1.6 eml just came on

Pete667

Pete667

Member
Hi all, I've just picked up a beautiful Storm yellow 1.6 from South Wales, driven it back home to South Yorkshire and it was fantastic! Never missed a beat, there's not a mark on it and it feels like a new car. I stopped to pick some dog food up on the way home (it's about a mile from my house), when I started the car back up the engine light stayed on, it was running fine though so I drove it home and immediately started looking for my Lidl scanner which I soon found, plugged it in and it came back with two codes - P0420 and P1031 P. Any help appreciated as I'm sure it wouldn't do it any good to drive it back down to South Wales on Monday morning. The car has a really good service history and like I said was absolutely flawless right until a mile from home. Thanks all.
 
P1031 is a misfire on cylinder 1 and P0420 is the cat not functioning properly. A misfire will affect the gasses in the cat. Also, from my experience, when you clear these faults new related error codes come up! I would clean the MAF sensor first as it controls the air flow. You could also try some Catclean in the fuel to burn up any carbon on the sensors. You could also try switching the coil packs on cylinder 1 and 4 to see if the error code changes.
 
I have found in among the service paperwork a receipt for £500 for a full custom exhaust system, I wonder if this may be causing an issue although it was fitted a few years ago.
 
Don't discount anything but try the simple fixes first. I would start with the MAF, coil packs switch and possibly new spark plugs unless you service records show they were changed recently.
 
To see what's going on, you need VCDS Lite, and a license, at $99. KKL lead, under a tenner, and any, (XP to 11), Windows laptop. Download the A2OC lbl file, as the Lite does not include a lbl for the FSI.
You will then be able to see exactly what the problem with the Car, (P0420 is Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold), so could be a sports car in the exhaust. These are less efficient than a full Cat, and don't last as long, but exert less back pressure. The engine ECU may struggle to support such an exhaust system, so that probably the place to start.
Worth checking the coil packs too. If original, (check date codes), then they're on borrowed time. If they have been replaced, check the brand, Audi, Bosch, NGK, and Beru are good. Own brand, not so much.
Plenty of help to return it to robust health here.
If you known a helpful MoT Station, get the emissions checked, if the exhaust is suspect, the emissions will, (probably) be an MoT fail. Don't get it MoT'd though, or you could be off the road.
Mac.
 
Good Evening,

P1031 is all about stuck flaps, the infamous FSI lower intake manifold problem, I suspect the cat fault is a ricochet fault. You will find hours of reading on here about it, this is good starter.

fault p1031

hi guys, im new to this site and also a relitivley new a2 owner (12months), i love my little car however i have had a few niggles with it and having paid out at main dealers thought i would seek alternative advice, my latest prob is the engine management light being on, its saying fault p1031...
www.a2oc.net

You imply you are thinking of returning the car to the seller. I do not think the drive will do any harm so end of story maybe, inconvenient and a pity as you seem to like it but if not put off get them to fix it or try and negotiate a rebate to cover the cost of repair.

Andy

Edit. Take Mac's advice about VCDS Lite well worth it.
 
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Pete667 said:
I have found in among the service paperwork a receipt for £500 for a full custom exhaust system, I wonder if this may be causing an issue although it was fitted a few years ago.
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My guess would be it's this but I think there are 2 cats on the fsi's. A non OEM cat and the complicated fsi engine in my case didn't go that well together and threw up the eml light from time to time. Mine was the rearmost cat that was replaced. I put it down to not enough back pressure and/or the (I think) 2 exhaust sensors not reading correctly. Didn't actually seem to cause an issue just annoying having the light on.
 
Full VCDS scan, ensure the correct fuel has / is being used ONLY, look at cyl 1 spark plug after checking coil pack is secure.
 
ashley7715 said:
My guess would be it's this but I think there are 2 cats on the fsi's. A non OEM cat and the complicated fsi engine in my case didn't go that well together and threw up the eml light from time to time. Mine was the rearmost cat that was replaced. I put it down to not enough back pressure and/or the (I think) 2 exhaust sensors not reading correctly. Didn't actually seem to cause an issue just annoying having the light on.
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Yes, the FSI has two cats. The first one is fitted directly after the exhaust manifold, where the downpipe would normally be, and is the CO cat. The pre cat lambda is at the input to this first cat, and is used to set fuel/air ratio.
The second cat is towards the rear, and is the NOx, (Nitrous Oxide), cat. It has two lambdas, one measures the efficiency of the first CO cat, (probably triggering the P0420), the other measures the efficiency of the NOx cat in removing the very nasty NOx emissions.
You should try to find out what the custom exhaust consists of, because, unless it contains the original two cats, and the three original lambda sensor, then it's likely, that emissions may not meet the MoT requirements. The "Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold" DTC, (P0420), hints in that direction.
If it were me, I'd want to establish the extent of the exhaust modifications, any deviation from the original functionality, and their implications.

As @Andrew says, there is also a problem with the inlet flaps not moving through the required arc, or maybe not moving at all, (P1031), which has it very own, (and very long), thread. Careful diagnosis is advisable, before deciding on the fix.

You would not be the first to not worry about the EML, (although some have, subsequently, regretted it), as the car runs well. Again,if it were me, I'd want to know what is going on, before deciding not to worry. Or get it fixed, of course ...
If you bought from a bona fide trader, don't delay in informing them that you consider that car to have serious "pre-existing faults" as you may be able to recoup the cost of repairs.
Mac.
Edit: The NOx sensor, in the second cat, is not a simple lambda.
 
