Audi A3 Esp warning light

CorkColin

Right guys so I'm just wondering can anyone here help me!

So I've got a 02 Audi A3 1.9tdi which has served me a good two years until recently.

Since about 2 months ago, when I drive on the main road after about 10-15mins if putting the accelerator down in 4th/5th gear it would feel like the wheels were slipping, the ESP light comes on and I'd have to pull in and turn the car on and off before being able to drive it again. When pulled in it would feel like the engine is about to pop out (extremely bad vibrating).

Brought it to the mechanic anyways few days ago as was due a service, so he checked it with the computer thing ( plugged it into car ) and it said there was a problem with injector 2. Basically he said he would tighten up some connections to the injectors i believe while he serviced the car and if it happened again to bring it back to him. Following the service the next few days were perfect as if nothing was ever wrong with the car.

Filled it up with diesel this morning and off up the main road i went. 15 mins into the journey i feel this slipping feeling again, continued as it wasnt bad and eventually i couldnt even press the accelerator without it feeling like the wheels slipping. Next thing the ESP light comes on and i literally couldnt drive the car anywhwere. Now i pulled in and left the car off for 5 mins and turned it back on (usually did the trick) but instead this time, if i even try and take off the ESP light comes on straight away and the car starts vibrating really bad. Undriveable atm.

Anyone have any idea what is up with the car at all?

PS. Mechanic said it was very strange when i told him what was happening few days ago.

van_beano

CorkColin wrote: »

Right guys so I'm just wondering can anyone here help me!

So I've got a 02 Audi A3 1.9tdi which has served me a good two years until recently.

Since about 2 months ago, when I drive on the main road after about 10-15mins if putting the accelerator down in 4th/5th gear it would feel like the wheels were slipping, the ESP light comes on and I'd have to pull in and turn the car on and off before being able to drive it again. When pulled in it would feel like the engine is about to pop out (extremely bad vibrating).

Brought it to the mechanic anyways few days ago as was due a service, so he checked it with the computer thing ( plugged it into car ) and it said there was a problem with injector 2. Basically he said he would tighten up some connections to the injectors i believe while he serviced the car and if it happened again to bring it back to him. Following the service the next few days were perfect as if nothing was ever wrong with the car.

Filled it up with diesel this morning and off up the main road i went. 15 mins into the journey i feel this slipping feeling again, continued as it wasnt bad and eventually i couldnt even press the accelerator without it feeling like the wheels slipping. Next thing the ESP light comes on and i literally couldnt drive the car anywhwere. Now i pulled in and left the car off for 5 mins and turned it back on (usually did the trick) but instead this time, if i even try and take off the ESP light comes on straight away and the car starts vibrating really bad. Undriveable atm.

Anyone have any idea what is up with the car at all?

PS. Mechanic said it was very strange when i told him what was happening few days ago.

Hi Colin, I had the same issue yesterday in my Renault Scenic, esp fault. Only difference is my car won't start up at all now. Got it towed but with it being bank holiday weekend no one will be looking at it until Tue so don't know what the problem is.

CorkColin

van_beano wrote: »

Hi Colin, I had the same issue yesterday in my Renault Scenic, esp fault. Only difference is my car won't start up at all now. Got it towed but with it being bank holiday weekend no one will be looking at it until Tue so don't know what the problem is.

awh its a pain! sorry to hear. Well hopefully someone has an idea, lets just hope it doesn't cost too much €€€

irish bloke

Engine vibrating/juddering does sound like a misfire/cylinder down etc.
Your mechanic was probably right with the injector diagnosis.

I would have expected the CEL instead of the ESP light to stay on. At least thats what happens on petrol A4's of that vintage for a misfire/coil issue

CorkColin

irish bloke wrote: »

Engine vibrating/juddering does sound like a misfire/cylinder down etc.
Your mechanic was probably right with the injector diagnosis.

I would have expected the CEL instead of the ESP light to stay on. At least thats what happens on petrol A4's of that vintage for a misfire/coil issue

Any idea how much it would be to fix? Mechanic never said a price but said it wasn't good

dieselbug

I would say the esp light is a side issue, symptom rather than the problem.

Go back to your mechanic and get the engine scanned again. If there are faults stored in the engine system the esp will be disabled for safety reasons, hense the light on.

