EGR FAULT POLO 2003 Auto

[Sofi1]

Hi there folks,

I wonder if anyone of you good people can help with an issue I have with my polo. The car conked out on me and the diagnostic showed EGR faults. Been to 2 garages now they fit a new EGR but the engine management light remains and the fault code still persists.
Does anyone have any experience in this or can help with the issue.
Thank you.

[RUM4MO]

It would be handy if you let us know the code/type of your engine like BBY etc and the exact fault code that was being logged and what is now being logged, there are many EGR system related fault codes if the car is scanned with a VW Group fully compliant scan tool.

One thing that can happen is that the end of the EGR pipe where it enters the area at the Throttle Body can get choked, clearing that is all that is needed to sort that out, replacing the EGR valve assembly will not fix that fault.

Also it is best practice to "introduce or calibrate" the new EGR valve to the car's engine's ECU by running basic settings.

[Sofi1]

Thank you Rum4mo. I appreciate your response. It is a BBY engine. Should I provide the engine number? The fault codes when the car broke down, was towed to Halfords by RAC were 17812 17950 17962 17851 17847 and 17912. As stated in 1st post they changed the EGR but as soon as I picked it up a light was on. They rescanned it and said the codes are still showing. Supposedly they then ordered a main dealer part which also wouldn’t shift the codes. So 2 new EGRS fitted and neither working. This is where they called to say they can’t fix. A year ago they replaced my throttle body. They refunded me back for the throttle and the EGR, unsure why they gave me the refund for throttle as it was a year ago and I didn’t ask. They then put my old EGR back on and the car drove ok. I say ok because sometimes the engine management light comes on and other times no light but this is when it hasn’t been driven for a few days. When I start the car and it’s idle the Rev meter goes up and down but stops quite soon. The codes showing at present are P1404 P1641 P1443 and P1553. Ive since taken it to another garage and they have said the same thing they can’t remove the fault codes even when they put on a new EGR. I then contacted VW dealer and he said it sounds like a wiring problem when I told the mechanic this he said there’s voltage but he can’t programme it. I’m really sorry about the long winded post and I hope you and others can help me out. I’m too scared to drive it in case I break down now that was at fun at all. Please let me know what you think. Thank you again

[RUM4MO]

No, your engine number is not needed.

Having checked what all these fault codes mean, I can see why a basic mechanic just opted to take the easy way out and replace first the T.B. then the EGR valve - but they were not up to working out why these swops did not fix anything.

For some if not all these faults I'd agree with the VW tech that further investigation into the wiring etc is needed.

Some other fault codes could point to a dirty MAP sensor if not, even a cracked inlet manifold, but a proper "fixer" would be able to systematically go through a series of steps to find out what was cause these issues, maybe even more than one issue now that the T.B. and EGR wiring has been moved about, ie maybe the early attempts caused a problem.

Good Luck, no fun having an unreliable car!

Edit:- I suppose the short answer is, you need a proper mechanic to sort this one out and not a spanner monkey that uses just a scan tool to tell him/her what to replace.

[Sofi1]

Hi again RUM4MO really appreciate your reply. Thank you. I did take it to a proper mechanic who spent some time looking into it. So in your opinion with the current fault codes can the car breakdown again? Also how much would you estimate to get this work done that’s if it is repairable. Or is it time to let it go? I think Halfords caused this problem as since I had the throttle body changed a year ago the car has been playing up. Nothing I can do about that now!! Please let me know what you think. Thank you.

[RUM4MO]

It is really not possible to give good answers remotely, if you tried a proper VW Group Indie, who should have lots of experience of these cars, they might get this sorted out quickly as long as you feed them the history of what-where etc.

Any wiring defects, if that is what some of this is, should be possible top repair, cracked inlet manifold, only an outside possibility, could also get checked over and replaced with a good used one I'd reckon.

A proper mechanic would not have walked away from this car if he had any idea of what was needed, unless you limited him time/money wise.