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brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548
Posted: 12:59am 30 Jun 2018
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A bit out of our windmill/solar stuff ,but?
I wonder if any of you have had this happen to your car .
My dash warning light ,in the shape of an engine,has lit up in yellow,it's a vw diesel turbo Tieguan 4 cylinder with 45 K ,s on the clock .
I pulled into my mechanic yesterday ,but he,s gone fishin!!for the weekend. Anyhow , read the book and because it's yellow in color , it's a warning ,so needs attention soon.
I've checked the fuel cap for tightness, and looked around , no visual problems,all clean and full oil wise,Etc.
The book says it could be several things ,so I'm just melting some old gold wedding rings ,hoping it will pay for the gold plated mechanic,lol.
any clues,
BruceBushboy
greybeard Senior Member Joined: 04/01/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 161
Posted: 01:38am 30 Jun 2018
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Put some green tape over the instrument panel or take the globe out
yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166
Posted: 02:09am 30 Jun 2018
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You are on the right track, the check engine light is from a group of sensors to do with the exhaust system working properly.
a lack of positive fuel tank pressure is the most common problem.
the others are water temp, oxygen sensor, misfire etc.
If it is not getting hot or running rough it should be OK till your mechanic can read the code.
the light stays on until it is cleared with a ODB reader so if it was the fuel cap seal leaking and you fixed it you are not going to know anyway. I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not...
Boppa Guru Joined: 08/11/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 814
Posted: 02:33am 30 Jun 2018
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My stepdad bought an Amarouke (sp?) and it often has that light coming on, turns out it was the trailer plug was full of water!
brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548
Posted: 03:21am 30 Jun 2018
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oh, Boppa first, they did a rewire and added an electronic "box" thingo to my trailer lighting system a fortnight or so ago.
I'll look around in the boot wheel arch to see if any wiring is /has become loose,Etc, thanks.
Yarhoo, thanks for your help , I've done the "read-the-instruction book thing also . was a help and I did fill up with diesel the other day ,so checked that ,seemed OK . only second time I've got fuel ,she,s not like my old explorer v8 -that bloody thing turned left at every petrol station !!!. This one 6.something ltrs per 100K's.
Yahoo , thanks for the checking bit with the computer before the light goes out .thats important.
BruceBushboy
Boppa Guru Joined: 08/11/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 814
Posted: 03:26am 30 Jun 2018
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LOL another 'exploder' former owner then... I had a v6 manual- it never saw a petrol station it didnt immediately fall in love with and had to visit.....
Great car, 96, had electronic traction control, auto 4x4, abs, twin airbags, where my new hilux has none of those things (ok its new to me, not new new) but its still almost a decade newer than the exploder
but keeping the ford in fuel... oh the pain, the pain...
brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548
Posted: 03:40am 30 Jun 2018
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Yes Boppa, I thought you had an "Exploder"
Mine was a lovely big car,but in the end too much went wrong all of a sudden-4 wheel drive stopped working -radio became faulty, drivers door and window switch was un obtainable to be repaired. seat belt light permanently on , aircon went faulty . so all in all ,she was just not worth the worry-we only have one car and so no spare while repairs .
Greybeard , My handbrake, she's fairly smart , she tried the sticky tape trick ,,, but used the clear stuff so that don,t work too well.!!!.
BruceBushboy
Tinker Guru Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904
Posted: 09:44am 30 Jun 2018
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Assuming you are OK with things electronic there is a way you can find out exactly what caused it. Its the same way your mechanic does it (costing you $$).
I bought a gadget called 'Scangauge II' from ebay - its not exactly cheap but worth the $ IMO - and this plugs in at the same socket under the dash where the mechanic plugs in his diagnostics unit.
This clever gadget can display lots of useful info, depending on your car make, and it can display the code associated with your engine light. The meanings of these codes can be found on the internet, I got mine from the Isuzu forum since my car is an Isuzu Dmax.
A while ago I fitted something in the engine bay and unplugged a connector as it was in the way. Promptly forgot about that and tried to start the car when I was finished. It would not start and that dreaded engine dash symbol came on .
