Today I.....

audifan said:
If you want reliable sensors and thermostat then you REALLY NEED TO BUY GENUINE OEM.

If they save you several gallons of fuel over a few years then they have paid for themselves compared to the cheap aftermarket ones.
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I know and I’ve always fitted OEM after a disaster with aftermarket ones but a new sensor at £56 and thermostat at £47 last week have left me thinking that there must be another way to get OEM ones at a more reasonable price. Interestingly Skoda have always been cheaper for these same parts but now they’re aligned locally at least
 
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Today (and yesterday) I appreciate the A2 even more than usual when the snow comes with the winter tyres fitted.

Genuinely turns it into a 4wd equivalent 👍

Edit- good quality winter tyres that is, as some of the cheap Chinese one's are useless!

Mine are Michelin Alpin's btw in a slightly taller sidewalled 185/55 size on 16" SE wheels which I love as they are comfortable, raise the gearing slightly and help correct the speedo to an acceptable 1.5mph over-read compared to the usual 3.5mph with the standard 185/50 16 summer tyres on 👌
 
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Today at -2C I hopped into PJ, started him up, turned on the heated seat and smiled as the webasto kicked in. 4 minutes later, no ice or snow on the windows and cosy inside. The CC2s just walked up the icy slope from the house and away. My favourite car in the winter unless the snow is deep
 
A2Z said:
Today (and yesterday) I appreciate the A2 even more than usual when the snow comes with the winter tyres fitted.

Genuinely turns it into a 4wd equivalent 👍
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I’m pleased to be able to report the Michellin Cross Climate 2’s to be performing well in icy conditions.

Given they’re 205 width rather than the 175 width full winters I’d run last winter, I’d feared I’d really notice the difference but not at all.
 
Well today my little bundle of joy failed it’s mot with the dreaded
  • Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))
I suspect I am in the same territory that has been covered in the recent thread

1.4 AUA MOT Saga - high CO, persistent P0135 Fault Code, even after Lambda swap

Hi All I am having a saga getting our 2000 1.4 AUA (Po) through the MOT. A few jobs fixed but currently stuck with high CO reading, MIL and P0135 fault code. Front lambda replaced with brand new (Bosch however rather than NTK). P0135 now triggers immediately and persistently (it was sporadic...
www.a2oc.net

No lights on dash, no error codes, measuring blocks indicating output from both lambda, but failed non the less. Tester has emailed his ‘expert’ so won’t be able to progress. So if I have understood the options are:

Cataclean in the tank and a long spirited drive to hopefully clear things out and bring everything really up to temperature
Possible poisoned catalyst either on the manifold branch or the 2nd one in the middle section
Either the probe in the exhaust manifold (036906265J I think) or
The probe after the 2nd catalyst (036906265H ?)

Any other thoughts or suggestions gratefully received

Justin
 
I can't help with the measuring blocks/group numbers, but hopefully someone else can. Then use vcds to get reading from the exhaust sensors, to get an idea of what's going on.
Have you got the actual test results
Mac. to post?
Mac.
 
PlasticMac said:
I can't help with the measuring blocks/group numbers, but hopefully someone else can. Then use vcds to get reading from the exhaust sensors, to get an idea of what's going on.
Have you got the actual test results
Mac. to post?
Mac.
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Not at present, but I imagine I can get them as the tester at the garage has apparently sent them to his ‘expert’. Car still at the garage at the moment so can’t get any further details until Monday sadly

Justin
 
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@birtyA2 this ‘Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))’ appears to spreading across the A2 population like some kind of emissions pandemic. The exact same thing {very unexpectedly) happened to mine only yesterday. In my case, I think a combination of extremely cold winter weather (-2 during the test) and another year of low mileage (<1k) both contributed. The MOT engineer prescribed a strong dose of cataclean, along with an ‘Italian tune up’ down the A3 - which duly returned a pass! However I can’t help thinking this is the last year for my A2… Hoping for a warm Spring and some fast motorway miles to help blow away the cobwebs. Then I plan to sync my MOT with Summer service and see if that improves maters…
 
