91 200 TQ Wagon stalling
Phil Rose
pjrose at frontiernet.net
Sat Jun 19 19:10:04 EDT 2004
At 3:46 PM -0600 6/19/04, Watts wrote:
> my "check engine " light is now on.
>Is this light emissions related?
Actually, many (most) '91 200q cars do not have this particular
(check engine) lightbulb installed, but yours obviously does have the
bulb, and that's a good thing, as Martha would say.
> Should I park the car? Don't know how
>serious this light is.
No, don't worry that you need to "park the car" to avoid serious
damage. But you do want to find out what caused the warning.
Possibly it's related to your stalling problem. This light is just
telling you that the ECU (engine control unit) has detected a "fault"
of one sort or another--related to one (or more) of the dozens of
sensors and electrical gadgets trying to run your car. Each "fault"
is identifiable by its unique "fault code" number that is stored by
the ECU whenever a fault has been detected.
In fact, your "check engine" light serves a dual purpose. One is to
simply alert you to the fact that something wrong has been detected,
and a second function is to actually help you identify the fault by
means of a "blink code".
There is a set of (three) diagnostic ports/terminals located in the
driver's footwell area-- just above the brake/clutch pedals. Using an
ordinary length of wire conductor (or paper clip), it's possible to
momentarily bridge a pair of these ports to initiate a repetitive
series of "blinks" from that check-engine light. You count the number
of blinks to arrive at the code number(s). It's easier to do than to
describe, and it's all plainly laid out in Scott Mockry's fabulous
web site:
http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/TROUBLE_SHOOTING/ecuf20v.html#20v_check
and here's the complete list of code #s and the meanings:
http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/TROUBLE_SHOOTING/20vcodes.htm
A good idea is eventually to install a simple momentary-on miniature
pushbutton switch (wired permanently across the appropriate pair of
diagnostic terminals). Then you can reach down, push the button and
read the blink codes without going into contortions with your head
stuck in the footwell.
Or, you can go to a dealer/repair shop, who can attach a special VAG
tool to those same diagnostic ports and read the codes directly. Of
course expect to pay the prevailing shop rate for this
service--probably 0.5 hr minimum.
Phil
--
Phil Rose
Rochester, NY
mailto:pjrose at frontiernet.net
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