So my Scangauge was told to display the code which it did. I had, of course, plugged that connector in again but the engine symbol stayed on while the engine now started and ran fine. Mechanic re setting costs at least $50.00.
The scan gauge has a code re setting feature and this worked a treat, the dreaded light went off and stayed off while the engine ran.
This gauge can display 4 parameters of the car's vitals at once while in normal operation. Mine is programmed to show: Engine load Coolant temperature Auto transmission temperature Exhaust temperature
Just a quick glance shows me if everything is fine. With these complicated modern cars, mine is year 2017, it is cheaper to prevent problems than to get them fixed when its too late.
BTW, there are other gauge brands doing similar things. They are portable, just unplug and fit into new car, but its wise to check which parameters can be displayed on a particular brand car - this depends on the codes available.Klaus
brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548
Posted: 11:53pm 30 Jun 2018
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Thanks Tinker, you are on the ball ,smart guy!.
I googled those OBD scanners ,boy ,there are hundreds of them out there, from $300 down to $10 or less.... What picnic..
Anyhow , I'll buy one with a case ,probably around 40-60 dollars with a 2 inch or so screen and 3 feet connecting cord . From what I've read those are the important physical points, don,t know much about what is most /reasonable, suitable for my vw Teaguan diesel? Will have to do a bit of reading on that.
Thanks to all of you wise motorheads that helped this dumb ol man out ..
BruceBushboy
yahoo2 Guru Joined: 05/04/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1166
Posted: 01:31am 01 Jul 2018
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My dad's got an amarok. I think I got him a Vgate vs450, that does all the VW vag group OBD2 protocols. He is in his eighties and had a couple of strokes and he handles it OK so you should have no trouble Bruce.
He had some rats chew the wires under the bonnet, it taken a while to track all that down and repair it.
Just remember the codes are only an indication of a problem not gospel.
Mechanical faults still need to be confirmed the old fashioned way and sensor and electrical faults usually its back to the trusty multimeters or scope and the straightened and sharpened paperclip slipped in the back of the plug connections. I'm confused, no wait... maybe I'm not...
brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548
Posted: 03:12am 01 Jul 2018
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just went out to Nerang from up hear on the mountain to check out those OBD,s (on-board-display of car,s computer readings).
Bloody light has gone out --so now Yahoo, I'm confused also -maybe yes!.
Anyhow , I'm now wondering if turning off my auto-stop/start function is creating a glitch in the software ???? .because , I turned it off from Nerang coming home and the engine management light went off??.-I'm not looking for problems ,just thinking out aloud.
BruceBushboy
ajkw Senior Member Joined: 29/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 290
Posted: 10:16am 01 Jul 2018
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Bruce,
I had a engine light recently, plugged a scanner in and got the code. Booked it in with a dealer and got a appointment a week later. Kept driving and the light went out before the appointment. Ended up with the O2 sensors being replaced, under warranty, so they must have found the code still in the system.
I have also read that for some faults that trigger a engine light the computer may clear the light after a certain amount of engine start/stops if the fault doesn't happen again. The code likely remains in memory.
Anthony.
brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548
Posted: 06:01am 02 Jul 2018
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Thanks Anthony, that is what has prob happened to my car .. I'll get the mech to check and replace if necessary ,he's a nice honest guy ,so it will be done ok ..
Bloody cars ,remember when we had spark plugs and a distributor ?? oh, plus Dad's whippet had a running board and a crank handle that went through the radiator.1950's
BruceBushboy
Tinker Guru Joined: 07/11/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1904
Posted: 08:33am 02 Jul 2018
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Well, the running boards are back in fashion, my Dmax ute has some and they are very useful too .
Not sure about a crank handle....
And the spark plugs on my outboard motor & garden gadgets are enough trouble I want to cope with. Thankfully the distributors in these are no longer there to cause mischief.Klaus
Boppa Guru Joined: 08/11/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 814
Posted: 08:51am 02 Jul 2018
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My lux has running boards too (handy now its got roof racks) and I had a 68 vw with a crank handle still
Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.
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and tried to start the car when I was finished.
.