So I have recently purchased a 04 Golf FSI 6 speed that has less than 50, 000km on the clock, its not NZ new. It has recently had a check engine light appear, then disappear. I have taken it to a VW service shop and they have said its the nox sensor and I have been quoted $1600 + GST to replace this. Does that sound about right? How often would one expect to replace this? And would a second hand part off another golf be suitable for a replacement? Feeling a bit lost in the new golf world, she runs really well and has no signs off issues, full service history came with with general servicing, battery replaced etc .Any thoughts would be appreciated, I would very much like to have it see me through some years yet. Thanks
petal_91,
Jul 18, 7:12pm
You might want to check with the official Volkswagen dealership if those NOx sensors are subject to free recall and replacement, as I think they might be. Worth a call anyway.
intrade,
Jul 18, 7:21pm
ok to tell you a couple of truths here. the check engine light was on because there was a fault existing for 5 or more continues cycles Like inspections somone checks whom is leaning out the window and who dont. Now the light went out means it fixed it self, well not really but there is a tollerance for components they run like windows and if them components lean to far out the window the engine managmant system turns on the light as something could fall out the window. thats the most easy way i can think of explaining that right now lol. Now to once again over and over and over codes are not parts that need replacing. so if that is what they told you they are a bunch of fkn morons . parts need replacing when somone pushed the component out the window and then you got to figure whom done it and not fit a new component for leaning out the window again like the other guy did.
saxman99,
Jul 18, 7:25pm
If the light is out don't worry about it.
intrade,
Jul 18, 7:29pm
now whom did you take it to what tool did they use? What fuel did you use the last few weeks? what is the service history telling ? is that a 6 speed manual or dsg?
msigg,
Jul 18, 8:58pm
Yes at that price i would want to get a second opinion too, Also yes there could be a few things going out of range that the engine/management system is not happy with but is correcting ,chances are it will crop up again, Either take it to another shop/ and or try to get an extended explanation as to why it was happening, last thing you need is a replacement part only for check engine light to come on again down the track. These things arn't cheap .
stevo2,
Jul 19, 5:34am
Did you buy from a dealer? If so, how long ago? Might not be your problem CGA
thejazzpianoma,
Jul 19, 5:49am
Hi eella, I think I can help you source even a genuine new replacement sensor considerably cheaper than that, and the labour component should be minimal. Likewise, can help you with a used option if need be. However before we get that far.
What fuel are you running it on? (Brand (s) and Octane Rating)
I would also be keen to hear the answers to Stevo2's questions above.
Lastly, do you have a copy of the exact error codes that the garage found when they scanned the car?
I would like to check a few things step by step to make sure that the sensor really is indeed faulty. Sometimes technicians are a bit keen/quick to replace a part because there is a code relating to it when there is actually another reason for the fault code. Not saying this is definitely the case but would be wise to check as much as we can.
thejazzpianoma,
Jul 19, 6:05am
One last thing. what sort of running are you doing? Does the vehicle get out on the open road periodically, and if so, roughly how often would that be?
franc123,
Jul 19, 6:18am
I'd be checking for a bad earth circuit to that sensor first, have seen this before on mk5 golfs.
thejazzpianoma,
Jul 19, 6:26am
Not just the earth either, sometimes you pull those plugs and all contacts can be quite "green".
mugenb20b,
Jul 19, 6:52am
Never.
kazbanz,
Jul 19, 6:57am
eela-several questions for you 1) What country did this car come from? Ie Japan,Europe,singapore,austral- ia. 2)was it a private sale or from a dealer. 3)EXACTLY how long have you owned it? 4)is the mechanic a VW specialist mechanic ? Very pointed questions I know but the answers will point to the most economical solution.
thejazzpianoma,
Jul 19, 7:12am
Good point, got caught up and forgot to cover this part of the question. I agree, generally speaking, either you have got very unlucky OP and have a faulty part or it's been physically damaged by hitting something (it's underneath the car), contamination, or you have a connection or some other issue. You are unlikely to encounter this issue again once resolved.
