Emissions Garage! warning message

dontgiveup

New member
Joined
Jul 1, 2012
Location
Surrey, UK
TDI
Golf GT TDI 4Motion Sep2006, BKD engine
Hi, I am new to TDICLUB.
My car is a Sep 2006 Golf GT TDI with BKD engine. The amber symbol described in the user manual as, “Exhaust gas warning lamp” is on all the time and each time the ignition is turned on “Emissions Garage!” is displayed for a few seconds. The car seems to be running normally. I have removed inlet manifold, EGR valve and inlet manifold flap, cleaned them thoroughly and replaced them, but have the same indications.

Before beginning I had a non VW garage do a diagnostic and got one code, as follows: P0401 Exhaust gas recirculation insufficient detected

A reliable garage man has told me that the light will stay on until reset and I need to let the car have several periods of use before the sensors will decide if the problem has gone away. Then I should bring the car in for the warning to be reset. Then I should hope that the light remains out. But another professional, associated with diagnostics, told me that the fault warning only needs resetting with safety items like airbags, and that in the case of engine matters, if the fault disappears the light goes out. Also he said that if I disconnect the battery, then reconnect, memory of this sort of fault would be wiped and so if the warning comes on before even starting the engine that suggests an electrical problem.

Before paying any more garages I am thinking of getting a VCDS for my car, but in the meantime any advice would be very welcome.
Thanks
 

MkVer

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Location
NM
TDI
MkV Jetta BRM
VCDS is a VERY VERY good investment as P codes only show a very small picture of what is going on with your car.

Usually, if my memory serves me correctly, after 7? start ups/trips with the problem not re-occurring the light will go out.

If the car is running fine I wouldn't worry about it to much. Go ahead and get yourself VCDS in the meantime though.
 

dontgiveup

New member
Joined
Jul 1, 2012
Location
Surrey, UK
TDI
Golf GT TDI 4Motion Sep2006, BKD engine
Thanks for that comment MkVer. I now have a VCDS (MicroCAN, suitable for MkV Golf/Jettas & available in UK from Glendan for £208) and 2 things have happened. One is that I have cleared the fault warning & message, and it has stayed off after a short journey, and the other is that I have a much more detailed report from the VCDS, so if the warning returns I can trouble shoot more easily
 

dontgiveup

New member
Joined
Jul 1, 2012
Location
Surrey, UK
TDI
Golf GT TDI 4Motion Sep2006, BKD engine
Solved at last

The problem is now solved. It was the EGR valve, but when I posted on the 5th of July my confidence was misplaced because the problem warning continued. My VCDS showed the following:

Address 01: Engine Labels: 03G-906-016-BKD.lbl
Control Module Part Number: 03G 906 021 KK HW: 03G 906 021 KK
Component and/or Version: R4 2,0L EDC 000SG 9183
Software Coding: 0000172
Work Shop Code: WSC 66565 257 00032
VCID: 72C5079E6DB4009
1 Fault Found:
001025 - EGR System
P0401 - 000 - Insufficient Flow
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01110000
Fault Priority: 0
Fault Frequency: 3
Mileage: 144916 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2000.00.00
Time: 17:45:50
Freeze Frame:
RPM: 1386 /min
Speed: 0.0 km/h
Load: 9.8 %
Duty Cycle: 14.6 %
Duty Cycle: 100.2 %
Mass Air / Rev.: 270.0 mg/str
Mass Air / Rev.: 525.0 mg/str

Readiness: 1 1 0 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 01: DTCs cleared

I did not want to purchase expensive components and then find, for instance that it was only a leaking or blocked vacuum pipe, so eventually I went to a small VW specialist and asked for a diagnostic report only. The report said, “Investigated EML on, carried out diagnosis, found diaphragm in EGR leaking, causing EGR not to function, advise replace EGR, further testing may be required.” I was not able to ascertain how they made this assessment. Perhaps the repair manual requires certain test procedures that isolate the fault. I have emailed Ross-Tech to ask if I could have worked this out myself using the VCDS. They have not yet answered. I fitted a new EGR valve and the problem has disappeared. If anyone knows how the specialist made the correct diagnosis or better still how I could have I would be grateful,
 
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