! Sure I wont rule it out as being the culprit just yet either! I'll have to head over to the next Santry meet alright, any ideas as to when it is? I'm heading up to Cultra on Saturday so with a bitta luck I might find someone up there than can scan it. Cheers for this by the way.

 

No worries man, just post up here when you get a scan done and we will take it from there.

I don't think any date has been set for the next northside meet yet. Razor (Shane) normally organises them so keep an eye in the events section. You may find someone in Cultra if you are lucky.

 

Will do!

Sure I'll keep an eye out and take a spin up and see what we can do, hopefully have it sorted by then. Anyway, thanks again Geo, I'll be talking to you again no doubt!

 

Hey folks - first post

Have been having a problem with my 2000 1.6 Passat for about a year now which is now becoming very unsafe. Thought I'd come onto this forum to see if the knowledgeable posters here could share any light as I've had 3 mechanics look into the issue but they can't solve it.

Anyhow, this thread seems to describe exactly what I am experiencing with my car, and that dreaded "lambda" word came up! Let me describe my situation.

Car is intermittently cutting out when I come to a stop at lights or junction 1 or 2 times out of 10. I then have to wait about 10-15 minutes before it will start again. If I try to start it any earlier than that it won't.

Sometimes, before cutting out, I'll be doing less than 40kph, and start to slow down coming to a bend, and suddenly the rev counter will "stick" or shoot up even though I've taken my foot off the accelerator. It's almost as if the car wants to go faster and won't let you slow down. The revs will shoot to 3,500 in 2nd or 3rd gear, and the only way to stop it is to pull over and turn off the ignition. 9 times out 10 when I try to restart the car, it won't, and I'll have to wait for 10-15 minutes before it starts like described above.

In the last week, the car has cut out a total of 9 times. My wife took the car this morning to the train station and was driving the 1 mile journey back to the house when it cut out as she turned right at a junction into our estate. Luckily, the car started first time and she was able to move out of the middle of the road before any traffic came!

About 6 weeks ago, as I was driving to work, about 5 minutes into my journey the car stalled in the middle of the town I live in. I managed to get it to a mechanic 20 minutes later when it restarted and he ran a diagnostics, and there was an issue with the lambda sensor. He "fixed" this using the software diagnostics package and sent me on my way. All was good for about 3 weeks until the issue came back again.

Geo & VeeDubbin - So I'm wondering is this the issue that you guys are both seeing? What is a VCDS scan - is it similar to the diagnostics scan I describe above? Does my problem sound like I need a replacement lambda or do I just need to fix the vacuum leak?

Would appreciate some feedback on this as I'm very close to scrapping the car at this stage! Thanks.

 

Hi madds and welcome to VAGdrivers.

Yes a VCDS scan is a diagnostic scan. VCDS is the VW diagnostic software designed by Ross Tech ( http://www.ross-tech.com )

Your problem doesn't sound like a lambda problem to me. It sounds more like a vacuum leak or a faulty throttle body.

What has been the opinion of the three mechanics who looked at the car?

Have any parts been replaced?

Where are you located? A fellow forum member may be able to recommend someone local to you to have a look at it or even get a scan done which you can post up the results of on here so we can get a better idea as to the cause of your problem.