You also won't generally notice any running issues with the sensor inoperable and replacement in my opinion is not super urgent. However, you will likely be losing some fuel economy as the vehicle will tend to shut down it's high efficiency lean burn mode.
jonesy62,
Jul 19, 7:19am
Looking at eela's feedback, car was imported from UK and bought from private seller at begining of June
kazbanz,
Jul 19, 7:30am
Eeela-UK import now roughly 10 years old.I would be putting the car on a hoist and looking for corrosion around the sensor and on all/any plug in connections. You may well get lucky and its that simple. Corrossion on connector pins.
eella,
Jul 19, 8:17am
Woah, thanks for all the responses, Yes, check my feedback there is a bit of detail there, came from the UK and has records from over there also but there is nothing major other than general services etc. I had taken it to dub world in Christchurch they specialize in VW Audi etc. They hooked it up to something and told us it was the nox sensor that needed replacing, they didn't give us any code (I know that would be helpful now!) they did seem a bit vague which was a concern. I am guessing they wont have that info on file I can go back and ask?
eella,
Jul 19, 8:19am
Its a 6 speed manual and we have been running it on 98, I'm not sure what the previous owner was running it on but he had owned VWs for many years, he was living in Reefton, so there would be no 98 available there.
eella,
Jul 19, 8:22am
The light seems to be on all the time now. To be honest it had a few runs to my partners work, so 12km to destination, average speed of 60km I would say. We also took it on a 2 our trip down on the open road. Now it is parked up (I got it for me, I currently have a work car and I am finishing up in a month so the car goes back and I will hopefully use the golf!)
thejazzpianoma,
Jul 19, 8:25am
OK, that's good. Just remember to never ever run Gull 98 in that model, not sure if you have Gull down there though.
I would suggest as a start to give dub world a call and see if they do have a record of what the code actually was, They may have saved it or noted it on the invoice.
Next port of call if you are keen would be to check the connectors to it. Let us know if you are confident to lean under the car to do that, you will likely have to drive it up on to some blocks or jack it up to do this. Not terribly difficult. If you are keen I can post some instructions.
eella,
Jul 19, 8:31am
Ok, my partners trips were average 30km apparently, a fair bit of sitting in traffic and then a small burst on the motor way before he is at work.
eella,
Jul 19, 8:37am
Great, yes that was our plan this weekend to access it and see if we can see anything, my partner will help me here to get to and have a peep, I will check with dubworld, they didn't have it on the invoice from memory but I can check also. I shall keep you posted :)
eella,
Jul 19, 8:39am
Don't think we have gull either! I just stick with BP I suspect from time to time we will need to put 95 in it as I will be doing a bit of travel between central otago and christchurch. I have gathered from reading on other posts to use 98 where ever possible.
vtecnet,
Jul 19, 8:59am
My inlaws purchased a 2004 1.6 FSI golf about 2 years ago, 2 months after they got it they had the check engine light on, the dealer told them to take it to dubworld, who found the error related to the NOX sensor, they cleaned the connectors, cleared the codes etc, but 2 weeks later the check engine light came back on, again the same fault, cleaned the actual NOX sensor etc, same thing happened, 3rd visit, NOX sensor replaced, 2 years later no more issues. After a quick look around on the net, it looks like you could import the part for around $8-900 new. At the time i researched it a bit and found that it was a common failure on the 1.6FSI model, 100's of posts on google like http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=1452758&mid=0&nmt=NoX+Sensor+on+VW+Golf+1.6+FSi+2004+Mk5
It seems to be a problem for 2004 models, ie "I had a call back from a technician at VW. He told me that the early sensors on these cars were prone to allow humidity to build up inside the sensors own ECU box and fry the electrics. After 2004, these sensors were modified to stop this from happening, or at least vastly reduce the risk of it happening. VW did not do a recall on these but dealt with them on a individual basis as and when they arrived. "
intrade,
Jul 19, 9:10am
RE* 15
corrosion on wiring springs to mind uk use salt in winter i would guess. reading post 15. Find a professional diagnostic technition who uses a scope and a oem scanner like rosstech vcds or autologic that is also close to oem factory for vw the crowd whom quoted you 1600$ clearly dont know what they are doing, or they would have given you a rundown as to exactly why thew replace a component and why it cost this much. So clues are do they have autologic scanner rosstech? or the vw factory tools and training . or do the morons just have a obd 2 scanner to do all cars?= a moron with no clue as global obd only does emission and only the absolut bear minimum and even that mostly wrong under special circumstances especially on a nox sensor whom not all manufacturer use only direct injected engines have a NOX sensor its to manage lean burning . could well be a intake runner flap sticking or carboned up putting the nox window of limmit outside the window. and you wont see nor test a intake runner flap with a global obd2 junk scanner , you need FACTORY level side to do this testing and possible a code for a sticking runner . sticking runner= no emission codes but can well be the reason for the nox code.
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