The_Chap

Flywheel could be on the way out?

CorkColin

So if it is as before , injector 2 giving out and not working, I will be looking at a hefty bill ?

irish bloke

CorkColin wrote: »

Any idea how much it would be to fix? Mechanic never said a price but said it wasn't good

No idea of cost as you dont know what the cause is yet.

Interesting thread below with a similar type engine/fault. Both pointing to injector related issues (posts 4/5/6)

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/16177-Help!-Loss-of-power-ESP-Light-on-and-Engine-Judder

car does need a re-scan though

CorkColin

irish bloke wrote: »

No idea of cost as you dont know what the cause is yet.

Interesting thread below with a similar type engine/fault. Both pointing to injector related issues (posts 4/5/6)

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/16177-Help!-Loss-of-power-ESP-Light-on-and-Engine-Judder

car does need a re-scan though

That is exactly what is happening ! Thanks for that link!

CorkColin

Just went back out there after leaving the car parked up since 0650 this morning and its started away grand all signs of the ESP and juddering gone! I know it will happen again just hope to make it home tonight without it happening

George Dalton

Sounds like the usual injector wiring harness issue. Not a big deal to sort out.

CorkColin

George Dalton wrote: »

Sounds like the usual injector wiring harness issue. Not a big deal to sort out.

Got onto the mechanic there will be bringing it down tuesday to see what fault comes up and we shall go from there

van_beano

CorkColin wrote: »

Got onto the mechanic there will be bringing it down tuesday to see what fault comes up and we shall go from there

Hopefully we'll both get good news that day

van_beano

van_beano wrote: »

Hopefully we'll both get good news that day

Timing belt had snapped, complete new engine required, not good news after all.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

van_beano wrote: »

Timing belt had snapped, complete new engine required, not good news after all.

That took a turn for the worse. Was the belt due on it?

van_beano

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

That took a turn for the worse. Was the belt due on it?

They reckon 60,000 miles for the timing belt. Was just over 100,000km up on it so it would be due the next service which was going to happen next week as it so happened. Pretty much snapped right on the 60,000 mile mark. Quoted over €5,000 for fixing it, 2010 car. Could put that €5k towards a deposit for a new car at that rate, if I had the money!!

I'm not the Audi person though, I've the Renault.

CorkColin

van_beano wrote: »

They reckon 60,000 miles for the timing belt. Was just over 100,000km up on it so it would be due the next service which was going to happen next week as it so happened. Pretty much snapped right on the 60,000 mile mark. Quoted over €5,000 for fixing it, 2010 car. Could put that €5k towards a deposit for a new car at that rate, if I had the money!!

I'm not the Audi person though, I've the Renault.

Sorry to hear that's a costly one! worth much more than my car itself, anyways i got mine looked at, Mechanic reckons the injectors/cam shaft and wiring is all pretty good and it must be the ECU sending the wrong signals to it, ECU cost about as much as my car is worth so there is no point in fixing it, gonna get a quick look at it by a specialist and see what he says, other than that it's off to the bank for a loan for a car

CorkColin

OSI wrote: »

Are you currently of Cork Colin, or formerly of Cork Colin? If you were nearer to Portlaoise I'd advise you to give George Dalton above a buzz. Only man for VW/Audi stuff.

You had me a tad bit confused there with the Cork Colin haha! currently of Cork thanks for advice but i guess that's a bit too far up the country :P

George Dalton

I would strongly advise changing the injector wiring harness before jumping to any conclusions.

The harness usually appears to be fine visually and tests ok with a multimeter etc but when you change it the problem goes away in the majority of cases.

CorkColin

George Dalton wrote: »

I would strongly advise changing the injector wiring harness before jumping to any conclusions.

The harness usually appears to be fine visually and tests ok with a multimeter etc but when you change it the problem goes away in the majority of cases.

Thanks will try that so then ! much appreciated

George Dalton

I don't suppose you know the exact fault code that was logged?

CorkColin

I wouldn't know that, all i know is that it was showing that injector 2 was failing

John T Carroll

CorkColin wrote: »

I wouldn't know that, all i know is that it was showing that injector 2 was failing

Colin, this is John of Cork, if you want to know what specific code it is without spending more money, I can get hold of a VCDS at pretty short notice and we can have a look, just PM me if interested.