Engine Management Light Staying On

Fallen Angel

Leon Cupra 1.8T 20v 180
Hi guys, i have a 2002 Leon Cupra, done 81k, yesterday when i was leaving work, i started the car up and the EM light came one and has stayed on ever since.
As usual the owners manual is unhelpful, according to that all the light means is Diagnostic/Excessive Pollution :confused:

The car seems to be running ok, no vast difference but sounds slightly different, no rattles but seems a bit rougher, also when i started it up this morning it didn't sound like it was revving as high but rev counter was pretty normal

Any ideas? Could this be Lamda sensor or my Cat?? I changed my Coolant Temp Sensor middle of last year, is slightly overdue a service
 
Apr 24, 2007
985
0
W. yorkshire
I would put my money on it being the MAF though if it seems to be running a little rough.
Cos the deteriation in performance will have been small over time as it got worse so you would hardly notice but it would cause mixture to be off
 

Fallen Angel

Leon Cupra 1.8T 20v 180
Hmmm, i was hoping that wouldn't be mentioned but i get what your saying, how much are they roughly to replace?
I'll get a mate to put his code reader on it tonight, see what that comes up with and will let you know, hopefully it will confirm what needs doing
 

andycupra

status subject to change
what does the light look like?
if its a pic of an engine, its not the maf. The maf would illuminate the esp/traction control light.

coil pack is possibility, as it lamba sensors... coil pack would normally result in rough running. check they are all pushed down correctly.

It really needs a diagnostic.
 
Apr 24, 2007
985
0
W. yorkshire
why would the MAF relate to anything to do with the esp light:blink::confused:

if the mixture of fuel and air is off then it relate to an emission problem which is the light shaped as an engine
 

andycupra

status subject to change
why would the MAF relate to anything to do with the esp light:blink::confused:

if the mixture of fuel and air is off then it relate to an emission problem which is the light shaped as an engine


this has been asked many a time... its not logical that this lights up, but it does.
i cant remember for sure, but the traction control may not work if a maf fails... which if right would explain why its wired to that indictor so that it provides the appropriate warning :)
 

acidstrato

My Fast says shut up!
Dec 9, 2004
5,942
0
Newport, South Wales
could still be maf though cos it could throw up a signal range error code

but like i said earlier it could be anything, however if we're guessing, i'll go with secondary air injection
 

Fallen Angel

Leon Cupra 1.8T 20v 180
My mate ran his code reader on it saturday, said Bank 1 Sensor 1 Lambda (Oxygen)
Have rung eurocarparts, £69+VAT, not as bad as i thought it would be, still more than i can afford right now and not got the time to get it, go into hospital tomorrow, bloody cars!!
 

Big_daddy

Going going gone.....
Oct 20, 2006
3,930
0
Brummy
this has been asked many a time... its not logical that this lights up, but it does.
i cant remember for sure, but the traction control may not work if a maf fails... which if right would explain why its wired to that indictor so that it provides the appropriate warning :)

when my maf failed time back, the tc and abs light came on,
 

Fallen Angel

Leon Cupra 1.8T 20v 180
had the choice of a cheaper sensor but have paud about £30 more for a bosch which has cost me just over £90, not happy with the car now sodding thing is chucking all sorts at me lately, gonna be expensive this month, needs service, tac and mot, and wiring under passenger seat for airbag sorting
 

Fallen Angel

Leon Cupra 1.8T 20v 180
All sored, light gone out, car running much better and smoother now, has even got rid of the stuttering in 1st and 2nd that i've had to put up with for around a year![:@] Sodding Seat made me fork out for two diagnostic tests and come up with Sweet FA, i hate them, i'm getting a Golf next time lol
 

Fallen Angel

Leon Cupra 1.8T 20v 180
After a year, my Engine Management light has came back on, have run VAG.com on it, and it's coming up with Lambda Sensor 01 Circuit, questions
How long should these Lambda sensors last as i'm pretty peeved at forking out for the better one, only for it to fail a year later.
"Circuit" was not mentioned on VAG.com last time around, could this mean a loose connection?

Oddly enough the EM light is not on permanently, it stayed on for a week, went off for half a day, back on again for a couple days and is currently off again!!

What could be the issue here?
 

Matthew Cooke

Guest
HELP NEEDED - Warning Light Question

Hi Every One

I am new on here and I have signed up because I need some advice about a light that has been on, on my dashboard for a long time now. The light is yellow with a circle with a triangle in it.

The car has been tested to fix the error but they said they couldn’t find any thing and for me to take it back to try again, which I haven’t got round to doing yet.

I want to sell the car but I don’t feel I can until I have sorted the light out.

All advice is very much welcome.
 

andycupra

status subject to change
Hi Every One

I am new on here and I have signed up because I need some advice about a light that has been on, on my dashboard for a long time now. The light is yellow with a circle with a triangle in it.

The car has been tested to fix the error but they said they couldn’t find any thing and for me to take it back to try again, which I haven’t got round to doing yet.

I want to sell the car but I don’t feel I can until I have sorted the light out.

All advice is very much welcome.

the light that has a triangle and a circle round it is the traction control warning light.

It could be a number of things, but maf (air mass sensor) is the most likely cuprit.

This is the sensor that is located in the inlet pipework immediately after the airbox/airfilter.
These are about £85 exchange at a dealer. Or perhaps a bit cheaper at GSF etc.
Can be changed DIY as just requires a few screws and jubilee clips to be undone and the electrical connector removed.
Plemty of info on here for this.

However i cant guarantee 100% that this is the problem. The car will run 'ok' with a failed maf as it will use data from elsewhere on some assumptions and at slightly safer settings. However it will probably run a bit richer.

where abouts are you? there are many members on here that would be willing to meet up and confirm if its the maf.
 

andycupra

status subject to change
After a year, my Engine Management light has came back on, have run VAG.com on it, and it's coming up with Lambda Sensor 01 Circuit, questions
How long should these Lambda sensors last as i'm pretty peeved at forking out for the better one, only for it to fail a year later.
"Circuit" was not mentioned on VAG.com last time around, could this mean a loose connection?

Oddly enough the EM light is not on permanently, it stayed on for a week, went off for half a day, back on again for a couple days and is currently off again!!

What could be the issue here?

does sound like a connection issue, this could be the sensor itself, of the wires connected to it. These can be damaged.
 
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