VW Polo Problem

[Kimo]

Hi guys,

Right recently passed my driving test and bought a X reg Polo from a local dealer last weekend. On giving the car a test run, a light came on on the dash which I asked about and was told they did not know what it was, but would get it looked into fully before letting me buy the car. Fair enough I thought, and a couple of days later got a call saying it was all sorted and to offer me first refusal before they offered it back up for sale. Took it for another test drive and all seemed perfect. Bought the car on Tuesday, with a standard 3 month warranty from the dealer.

I have now had the car for a week. All has been perfect up until tonight when the same light came on. I have now looked this up in the manual and it lists it as:

"Lights up if a fault which reduces the quality of the exhaust gas (e.g. a Lambda probe fault) occurs during a drive. Let off on the accelerator, drive carefully to the next Volkswagen dealer and have the engine checked.”

I took the car back home and other than the light it seemed to perform ok. Upon starting it up again a couple of hours later the light remains on.

My question now is where should I go from here? If the fault was sorted, surely this would not have reoccurred, which leads me to believe it was either bodged somehow or the light was just reset. I can't understand why the dealer would try and cheat me here, considering they fully acknowledged the problem and told me they had fixed it, and the fact they offered me an inclusive 3 month warranty at no extra charge. Is it worth me giving them a call and getting them to sort it? My fear is that they could bodge it again and I could let up worse off down the road, for example when the warranty finishes. I would basically like to know from anyone who has any of experience of these kind of problems how it's best to play it, as my experience is very very limited and I really don't have a clue which way to turn.

Many thanks in advance

[Howard]

WOO emissions. It's probably a faulty Lambda sensor. I'm sure a garage with clever enough spanner monkeys will be able to diagnose the fault. Or just take it back to the same place and tell them to do the job properly.

[Zak33]

it'll fail an MOT with a light on for emmissions....needs sorting.

[Funkstar]

is that the icon that looks like an engine with a lightning bolt through it?

i've got one of them shining away on my golf just now too.

[Kimo]

is that the icon that looks like an engine with a lightning bolt through it?

Indeed it is. Has it caused you any problems?

A quick search around has shown it to be quite a common problem that can indicate a variety of things, from quite major part replacements to just a dodgy sensor as Howard mentioned. The worst cases seem to also have backfiring as well as the light, which I do not have. I rang the dealer this afternoon and they are happy to sort it out and very apologetic, I just hope they do it properly! I am sure I am just being overly cautious with it being my first car.

[Funkstar]

it's happened to me twice now. First time is was a ceramic temperature sensor that went bad (common problem). don't know what it is this time, haven't bothered to take it up to the dealer to get it fixed, i would have to book it in etc. Not caused any problems for me. I think it is related to the slightly loose rear exhaust section/silensor/CAT i have. Unless something happens i'll leave it till the next service