EPC Light and not always starting first time

J

JWB

Member
Hey guys,

Lately I have noticed that my EPC light is on all the time while driving. I didnt know what it meant and looked it up online. As the car was driving fine I wasnt too concerned, but now I have noticed that when it has been really cold i.e. the engine is cold it dosnt always start the first time.

Tommorow (sunday)....actually its today!! its already 2:10 am lol. Anyway I'm going to chck the spark plugs first because if its cold thre will be more air ntring the engine and maybe if its the sparks its not igniting them right whn I start maybe??:( I'm also going to check the air filter as well.

If anyone comes up with an idea that would be alot of help lol. If not I'll have to gt it looked at I suppose.

Thanks for any help given :)
 
I have a very similar problem

I have just recently bought my 2003 1.4 petrol A2 and have a very similar problem. The car has always been garaged by the previous owner and now it has been parked out on the street in cold weather.

A couple of times the EPC and Engine Electronics light have come on (not gone out upon starting). And occasionally the car won't start 1st time - usually after the 3rd or 4th time of trying it either starts as normal or stutters and starts.

I'm taking the car to the garage tomorrow to have the fault codes to read to see if anything shows up. I'll let you know.

My initial thoughts are - immobiliser, coil packs, battery, starter motor etc.
 
And the result was....

So the garage ran a check using Bosch Diagnostics and found only one fault code "air temperature" which they subsequently cleared. I'll keep an eye on it and see if I have any more starting problems/warning lights.
 
An update

OK, so its been a few weeks since the garage cleared the fault code and since then no warning lights.

Starting has also been pretty much faultless (apart from yesterday when twice it didn't start first time). We have, however, had a long spell of cold weather here which could have contributed to this.

I measured the battery voltage - engine off, ambient temperature about 0 C and the reading was 12.1V
 
It's back...

..the not starting first time every time problem is still there. Could it be the spark plugs? The car is due a 30.000km service soon and I read that the spark plugs should be changed. Oh and I keep discovering little "problems" with my car - bubbled lacquer on the rear door at the window rubber, knocking from the ARB, faulty interior boot light, cracked number plate light (and the screw head has broken off)....the list goes on :(
 
cg808 said:
..the not starting first time every time problem is still there. Could it be the spark plugs? The car is due a 30.000km service soon and I read that the spark plugs should be changed. Oh and I keep discovering little "problems" with my car - bubbled lacquer on the rear door at the window rubber, knocking from the ARB, faulty interior boot light, cracked number plate light (and the screw head has broken off)....the list goes on :(
Click to expand...

Check engine temp sensor. The green sensor mounted on the right side of the engine block is likely to go wrong. cheap part. It is located where the coolant hose meets the engine.

Cheers,

-P-
 
Where exactly?

Hi thanks for your reply - is this sensor also sometimes referred to as the coolant temperature sensor?

I took the bonnet of briefly yesterday but from above couldn't see any green sensor - is it down at the bottom of the motor block? And if yes, does that mean best accessible from underneath the car?

Also, how easy is it to change the sensor?

Thanks
 
hi yes thats correct. i think its above the gearbox (near the front of the engine) and its green

we had this and it starts ok now...:D
 
cg808 said:
Hi thanks for your reply - is this sensor also sometimes referred to as the coolant temperature sensor?

I took the bonnet of briefly yesterday but from above couldn't see any green sensor - is it down at the bottom of the motor block? And if yes, does that mean best accessible from underneath the car?

Also, how easy is it to change the sensor?

Thanks
Click to expand...

The attached post shows the location and sensor on a TDi. I think its a similar location on the petro engine. You can't actually see the green body of the sensor until the wiring connector is removed. The sensor is held in place with a U shaped clip and if you'r quicy you can replace it without loosing too much coolant.
Hopefully the petrol guys will add some more detailed instructions
http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showpost.php?p=80965&postcount=17

Cheers Spike
 
Still not sure where it is =S

Hi,

thanks for your replies and the link to the pics. Was the picture taken from the front of the car or from the side?

Want to make sure I don't pull the wrong thing out!

Will need to wait until the weekend anyway so that I can get some daylight.
 
Oh my god...what just happened?

So to add to my problems, I was on the Autobahn tonight doing about 80-90mph or so in 5th gear, just cruising along when all of a sudden the rev needle dropped down to i reckon about 2000rpm and swung back up to 4000rpm in about the space of 1 second. I was jolted forward as the car abruptly slowed before regaining speed. I have never experienced any such behaviour in any car I have ever driven - it has unnerved me a bit.

Any ideas what the cause could be? Anybody else experienced something similar?
 
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