Seat Leon mk2 P0403 issue
Discussion
Hi all,
I have a slightly odd problem with my car and wondered if anyone could shed any light.
About 2-3 years ago, I had an MOT. Car passed, but soon after, the car started to go into limp home mode every journey. I checked with my code reader and it came up as p0403 - EGR circuit malfunction. I erased the code with my reader and the car drove fine for the rest of the journey. This problem then happened once on every single journey for several months. I cleared the fault each time with my code reader (with engine still on) and the car drove fine until the next journey.
After a few months, the car was due a service. I asked the garage to look at the p0403 fault at the same time. They did the routine service and quoted me £lots to fix the EGR problem. Strangely enough, the problem happened once on the day after the service and then not again for about a year (of daily commuting). I don't think the garage realised they'd fixed the problem, because they quoted me a price to fix it...
A couple of months ago I took the car for an MOT. Car passed, but lo and behold, the problem came back the next day and is now happening again every single journey...
I'm not really willing to pay the £lots to take the car apart to change the EGR unit (as Seat in their wisdom buried it deep in the engine block). The fact that the problem went away for a year suggests to me there may not actually a problem with the EGR itself. My main query is why on earth does the problem appear/disappear at Services/MOT's? Could it be a loose wire which is being moved when the garage is carrying out the MOT checks? Would any MOT checks affect the EGR much? Could it be an electrical problem? I've looked under the bonnet, but can't see anything amiss - not that I'm an electrician or a mechanic!
All the above MOTs and servicing was done at the same small local garage.
Car: Seat Leon 2012 2.0L FR CR TDI. 94k dual carriageway miles. No VW emissions fix.
Possible related problem: the rear wiper and the 12v socket don't work. The fuses themselves are fine, but I checked with my multimeter and there is not enough power getting to the relevant two fuses. All other fuses are getting the correct power and the everything else on the car is working fine.
I have a slightly odd problem with my car and wondered if anyone could shed any light.
About 2-3 years ago, I had an MOT. Car passed, but soon after, the car started to go into limp home mode every journey. I checked with my code reader and it came up as p0403 - EGR circuit malfunction. I erased the code with my reader and the car drove fine for the rest of the journey. This problem then happened once on every single journey for several months. I cleared the fault each time with my code reader (with engine still on) and the car drove fine until the next journey.
After a few months, the car was due a service. I asked the garage to look at the p0403 fault at the same time. They did the routine service and quoted me £lots to fix the EGR problem. Strangely enough, the problem happened once on the day after the service and then not again for about a year (of daily commuting). I don't think the garage realised they'd fixed the problem, because they quoted me a price to fix it...
A couple of months ago I took the car for an MOT. Car passed, but lo and behold, the problem came back the next day and is now happening again every single journey...
I'm not really willing to pay the £lots to take the car apart to change the EGR unit (as Seat in their wisdom buried it deep in the engine block). The fact that the problem went away for a year suggests to me there may not actually a problem with the EGR itself. My main query is why on earth does the problem appear/disappear at Services/MOT's? Could it be a loose wire which is being moved when the garage is carrying out the MOT checks? Would any MOT checks affect the EGR much? Could it be an electrical problem? I've looked under the bonnet, but can't see anything amiss - not that I'm an electrician or a mechanic!
All the above MOTs and servicing was done at the same small local garage.
Car: Seat Leon 2012 2.0L FR CR TDI. 94k dual carriageway miles. No VW emissions fix.
Possible related problem: the rear wiper and the 12v socket don't work. The fuses themselves are fine, but I checked with my multimeter and there is not enough power getting to the relevant two fuses. All other fuses are getting the correct power and the everything else on the car is working fine.
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