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ok, I've been through the paperwork that came with the car, its had a service every year, the paperwork is mostley from 2012 onwards.
Its a 2003 car with just coming upto 70,000 miles, looks like it started life around Accrington, but has spent the majority of its time around Hereford/South Wales, its had a service every year on top of -
10/12 - 4 injectors, cambelt and cambelt kit replaced.
11/17 - Top hose replaced.
4/19 - Timing belt, water pump and aux belt replaced.
3/21 - Breather pipe/valve replaced.
7/22 - Spark plugs replaced (along with yearly service).
10/23 - Full stainless exhaust system from CAT (from LongLife exhausts, Cardiff).
So, it looks like the car has been well looked after, 5 previous owners including owner 4 who owned it over 10 years, as I said I love the car, came downstairs this morning to see it sat on the driveway and it made me smile. The garage I bought it off are a small concern who dont specialise in Audi so I dont know what they might do to fix this, I'm not mechanically or electrically minded at all (although it looks like I might have to become so!) and after reading some of the replies on this and the thread that Andrew mentioned - P1031 fault - my heads spinning.
I suppose my question is, is it unreasonable to ask the supplying garage for a contribution to or indeed full cost of me taking it to WOM and getting it sorted there as they are obviously very well thought of specialists and would be able to get the faults rectified.
Sorry for the rambling letter but Ive been up half the night looking at past threads on the subjec, trying to make sense of it and wondering what my best options might be as I do want to keep the car.
Many Thanks, Peter.
 
Also, just to add, the windscreen wiper was tapping on the screen over bumps and Ive just had a look and noticed its just started to mark the windscreen although I believe there is a fix for this. If someone could point me in the right direction for this I'd really appreciate it. Right, I'm off to bed for a few hours to try and catch up on some sleep.
 
I,m genuinely sorry to hear of the issues with your car Peter....it really did look lovely from the advertised photos and i can understand how youve become attached to it already. From prices quoted a few years ago the ball park figure for repairs, using new parts, would be around the £1500 mark so i would either look at returning the car to the seller or coming to some agreement regarding repair costs at WOM after youve had a quote.

Many owners have, rightly or wrongly, run their Fsi,s with the EML permanently on without issues until it comes to an MOT when it will fail if illuminated. Enjoy your sleep and try not to worry too much.....you do have options and the Consumer rights act is on your side.
 
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There are two "issues" you should make the seller aware of, the below threshold cat performance, and the inlet manifold, (flap), non functioning. Both will impact emissions, and, probably MoT.
They should respond, and may want to fix the car, or may help you get it fixed. Both issues are likely to be expensive to fix, and will need an FSI knowledgeable mechanic.
Just make them aware, as doing that promptly is key to any future claim. Template letters can be found on the net.
VCDS, and A2OC is going to be the way to find out more.
Good luck.
Mac.
 
PlasticMac said:
There are two "issues" you should make the seller aware of, the below threshold cat performance, and the inlet manifold, (flap), non functioning. Both will impact emissions, and, probably MoT.
They should respond, and may want to fix the car, or may help you get it fixed. Both issues are likely to be expensive to fix, and will need an FSI knowledgeable mechanic.
Just make them aware, as doing that promptly is key to any future claim. Template letters can be found on the net.
VCDS, and A2OC is going to be the way to find out more.
Good luck.
Mac.
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Hi Mac, I rang the garage first thing this morning and they couldn't be nicer, said he was going to have a word with his boss first thing on Monday but because I'm 3.5 hours drive from them what they have done previously for people is tell them to take to a local independent specialist, get it scanned there, report back to them and come to an arrangement regarding costs going forward. There is a VAG specialist who gets very good reviews about 6 miles from me who I'll ring tomorrow to get booked in. So fingers crossed it all works out OK!
Regards, Peter
 
Pete667 said:
Hi Mac, I rang the garage first thing this morning and they couldn't be nicer, said he was going to have a word with his boss first thing on Monday but because I'm 3.5 hours drive from them what they have done previously for people is tell them to take to a local independent specialist, get it scanned there, report back to them and come to an arrangement regarding costs going forward. There is a VAG specialist who gets very good reviews about 6 miles from me who I'll ring tomorrow to get booked in. So fingers crossed it all works out OK!
Regards, Peter
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Ask the garage to give you a copy of the scan, and share it here.
Good luck.
Mac.
 
Pete667 said:
......... There is a VAG specialist who gets very good reviews about 6 miles from me who I'll ring tomorrow to get booked in. ......
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Good Afternoon Peter,

Before engaging this local specialist services ask them bluntly "how many A2 FSI engines, and in particular the inlet manifold, have you worked on?" Take it from there.

Also ring WOM and discuss.

I would guess at 3 to 4 hours labour costs plus likely £200 in parts.

Andy
 
I agree, but if the first cat is failing, then that could be a bigger problem, (ie costly), both to find and fit.
Wom's opinion would be a very good idea.
Mac.
 
PlasticMac said:
I agree, but if the first cat is failing, then that could be a bigger problem, (ie costly), both to find and fit.
Wom's opinion would be a very good idea.
Mac.
Click to expand...
On a more positive note, the P0420, "Cat Below Threshold" DTC may not be current. Don't remember hearing of an FSI with CO cat problems myself, so could well be historic. (Possibly even related to the exhaust fitting).
A look, at the lambda 2 measuring blocks, (Group 037). might be rewarding.
Sounds like it had a good workout on the way home!
Mac.
Edit: @Pete667 Will the Lidl scanner clear codes, if so, please do so. 🤞
 
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Really and truly a trip to WOM would be the best solution. Most Audi specialists have no real understanding of the A2, and even less of the FSi.

Stoke on Trent is 78.7 miles according to my "good friend" Google.
 
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