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Auto electrics experts

fatbob

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A bit of a brain pick for you auto electricians. Was in cruise at at about 70mph last night when the car through an error and went into limp home. OBDII gives me P0271 Cylinder 4 injector high only but it's also thrown off ABS and ESR warning /deactivation. Nothing resets when I clear the code and continues to limit revs to under 2000. TDI engine.

Had the error once before about 6 months ago which the recovery guy put down to a fuel impurity but given it's apparently thrown so much stuff off from a single error code I'm thinking the high voltage on the injector is the dign of a wiring problem. Any ideas before I get a mechanic to start the trial and error?
 

Tom K.

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Have you tried the enthusiast forums?

Surely somebody has had this problem before you.
 

scott43

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Sorry, I meant to come back to this. I find some spurious engine codes pop up with voltage irregularities. Can you test the battery and voltage regulator? I wouldn't blame the harness yet.. The fact you're getting an injector and ABS error are clues. They are not related.
 

snwbrdr

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TDIclub.com

Also you didn’t provide year and model. It is needed if you are searching.
2000 TDI means it's a ALH motor.

A bit of a brain pick for you auto electricians. Was in cruise at at about 70mph last night when the car through an error and went into limp home. OBDII gives me P0271 Cylinder 4 injector high only but it's also thrown off ABS and ESR warning /deactivation. Nothing resets when I clear the code and continues to limit revs to under 2000. TDI engine.

Had the error once before about 6 months ago which the recovery guy put down to a fuel impurity but given it's apparently thrown so much stuff off from a single error code I'm thinking the high voltage on the injector is the dign of a wiring problem. Any ideas before I get a mechanic to start the trial and error?
Use a better scanner like a VCDS. The injectors are purely mechanical (except for injector #3, which has a needle-lift sensor).

There's no ASR on the early MKIV TDI's, it's just an ABS only pump, unlike the 1.8T and VR6 getting ASR/EDL with the ABS on the pump.
 
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fatbob

fatbob

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Thanks so far. I've been through relevant forums and yes it looks like a specialist reader is the way to go but in the short term I'll hand it over to a decent mechanic who I've spoken to and seems credible on the likely permutations. Fingers crossed it's an easy wiring/electrical fix rather than a sign all my injectors are about to go.
 

François Pugh

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Scan tools range from about $50 to $20,000. Depending on how old your car is, it may benefit from a better scan tool, or not. 2000 is pretty old, but it's a VW; those Germans love their tech. Does your mechanic have a dealer-level scan tool? That is the question.
 
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fatbob

fatbob

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Its not a 2000. 2000 revs was the mention. Car is end 2014 50k miles.
 

François Pugh

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First thing I would do is check the battery, alternator/voltage regulator and the obvious connections (power and ground); some of those computer modules and sensors are very sensitive to inadequate voltage. There's plenty of data hiding in that car if your mechanic has the scan tool to access it.
Good luck.
 

snwbrdr

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crgildart

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My Forester did that a coupe times. first time with less than 3 months off the lot. CIL on, other dash warning lights flashing and the cruise and traction control were disabled. Cleared the code and didn't come back for 5 years.. Then again 2 years after that, then too often to ignore.. Turned out to be exhaust leaks sending bad sensor feedback to the CPU. Midas work on half rusted exhaust and a new gas cap last year and no issues since..
 

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