CEL in cold temperatures

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Jan 31, 2004 | 06:28 AM

FCOMalligan

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CEL in cold temperatures

Ok. Background: Sat. 8am on the way to work. Air temperature approx -8f. Unheated garage around 15-16. Car is a '00 2.8 tip.

I go to start the car and it starts fun, but is kind of 'uneasy'. Try to back it out and it is just jittery. As I cross the threshold out of the garage the Check Engine Light comes on. Now i'm used to the idiot lights, as of right now I have a static airbag light (faulty connector) and a bulb out light (xenon kit), but CEL. That's new. I put the car in park and restart. Everything is fine. I drive very conservatively to the office and now everything seems to be OK.

What happend? There have been colder days in MN where it just starts right up with no fuss/muss. Is something wrong with the engine or fluids within? The only thing I can think of is I filled up with different gasoline last tank. I searched the archives and that has been a problem for 1.8 owners w/ a chip... but that is not applicable to me at all. Instead of regular Holiday 93 I put in Super America 91, that shouldn't cause a CEL, should it?

Now I am nervous about the drive home in five hours. Please help.

Jan 31, 2004 | 06:31 AM

fussball.biturbo

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so, is the CEL still on? or did it go away? checking what the code is will make it easier to help!

if you can get the code we can probably help more. also, throwing in a pic for traffic is uber lame....

Jan 31, 2004 | 06:32 AM

FCOMalligan

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It went off after the restart.

Jan 31, 2004 | 06:37 AM

Austin_P

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You should be okay. Try to get a VAG and read the code. I got a CEL during the cold days from a

gas line freezing causing my car to stall. Put some dry gas in and it's fine now.

Jan 31, 2004 | 06:40 AM

FCOMalligan

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Thanks for your help :)

a side question: will VAG tool be able to help with the bulb out code? That is, does it have like an acknowledge/ignore feature? I want stereo readout back when the lights are on.

heh. thanks again.

Jan 31, 2004 | 06:52 AM

fussball.biturbo

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I don't believe you can do that... but you could jumper the wires that are causing the light...

Jan 31, 2004 | 08:01 AM

RKA

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When was the last time you changed the plugs...

and how many miles do you have on the car now?

What you experieced was probably a little misfiring. That's usually an issue with fuel or spark...in your case I'm thinking spark. Sometimes if the plugs are ready to be tossed, you can get some intermittent stumbling like that. If it smooths out, the CEL will go away, but the code will still remain in the ECU. No harm really, but you can scan to find out what that code was, and what cylinder was misfiring (if that's what it was).