2007 Audi A3 - warning lights and engine issues

grahamor

Hi,

I took the car out today to drive just 5 minutes down the road and something didnt sound right. Seems the engine was chugging a little. a few minutes later the Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) light came on followed by the Emission control system light. I pulled over and parked the car.

I only use the car about 3 times a week but did almost 300k in it yesterday. It passed the NCT in March without any issues and there were no warnings for oil/water etc.

Any ideas what might be happening ? Hopefully it's not too expensive to fix

Thanks.

enumbers

Sorry but there is an awful lot of different issues that could cause this situation you will need to get it diagnosed by a local independent. Find someone that has good references and doesn't consider diagnostics reading a few codes without following it up with proper investigation.

dclanber

grahamor wrote: »

Hi,

I took the car out today to drive just 5 minutes down the road and something didnt sound right. Seems the engine was chugging a little. a few minutes later the Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) light came on followed by the Emission control system light. I pulled over and parked the car.

I only use the car about 3 times a week but did almost 300k in it yesterday. It passed the NCT in March without any issues and there were no warnings for oil/water etc.

Any ideas what might be happening ? Hopefully it's not too expensive to fix

Thanks.

A coil pack and leads would not be uncommon in those cars.

enumbers

dclanber wrote: »

A coil pack and leads would not be uncommon in those cars.

A coil pack issue won't cause the esp light to come on

dclanber

enumbers wrote: »

A coil pack issue won't cause the esp light to come on

That's correct, but the chugging and emissions light could be an indication to a coil pack and leads. The esp light can come on for something as simple as a blown brake bulb.

grahamor

Thanks for all the replies so far, much appreciated.

Gonna talk to the mechanic today

grahamor

Just to clarify which oil i should put into this car:) Is 5W-40 the best type ?

Car details are
Make: 2007 Audi
Model: A3 1.6 102 HP Attraction
Description: HATCHBACK
Fuel Type: PETROL
Engine Size: 1.595L

Also, for the coolant, is there a standard one for most petrol cars ?

Excuse my ignorance on this matter

dclanber

te="grahamo4281"]Just to clarify i should put into this car:) Is 5W-40 the best type ?

Car details are
Make: 2007 Audi
Model: A3 1.6 102 HP Attraction
Description: HATCHBACK
Fuel Type: PETROL
Engine Size: 1.595L



Also, for the coolant, is there a standard one for most petrol cars ?

Excuse my ignorance on this matter [/quote]

5W30 fully synthetic oil would be the best and the one recommended by the manufacturer. The coolant is G12 and it's a pink colour.

dieselbug

grahamor wrote: »

Hi,

I took the car out today to drive just 5 minutes down the road and something didnt sound right. Seems the engine was chugging a little. a few minutes later the Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) light came on followed by the Emission control system light. I pulled over and parked the car.

I only use the car about 3 times a week but did almost 300k in it yesterday. It passed the NCT in March without any issues and there were no warnings for oil/water etc.

Any ideas what might be happening ? Hopefully it's not too expensive to fix

Thanks.

It may be that esp is disabled due to an an engine management fault hence bringing on the esp light.

It may be a condition of esp function that there must be no faults stored in

the engine control system. Possibly

mathepac

dclanber wrote: »

... 5W30 fully synthetic oil would be the best and the one recommended by the manufacturer. ...

The Audi approved & recommended oils will have either VW504.00 or VW507.00 printed on the container. 5W30 is only the viscosity of the oil.

dclanber

mathepac wrote: »

The Audi approved & recommended oils will have either VW504.00 or VW507.00 printed on the container. 5W30 is only the viscosity of the oil.

5w30 is printed on the front of most bottles .
See photo attached.

mathepac

dclanber wrote: »

5w30 is printed on the front of most bottles .
See photo attached.

So what? As I said, that's the viscosity of the oil. Where is the Audi specification marking? Oils of identical viscosity ratings will not necessarily have Audi spec marks on them.

dclanber

mathepac wrote: »

So what? As I said, that's the viscosity of the oil. Where is the Audi specification marking? Oils of identical viscosity ratings will not necessarily have Audi spec marks on them.

I will tell you what, if your so well versed you will know 5w30 was only for German cars, there is other variables of 5w30 all defined by codes after 5w30 on the front of the bottle. So Castrol edge 5w30 is suitable without needing any extra codes.Please don't be so flippant with me. We are only trying to help somebody.

Please link http://www.micksgarage.com/proddetails.aspx?pid=1212933&pk=33612

George Dalton

dclanber wrote: »

I will tell you what, if your so well versed you will know 5w30 was only for German cars, there is other variables of 5w30 all defined by codes after 5w30 on the front of the bottle. So Castrol edge 5w30 is suitable without needing any extra codes.Please don't be so flippant with me. We are only trying to help somebody.

Please link http://www.micksgarage.com/proddetails.aspx?pid=1212933&pk=33612

The point that mathepac is trying to make is that you need to be careful as not all 5W30 oils are suitable for use in VAG group cars. So when the OP asked what oil to use in their car simply answering 5W30 isn't enough information to answer the question properly.

To use your own example, Castrol Edge 5w30 is suitable. However Castrol Magnatec 5W30 wouldn't be suitable. But on the face of it they are both 5W30 fully synthetic oils. So using your logic either could be used. This is incorrect information.

The reason you can use Edge but not Magnatec is that only Edge meets the VW 504.00/507.00 standards. This is stated on the bottle.

So to sum up, if it doesn't say VW 504.00/507.00 on the can then you can't use it, regardless of grade.

dclanber

George Dalton wrote: »

The point that mathepac is trying to make is that you need to be careful as not all 5W30 oils are suitable for use in VAG group cars. So when the OP asked what oil to use in their car simply answering 5W30 isn't enough information to answer the question properly.

To use your own example, Castrol Edge 5w30 is suitable. However Castrol Magnatec 5W30 wouldn't be suitable. But on the face of it they are both 5W30 fully synthetic oils. So using your logic either could be used. This is incorrect information.

The reason you can use Edge but not Magnatec is that only Edge meets the VW 504.00/507.00 standards. This is stated on the bottle.

So to sum up, if it doesn't say VW 504.00/507.00 on the can then you can't use it, regardless of grade.

Hi George I never said to use Magnatec I suggested edge and posted a picture of the Castrol egde bottle.

George Dalton

dclanber wrote: »

Hi George I never said to use Magnatec I suggested edge and posted a picture of the Castrol egde bottle.

Yes but what you didn't do was explain to the OP how to tell the difference between a 5W30 oil that is ok to use and one that isn't.

Say they go into a motor factor for some oil and they don't have Castrol but they do have Valvoline (for example)

There are two types of 5W30 on the shelf. How does the OP know which one to use?

mathepac

dclanber wrote: »

I will tell you what, if your so well versed you will know 5w30 was only for German cars, there is other variables of 5w30 all defined by codes after 5w30 on the front of the bottle. So Castrol edge 5w30 is suitable without needing any extra codes.Please don't be so flippant with me. ...

I know a bit about Audis and other VAG cars in relation to oil and other service consumables they need. To be absolutely sure you are using the correct spec oils in a VAG engine, look in the user maintenance manual or ask here. A few of us, mere drivers and DIYers, unlike George who is a professional, know enough to give people a steer in the right direction, but if they can't or won't listen, it makes no difference what we post.

To OP as we've already pointed out, check if the oil says VW 504.00 or VW 507.00 on the tin; if it does the job is oxo, if not shop elsewhere. Do not get suckered in by the tins that merely give a viscosity rating on the front. Check the small print looking for the VW ratings.