Emissions Light Flashing and Misfire

66Beetle

A2OC Donor
Just had to take the A2 home poorly ! Set off to Tesco. Thought it was lacking in power. Amber Emissions Lamp started Flashing accompanied by a Misfire. Will it just be that 1 Coil Pack has failed ? Had only got a couple of Miles so took the A2 home and came back out in the A6.

Steve U
 
Fortunately Tom ( Timmus ) has got me Penciled In to Diagnose the Power Steering Warning Light / Power Steering not always working. For now ( tomorrow) I’ll try Unplugging each Coil Pack in turn to see which one, if any, makes no difference,
 
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After swapping my new spare Genuine VAG Coil Pack for No.1 then No.2 it was No.3 Coil that had failed. Running fine again now but Emissions Amber Lamp was still Flashing initially then changed to Constant. Will take it out for a run this afternoon and see what happens. On a brighter note I may just have fixed the Power Steering Warning Lamp / Power Steering not always working in the way suggested by someone on her ( Spike maybe ? ). I had been put off looking at the Secondary Supply Connection from the Battery Positive Terminal because someone said you had to “ Break Into It “. On mine it was just a matter of flicking the Cover Open with a finger. The Connection looked like New but it could be moved around ! Didn’t seem to be able to tighten it up at first, so undid the Nut and tightened it back up. Seems OK now and No Power Steering Warning Lamp as yet. Only other snag at the moment is I can not get the 2 Pointed Bolts for the Battery Hold Down Clamps to start on the threads, whatever I try. Even tried running a Die Nut down the Threads of both Bolts. Made no difference !

Steve U
 
More likely the female thread in the hold down mech is duff. Can you find a tap to run in? Apply grease to the hole before the tap, and be gentle. It's probably only the first thread or two. If you don't have a tap, try a plain (no point) bolt instead.
Mac.
 
Yes. I was looking around for some short non pointed bolts to try. Those 2 Bolts have never been out since they were fitted at the factory in 2003, so I expected there to be no problem. I do have Taps I could try. Just a matter of not being able to see if it’s going in straight all the way down there.
 
OK lets start from the beginning. Disconnect the battery terminals and the battery vent tube. Remove the bolts from the battery restraining plate ( already out? ) and remove the plate. Next remove the battery from the car. You can now try the bolts only into the captive nuts after checking for obvious damage. You may need / want to remove the foam to the rear of the battery to give more access ( not possible if you have Bose fitted ). Once happy bolts will fit, look at where the battery sits and you will see little "ledges" to the rear and possibly to the right as you look into the boot. The battery must fit under these ledges when it is placed into the compartment. Next fit the restraining plate making sure it is correctly located at either end on its rails, if not the plate will be out of position and therefor the bolts will also be out of position and may not start in their threads. Either use long nose pliers or a piece of paper or rubber glove in the socket to hold the bolt into the socket and twist the extension by hand to feel the bolts engage before using a ratchet to tighten them. Refit the positive, then negative terminals and the battery vent tube. While the battery terminals are off is an ideal chance to make sure the positive leads are all correctly fitted and tight. All should now be OK with the battery. Resync keys and windows as needed.
 
The battery and retaining plate is incorrectly fitted in this picture
1596373958549.jpeg


and correctly here.

1596374113022.jpeg


Extra lead on negative and fuse by positive are for the boot mounted 12v socket
 
Well then, if you know the threads on the bolts are good as Mac suggests it's looking like a problem with the brass inserts. I wonder if the bolts has previously been over torqued and they are turning, they are fragile things, but odd it is happening to both. As Audifan suggests strip everything out so you can get down there and observe if this is the case and if not try Mac's suggestion of retapping the insert. To be honest the fact it is happening to both does suggest a case of bad alignment, sorry to go on about this but is the sliding retainer in the grooves? I don't think we will be convinced it is without a picture!

Andy
 
After swapping my new spare Genuine VAG Coil Pack for No.1 then No.2 it was No.3 Coil that had failed. Running fine again now but Emissions Amber Lamp was still Flashing initially then changed to Constant.

Steve U

The EML light will go out by itself after a few times starting and driving the car if you haven't got any further faults (or access to VCDS to cancel the warning light) .
 
Most likely you will have the two unused easily accessible brass inserts on the other side of the battery at floor level.. Try if bolts take in these as an experiment to prove bolts are good.

Andy
 
Power Steering Amber Warning Lamp is still coming on when Ignition is Turned On, so tightening the Secondary Supply from the Positive Battery Terminal has not fixed that. At least the Power Steering is working today, along with the Emissions Warning. That Lamp is still working O.K. !
 
The Bolt Holes look to be lined up to me, and the Hold Down Clamp Plate correctly fitted . . . . but still can’t get the Bolts to start on the Threads. It’s not the Bolts that are the problem. They pick up the threads of those 2 spare holes up top instantly. What are they for anyway ? I’ll have to try running a Tap down the Battery Clamp Bolt Holes. To be honest the Battery can’t go anywhere anyway !
 
Will the battery go any further to the right, making sure it is under the retaining ledges? If it is not sitting in the correct location the battery may be a little too high preventing the bolts from starting in the inserts. Did you try fitting the bolts only without the restraining plate, that way you will know if it is the bolts / threads or an alignment issue.
The battery must fit under these ledges.
1596449267082.png
 
.....They pick up the threads of those 2 spare holes up top instantly. What are they for anyway ?.....

They are for the fixings of a plate over the battery to secure a spare wheel if present.

"To be honest the Battery can’t go anywhere anyway"

It will slide end to end straining the battery terminals fixings.

I think Audifan has a good point, it always struck me the 'natural' place for the battery is over to the right to reduce the cramping of the heavy battery at the other end.

Andy
 
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