2002 Galaxy TDi Auto Limp Mode

[bigjeeze]

My old Galaxy runs absolutely fine - most of the time but after a longish run of say 75 miles - a couple of hours rest then on the way back it keeps dropping into limp mode  - so that I have to stop and restart every so often. I can't understand why this delayed issue. Any ideas?

I'll try Vag com on it but usually I get nothing from that.  I'll report back meanwhile if you super Galaxy brains can suggest anything!.
I recently changed the CPS , and also replaced the EGR but apart from that all is as it was.

Cheers

BJ

[johnnyroper]

Does seem a bit odd it only does it after itââ,¬â,,¢s been stopped for a while, if itââ,¬â,,¢s going in to limp it should log something.

Does it do it at a particular time, like when demanding full boost or is it completely random?

[SirDavidAlhambra]

What does CPS mean please, thank u

[bigjeeze]

Sir David - Camshaft Position Sensor.
Johnny - My copy of VCDS Lite won't connect - I've sent an e mail to them but as it's a free copy I don't expect a fast response. SO unfortunately I can't read any codes at present - so neither can I clear any codes.

Regards

BJ

[brianh]

On the vcds issue, have a look in windows device manager and make sure its not showing any problems with the cable there. If it is, its likely to be an driver issue. May be able to be resolved if you can identify the cable you have. Typically the cd that comes with the cable will have the drivers on it, you want those drivers (or a newer version of the same driver if there is one) and the copy of vcds that you have already.

[regw]

Just after repairing the injector loom on mine,
I found a cheap KKL/409 cable I forgotten I had and couldn't get VCDS to work
on my old lappy even after spending ages faffing about with it.
When I opened it up I saw it wasnt a FDTI chip in there but a CH340
Installing CH340 serial drivers got it all working fine.

[regw]

I thought I might  add I use win7/32 on the lappy I use to interface stuff with
(for old kit/legacy purposes)
and installed vcds-lite on that and the driver file was called
CH341SER.exe
easily found the web and its only 277Kb

[SirDavidAlhambra]

What a hassle, do they not do a plug and play version of the cable using USB perhaps.

[bigjeeze]

Thanks all. I had never registered my copy with Ross Tech - so I think that may be the problem - they update firmware occasionally and it may be caused by that as it was working fine a few months ago.

The issue is now seemingly almost permanent. It feels exactly like on 2 cylinders are firing - On my way home yesterday the best I could up a fairly steep hill  was just about 10 mph ! When I got home the only thing I could see that was wrong was that I had forgotten to replace the clip on the Air hose after replacing the air box.  After messing about it then ran perfectly until this morning when it was back to hardly moving.  Any ideas - it surely has to be something that I've done in changing the EGR - but I can't see anything obvious.!

[regw]

I only fixed my intermittent power loss (due to an iffy injector harness) ass backwards
and only read the fault codes after when I found a KKL cable I'd forgotten I had.

Reading the fault codes take a lot of the guesswork out of it
I suggest you get vcds/lite working

[johnnyroper]

Injector harness is a strong candidate for the symptoms you describe, once you get your vcds working I suspect that will show you where to look either by stored codes or live data

[regw]

Incidentally
VCDS-lite helped me establish the parking senders were fine and the 'fault'
was only due to the PO disconnecting the sounders because of the towbar
Big fan of it now

[johnnyroper]

Just thinking about changing the EGR did fault only happen after doing that?

[bigjeeze]

The original limp mode fault was and is still there but this latest version only happened after changing the EGR.

[johnnyroper]

Was it an original equipment egr you fitted (wahler) just wondering if thereââ,¬â,,¢s an issue with valve sticking open or anti shudder valve sticking reducing the air flow? All vac pipes back on properly?

[bigjeeze]

HI Johnny,
No not original equipment - pattern one - Not sure of the Brand. I'll re check the pipes etc and see what that brings.

Cheers

BJ

[johnnyroper]

If you still have the old one I would try putting that back in to see if the latest power issue goes.

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Wise advice. I find these days that many new parts donââ,¬â,,¢t work properly. For instance I had a reconditioned turbo once and it was rubbish so I bought a new one and it worked fine even though the man at the turbo shop said his turbo was fine when clearly it wasnââ,¬â,,¢t otherwise why did the genuine one work ok but his rubbishy reconditioned one didnââ,¬â,,¢t.

[bigjeeze]

I cannot find anything out of place nor anything that looks wrong. The thought of trying to replace the old EGR leaves me cold it was an absolute bastard to get the old one off and the new one in. There is so little room to work and I ended up having to take the bottom tray off to get to the bolts on the  bottom of the EGR . Looks like I have no other choices.

Cheers Guys.

[johnnyroper]

I donââ,¬â,,¢t remember it being too difficult getting mine off,did you have the bulkhead extension piece off?
I certainly didnââ,¬â,,¢t have under tray off, 1/4 drive ratchet with 6mm Allen key got the egr bolts out.

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Could u put some of that EGR spray stuff through, might that help

[Chrispb]

Those bottom bolts are a pig to get out, done them a few times now from underneath and struggled from the top even with 1/4 drive.
Iv'e found the easiest and quickest way is take just the one bolt out that obscures the EGR mounting bolt nearest to the head leave the pipe attached the EGR valve but disconnect from the other end, also helps keeping the gasket in place when reassembling.

[johnnyroper]

Could u put some of that EGR spray stuff through, might that help

Itââ,¬â,,¢s a new valve so should be clean,fault is more like a dodgy valve rather than a dirty one.

