Rorybtc
Member
Hello everyone. I have recently joined the Audi A2 fleet and have been restoring a 52 plate Audi A2 1.4 16v basic model back to its former glory.
This has involved:
Replacement gearbox
Replacement clutch
Replacement Power Steering Pump
Replacement Battery
Replacement Front and rear brake pads and shoes
Replacement Steering rack boot
Replacement Cambelts, water pump etc kit including auxiliary belt (Had original factory one....)
Replacement Plugs & HT Leads (These were from the factory too!!!! HT leads were almost sold!!!)
Full service (Engine flush, Ignition system flush, all filters, new engine and gearbox oil etc)
New service flap retention clip
The most extreme interior and exterior clean (the previous owner had been using it to transport logs and fire wood, after their children had spilled all manner of sticky sweets/drinks/chewing gum etc over almost every interior surface of the car....)
AND.... a replacement EGR valve.....
So, the reason I thought I'd put up this post was to save my fellow A2 owners from the grief I endured sorting out this problem.
I had the ECP and engine management lights on the dashboard, and the computer was reading code for the throttle body and EGR valve (throttle body code was because the EGR valve was faulty). The original EGR valve on the car was in one piece, but the upper body with the connector would easily swivel 'that's not right' I thought. Also the duff EGR valve was causing all sorts of running problems, as the ECU and therefore the throttle was trying to compensate for it not working (over revving when changing gear being the most irritating and uneven idling). And when hooked up to the computer it was coming back with the EGR SHORT TO EARTH error code. So a new EGR valve was ordered.
Replacing the EGR valve was a relatively easy procedure - especially if you remove the studs fixing it in place from the head (loosen the two nuts, then put another one on each stud, tighten them together using two spanners and - with a bit of luck - remove both studs) this saves having to remove the feed pie to the throttle body. To fit the new EGR valve, reverse the procedure. The old EGR had electrically failed, rather than being bunged up with gunk, so the feed pipe didn't need cleaning out.
So, new EGR all fitted, hooked it up to the computer to clear the codes.... and the same fault EGR SHORT TO EARTH code kept coming up. So, my brother and I (he's an excellent professional mechanic - both my brothers are actually) set about trying to find the fault. I checked on the forum, found advice on checking the loom for friction/rub points, we checked all of those... inspected the loom wherever we could get access to it, tested it for signal. Frankly looked everywhere but couldn't find the short!!! Somehow, voltage was not reaching the EGR.... So we had dinner, I did some more research and then I found the PDF on the forum listing all the various systems covered by the fuses. Low and behold, FUSE 31 amongst many other things is for the EGR valve. So, back up to the workshop and I whipped it out - BINGO!!!! one popped fuse. Put a new one in and my life was changed!!!!!!!!!!! I've driven the car over a thousand miles in the last week (long story, I had to get the car on the road in rather an unexpected rush) and had slowly been falling out of love with it. Over revving between gears, bogging down when pulling away and drinking fuel like a very thirsty, thirsty thing - it was 'a nightmare'. Obviously as you'll appreciate I'd poured a lot of money and time into this car, and I was starting to think I'd made a dreadful mistake....
But, the car is transformed. For a 1.4 16v it goes like a rocket, is almost silent on tick over and I'm sure its going to run on air from now on.....
So the moral of this story is.... ITS FUSE 31!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't forget to check your fuses if your getting the EGR SHORT TO GROUND code!!!!! It might save you an awful lot of grief. Rory
This has involved:
Replacement gearbox
Replacement clutch
Replacement Power Steering Pump
Replacement Battery
Replacement Front and rear brake pads and shoes
Replacement Steering rack boot
Replacement Cambelts, water pump etc kit including auxiliary belt (Had original factory one....)
Replacement Plugs & HT Leads (These were from the factory too!!!! HT leads were almost sold!!!)
Full service (Engine flush, Ignition system flush, all filters, new engine and gearbox oil etc)
New service flap retention clip
The most extreme interior and exterior clean (the previous owner had been using it to transport logs and fire wood, after their children had spilled all manner of sticky sweets/drinks/chewing gum etc over almost every interior surface of the car....)
AND.... a replacement EGR valve.....
So, the reason I thought I'd put up this post was to save my fellow A2 owners from the grief I endured sorting out this problem.
I had the ECP and engine management lights on the dashboard, and the computer was reading code for the throttle body and EGR valve (throttle body code was because the EGR valve was faulty). The original EGR valve on the car was in one piece, but the upper body with the connector would easily swivel 'that's not right' I thought. Also the duff EGR valve was causing all sorts of running problems, as the ECU and therefore the throttle was trying to compensate for it not working (over revving when changing gear being the most irritating and uneven idling). And when hooked up to the computer it was coming back with the EGR SHORT TO EARTH error code. So a new EGR valve was ordered.
Replacing the EGR valve was a relatively easy procedure - especially if you remove the studs fixing it in place from the head (loosen the two nuts, then put another one on each stud, tighten them together using two spanners and - with a bit of luck - remove both studs) this saves having to remove the feed pie to the throttle body. To fit the new EGR valve, reverse the procedure. The old EGR had electrically failed, rather than being bunged up with gunk, so the feed pipe didn't need cleaning out.
So, new EGR all fitted, hooked it up to the computer to clear the codes.... and the same fault EGR SHORT TO EARTH code kept coming up. So, my brother and I (he's an excellent professional mechanic - both my brothers are actually) set about trying to find the fault. I checked on the forum, found advice on checking the loom for friction/rub points, we checked all of those... inspected the loom wherever we could get access to it, tested it for signal. Frankly looked everywhere but couldn't find the short!!! Somehow, voltage was not reaching the EGR.... So we had dinner, I did some more research and then I found the PDF on the forum listing all the various systems covered by the fuses. Low and behold, FUSE 31 amongst many other things is for the EGR valve. So, back up to the workshop and I whipped it out - BINGO!!!! one popped fuse. Put a new one in and my life was changed!!!!!!!!!!! I've driven the car over a thousand miles in the last week (long story, I had to get the car on the road in rather an unexpected rush) and had slowly been falling out of love with it. Over revving between gears, bogging down when pulling away and drinking fuel like a very thirsty, thirsty thing - it was 'a nightmare'. Obviously as you'll appreciate I'd poured a lot of money and time into this car, and I was starting to think I'd made a dreadful mistake....
But, the car is transformed. For a 1.4 16v it goes like a rocket, is almost silent on tick over and I'm sure its going to run on air from now on.....
So the moral of this story is.... ITS FUSE 31!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't forget to check your fuses if your getting the EGR SHORT TO GROUND code!!!!! It might save you an awful lot of grief. Rory