QuattroA2 said:
@birtyA2 this ‘Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))’ appears to spreading across the A2 population like some kind of emissions pandemic. The exact same thing {very unexpectedly) happened to mine only yesterday. In my case, I think a combination of extremely cold winter weather (-2 during the test) and another year of low mileage (<1k) both contributed. The MOT engineer prescribed a strong dose of cataclean, along with an ‘Italian tune up’ down the A3 - which duly returned a pass! However I can’t help thinking this is the last year for my A2… Hoping for a warm Spring and some fast motorway miles to help blow away the cobwebs. Then I plan to sync my MOT with Summer service and see if that improves maters…
Click to expand...
Fresh oil can make a huge difference to petrol emissions especially if the car has suffered any misfires during the oils lifespan. Engine flush is also a good idea, Forte do a great one!
 
QuattroA2 said:
@birtyA2 this ‘Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))’ appears to spreading across the A2 population like some kind of emissions pandemic. The exact same thing {very unexpectedly) happened to mine only yesterday. In my case, I think a combination of extremely cold winter weather (-2 during the test) and another year of low mileage (<1k) both contributed. The MOT engineer prescribed a strong dose of cataclean, along with an ‘Italian tune up’ down the A3 - which duly returned a pass! However I can’t help thinking this is the last year for my A2… Hoping for a warm Spring and some fast motorway miles to help blow away the cobwebs. Then I plan to sync my MOT with Summer service and see if that improves maters…
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I did wonder whether the current cold snap was a contributing factor. There have been no indicators, I checked for errors the day before, fuel consumption as normal in the mid to high 40s etc
 
Howey said:
Fresh oil can make a huge difference to petrol emissions especially if the car has suffered any misfires during the oils lifespan. Engine flush is also a good idea, Forte do a great one!
Click to expand...
I am planning a 5000 mile oil change shortly (about 4500 since last change) so have oil/filter/new drain plug in stock ready. Thanks, I will suggest this.
 
Howey said:
Fresh oil can make a huge difference to petrol emissions especially if the car has suffered any misfires during the oils lifespan. Engine flush is also a good idea, Forte do a great one!
Click to expand...
@Howey Thank you for your advice! It has never missed a beat before in the 8 years I’ve owned it, and never previously failed an MOT in it’s lifetime.

Essentially a 4th car, so always at the back of the garage; driven very occasionally and only in dry conditions. Normally serviced every year by a local VAG specialist, except during the pandemic and when the MOT went out of sync.

So this Summer I will ask the garage to carry out an engine flush as you suggest. Then retest after the annual service to see if that works. Fingers crossed it keeps running for a few more years, as even though my family refuse to be seen in it - I love the design. Here it is pictured on the way home from the MOT station and now in need of a clean…

E4740891-B69D-4D07-8430-2867AE0DC166.jpeg
 
QuattroA2 said:
@Howey Thank you for your advice! It has never missed a beat before in the 8 years I’ve owned it, and never previously failed an MOT in it’s lifetime.

Essentially a 4th car, so always at the back of the garage; driven very occasionally and only in dry conditions. Normally serviced every year by a local VAG specialist, except during the pandemic and when the MOT went out of sync.

So this Summer I will ask the garage to carry out an engine flush as you suggest. Then retest after the annual service to see if that works. Fingers crossed it keeps running for a few more years, as even though my family refuse to be seen in it - I love the design. Here it is pictured on the way home from the MOT station and now in need of a clean…

View attachment 103520
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It's the first thing you used to try at the independent garage I worked at some years ago (Fleet diesels these days so a bit of of touch these days). We did have some great results. Make sure the coolant temperature sensor is operating correctly and supplying the ecu and hopefully dash with correct information. Best of luck!
 
Today I purchased this nice Dolphin grey 1.4SE with a poorly engine but on the plus side it has a working oss and leather interior so it'll be worth sourcing a motor for it and letting live another day 😊
 

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