Engine warning light has just appeared on Mrs ACs old contract hire T-Roc literally days before it’s due to be handed back. What a PITA. Spoke to a nice chap the other day who picks them up for a hobby (pick up date was not what we requested when we read the confirmation email), got chatting and he said he was always surprised that peopel tried to return vehicles with warning lights lit, bald tyres, dodgy brakes etc.
I’ve given it a good run in case it’s muck on the lambda sensor but that hasn’t helped.
Any recommendations for a reasonably priced OBD-II reader for VAG group cars?
I may just get one on Amazon as I can get delivery tomorrow and return if not suitable. In essence I’m not sure if some ‘cleared faults’ still require the warning light to be reset. May give the AA a call.
Useless with cars, but as we have 2 other VWs a diagnostic device might be nice to have to know the specific error instead of paying the dealer if it’s something trivial. Wondering if it might be the diesel fuel cap - normally when diesel very low and I open it there’s a whoosh of air due to I assume a vacuum forming, not tonight when I topped up with fuel range of 30 miles.
Also in this day and age with all the fancy displays it seems rather disingenuous just to have a ‘check engine’ light without more detail - even if you had no idea what the specific error was as a driver I’m sure the systems could tell you the error code without having to plug a gadget in!
I’ve used a couple and I think they’re pretty much of a much-ness. If I had any recommendation it would be to get one with wifi and not Bluetooth. You’ll also need an app, I use CarScanner on my Samsung.
First thoughts are to avoid a VW main dealer unless you know yours is very good. Find your nearest Bosch service centre and ask them to run an engine ECU test for you instead. In our experience this approach has 3 advantages: 1) they know what they are doing, 2) their hourly rate is much lower, and 3) they know which replacement parts to order.
There seem to be quite a few types of these devices, unfortunately the VAG ones I looked at didn’t seem to list T-Rocs as supported, maybe they are but who knows.
Wasn’t aware of the Bosch service centre. £75+VAT for a diagnostic which is a bit cheaper than main dealer. I need to check what our maintenance cover supports but I doubt the engine check light problems are.
It’s Bluetooth I know but I saw it recommended on a VW forum, and checking manufacturer’s website it supports the vehicle.
It was on a lightning deal on Amazon and it cost around £45. I was put off a lot of the handheld scanners with displays as most needed Windows to update software, and it was unclear if they actually supported T-Rocs.
The downside to this Carista thing is that it requires a subscription for full software functionality but supposedly it allows unlimited diagnostics and fault clearing which is probably all I might want at the moment.
Called into my local ATS who have been fantastic in the past unlike KwikFit, primarily as they do diagnostics - they simply pointed to one of several garages/MOT stations across the road and said speak to them, they’re well regarded, and looking at Google reviews this would seem to be true.
VW standardises almost all of its Powertrain modules, so you shouldn’t need a T-Roc specific diagnosis. If it’s the 2 litre TDI engine, any diagnostic tool that supports VW 2 litre TDI engines ( i.e. Audi, VW, Skoda, Seat, Cupra etc.) of your car’s age should do. The glowplugs are also standard across that engine family.
Many, many VWgroup franchised dealers in the UK claim to do engine repairs like this but what they do in our area is to quietly take the car to their local Bosch agent, have them do it, add a profit margin and charge the customer. Lots of non-franchised service centres can change a glowplug for you, once the diagnostic system has identified the fault.
The lady on reception at the garage said a Glow Plug will cost around £20 and if it comes out easily maybe an hour’s labour - seemed very honest and reasonable.
Thanks, I’ve just never really been into cars for various reasons so don’t have in depth knowledge. I may have missed out I suspect.
There were a couple of clutch related errors and a system power error which Googling the codes I could almost imagine all the codes were potentially inter-related.
If you have found a service centre to replace the glow plug, then great. If not, try a Halford’s Autocentre. Just call them first to book an appointment and let them confirm that the part is in stock first.
Lucky I guess to have Halfords pretty close too, less than 1/4 mile from the independent one - I’d wondered about asking Halfords.
In fairness the main VW dealer locally has been good on the whole, I’d just prefer to only sort out essential problems before we hand the car back. I’d be concerned a main dealer would suggest fixing ‘advisory’ issues.