[bigjeeze]

Well, I replaced the original EGR ( Wahler)  but no joy - whatever is wrong is still wrong!. I checked all of the vacuum pipes - all look absolutely fine.

The most irritating aspect is that once I had put everything back together it started and ran fine. I tidied up, went back and tried it again, still running lumpy. I suppose it could be the injector loom - but I didn't touch it or disturb it so I am at  a loss to understand how that could be the issue.  Any ideas would be gratefully received.!

[regw]

Swap and hope is not the best way to fix stuff
get vcds working
vcds lite and a cheap cable could save you hours and pounds

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Have u tried putting a bottle of redex in the tank, I had a lawnmower that was running like a bag of spanners and a quarter of a bottle of redex worked wonders, cured it perfectly. However it might be a long shot in this case. Have u changed the fuel filter too.

[bigjeeze]

Swap and hope is not the best way to fix stuff
get vcds working
vcds lite and a cheap cable could save you hours and pounds

Neither is continually repeating the same advice, however good it might be.  My copy of VCDS lite won't work - I have e mailed Ross Tech for help but so far nothing.

I have had VCDS for a number of years ( when it was VAG COm) and as I haven't paid the Ã,£100 odd for a pukka copy it hasn't really helped me overmuch as so far anything I really needed help with it never works for me. I have not been able to do much beyond clearing faults - when it flags them. I have had numerous faults like this current one where it just doesn't come up with any faults. But any advice is always welcome !!👍😂

[johnnyroper]

Wonder if there is anyone local to you with a full copy of vcds that could plug in and check live data for you? Where
In south west are?

[bigjeeze]

Bournemouth! - Not really Southwest but not really Southeast either!

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Could u try running it from a different laptop? I tried using that VDCS free version software once and couldnââ,¬â,,¢t get it to work either, in the end I just dumped it and used an OBD2 reader from amazons which seemed to give just as much info for everyday purposes like finding faults (not that my lovely alhamb has any these days touch wood)

[brianh]

Sirdavidalhambara
Obd software won't speak to the rest of the cars systems, only the engine.sp your out of luck with any of the other problems you might hit without vcds. Airbag for example.


Bigjeeze
What error are you getting when trying to use vcds?

[Chrispb]

Hi BJ
Just gone through your whole post regarding VCDS/Vagcom just to clarify.

Are you connecting to to car OK without errors?

Assuming it connects to the car ok, when you select a module, example Engine, Transmission, Etc does it connect to the module quickly, usually within ten seconds.

If it's taking too long to connect chances are it will time out.

Do you get any of these messages

Interface not found
No response from controller
Too many communication errors.

On the misfiring issue I would say most of the instances I've heard and my own personal experience has always been intermittent, sometimes restarting clears the problem sometime for days/weeks at a time but will always register a fault usually "misfire on cylinder whatever and open or short to +

I know you already know a lot of this stuff from the other site so apologies if comments seem like there being repeated.

C

[bigjeeze]

Thanks Chris,

I can't remember the exact message  - I'll connect it again and see what comes up.

Thanks for your advice.

BJ

[bigjeeze]

I came home early - and thought I'd have another go at the Galaxy. I removed the engine covers and the tray etc- air filter. I then started checking all of the vacuum pipes again, but couldn't find anything obviously amiss.  I also gave the boxes on the right of the engine a bit of a wiggle etc - all time the engine was ticking over - Lumpy as before. I then turned off the ignition started it again and hey presto it's working fine. I put the air filter box back on and did a short run of about 3 miles - working perfectly! I have no more idea of why it's working than I did when it wasn't!  I am not happy not knowing as if it happens again I still won't be any the wiser.

Ho hum.

[bigjeeze]

Back to square one - Went to drive to the shop and after 150 yds it dropped back into the tractor mode.  Bugger!!

[Mirez]

Have you done the injector wiring harness on yours yet? Wiring breakdown in that loom makes the PD run very lumpy and often intermittently which could also have been temporarily corrected if you disturbed the loom when you were routing about?

[Chrispb]

Hi BJ
Another point to add about VCDS/Vagcom registering your copy wont make it work better, and for the most these cheap leads are limited in what you can do.
What's more important is to make sure the configuration is correct to get the best result with what you have.

[bigjeeze]

Have you done the injector wiring harness on yours yet? Wiring breakdown in that loom makes the PD run very lumpy and often intermittently which could also have been temporarily corrected if you disturbed the loom when you were routing about?

Hi Mirez, No I haven't as yet but as I have one in stock I will give it a go.
Cheers

BJ

[bigjeeze]

I have finally given up on the old bus. I have bought a Seat Ateca and the Galaxy goes to Galaxy heaven this week. I have really and truly appreciated all the help and advice given to me over the last 8 years or so - and would like to take this opportunity to thank you all and wish you all you wish for yourselves.

I'll probably still dip in here from time to time - it's hard to give up completely after having owned 4 galaxy's driving more than 560k miles since 1997.

Cheers one and all.

BJ

[Mirez]

Awww that's sad but I get you, sometimes enough is enough!

Was that all that's wrong with it? I can take it off your hands if you haven't sorted scrapping it yet.

[SirDavidAlhambra]

It would be good to see the car to go Mirez because these are quality vehicles and it's always nice seeing them on the road in a good condition... it would be lovely if he could get it back on the road so it can see another 200,000 happy miles!