"system too lean" code and VAG-less code clearing...
Anyway, at the very beginning of the drive my car went into limp mode and the check engine light came on. At the first stop one of the group had a VAG-com with him and we pulled and cleared the codes. The only one I had was the "system too lean" which from all the posts I've seen go by causes me to suspect the MAF. After clearing the code the car ran fine, just until we were heading home. Then it went back into limp mode and wouldn't come out. Didn't throw a CEL this time, but that's probably because I stayed out of it for the trip home.
I went by circuit city and got some electrical cleaner, then by the Advance Autoparts and to my surprise, they had a bit set that had the torx security bits. I had to buy about 40 other bits I didn't need, but hey, for $10 you can't go wrong. So I cleaned the MAF, but I was still in limp mode. So I came back home and pulled fuses 10, 12, and 29. They were the ones that listed ODB, and Engine timing. After waiting about 10 minutes I put them back in, and viola, no more limp mode. I'll have to wait a day or so to see if cleaning the MAF worked, but hopefully, I'm in the clear on this one.
(Code clearing doesn't re-set the adaptation maps)
but if someone does manage to track down the ones to do it, I'd like to know. I figured this worked for me, maybe it will work for someone else. Damn I need a VAG COM.