Well, the item arrived and after realising I didn’t need to pair it via Bluetooth (security risk if left in permanently) just select the kind via the app, it looks pretty polished.
The clutch and system power errors the AA detected seem to have reset which is good.
The Glow Plug error is still there and the likely cause of the check engine light. I could have reset to see if it was spurious but haven’t as yet. It also showed me the date of the fault which matched when I noticed the CEL coming on.
The app is quite neat in that it links to the OBD fault descriptors or manufacturer specific ones (I think).
Diagnostics and resets seem to be free, but more fancy functions are paid for - I’m actually comfortable with that as most of the fancy services are either things I’d never use unless I was servicing a vehicle myself (no chance), or simple customisations you could enable/disable such as different settings for interior/exteriors lights, startup logos and views.
Compact unit, nice app. Just wish I could change reports to display miles rather than kilometer.
@Guinless - have you ever used any of these devices.
Also tried it on the other VW - reset several errors including spurious sunroof data ("implausible data” - posssibly wouldn’t open due to a load of tree sap until I cleaned the seals with a toothbrush), Front Assist unable to function due to climactic factors (likely rain or frost) as well as a few other odd ones. Air Quality sensor apparently faulty - actually wouldn’t surprise me, but I doubt an MOT issue and even if it was I’d imagine a ludicrous bill to replace it!
Yes, I have a Foxwell handheld that covers the main systems. I also have a laptop App that covers a lot more if the need arose.
The Foxwell covers most vehicle’s too and can be updated FOC.
These tools only work on the Grand Cherokee, the other cars don’t have OBD anything
I’d only let a proper garage replace the glow plug. They can sheer or snap and it will be a world of pain to sort. Best removed hot if possible.
The Jeep has one broken plug, luckily the other 5 are ok and starting is not an issue. No Engine management light is triggered, it only shows on a diag check.
Had a ODBCLink device for over 10 years, and proved invaluable on my 2003 BMW 318Ci and the various different EML lights I have seen over the last 18 years of ownership.
Not as good with the ABS, DSC lights that indicate issues with braking or traction control systems. However I have a good auto Electrian in Dublin, who has the full diagnostic systems and can also recode replacement parts, such as ABS Pump to the car.
The 327 requires pairing to Bluetooth on device, so works with almost all apps. On old Android phone was used with Torque app to great effect.
The vGate isn’t discoverable on iOS but works well with the smaller number of apps which are 4.0 compliant and automatically locate it in-app. Currently used with FourScore to provide gauges (and recently provided assurance when a CEL “low fuel pressure” came on after refuelling - suspected dirty fuel, confirmed by data logging fuel pressure).
By ‘proper’ I assume you mean main dealership type garage. May be for the best.
The Carista identified it as Pending and Confirmed on number 4.
The AA chap took the cover off and identified number 3 had been played with or replaced before due to a wiring difference. Odd thing is I can’t ever recall number 3 being replaced and we’ve had the car since new.
Maybe the Carista Evo device is a bit basic, but I actually found it quite reassuring.
Certain faults the AA scan showed seem to have cleared and the one that persists is a nuisance but it could have been worse.
It will certainly make me more interested in these electronic monitoring systems as I have something of a mental block with car mechanics and always have.
The subscription nature of more advanced features is probably good on the device I got as I would not want to mess around with things I don’t understand (or at least could bugger up) on the vehicle other than maybe some unnecessary user customisations which might be fun but aren’t essential.
Not necessarily a main dealer but an experienced garage as opposed to Halfords and the like.
I bought a battery for the Jeep from Halfords and fitting was a tenner, as I was busy I thought great this will save me some time.
They couldn’t get the battery strap undone because they didn’t have the tools and we are right outside the shop. I got a refund and swapped the battery at home in 15 minutes, oddly enough using Halfords branded sockets.
I picked up a cheap multimeter in Halfords yesterday to test a ‘wall wart’ for a computer monitor.
It was quite nice to see a young woman working on a vehicle in their ’tented’ area in front of the shop - no idea what she was doing but bonnet was up and I just thought that was a sign of progress.
and we are right outside the shop. I got a refund and swapped the battery at home in 15 minutes, oddly enough using Halfords branded sockets. 