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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHAnyone have experience with poor fuel?
Leading reported evidence
Install fuel cap
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
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0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
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Read evidence and context
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
There is a note in the owners manual regarding poor fuel or a mis-installed fuel cap that advises the car will signal the check engine light, but there is no other info there.
Leading evidence: 'Install fuel cap' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check engine notice advises' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Posted here yesterday about the same problem I think - I needed my expansion tank replaced anyway, and during the work the dealer said they discovered bad fuel/gunked up fuel filter and replaced both.
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Suggestion · Original poster
The check engine notice advises to "drive to the workshop".
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Suggestion
When I had my car in 2 weeks ago to replace the ignition switch that had coaused my a/c fan and wipers to not function (it's apparently a German thing), I told the service adviser NOT to let the apes wash my car.
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Suggestion · Original poster
I don't like the idea of putting myself at the dealer's mercy, having him change all kinds of stuff that "could" be the problem (like an expansion tank - I never would have thought of that one, or any number of obscure electronic "controllers").
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
There is a note in the owners manual regarding poor fuel or a mis-installed fuel cap that advises the car will signal the check engine light, but there is no other info there.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Posted here yesterday about the same problem I think - I needed my expansion tank replaced anyway, and during the work the dealer said they discovered bad fuel/gunked up fuel filter and replaced both.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
When I had my car in 2 weeks ago to replace the ignition switch that had coaused my a/c fan and wipers to not function (it's apparently a German thing), I told the service adviser NOT to let the apes wash my car.
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
I don't like the idea of putting myself at the dealer's mercy, having him change all kinds of stuff that "could" be the problem (like an expansion tank - I never would have thought of that one, or any number of obscure electronic "controllers").
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Suggestion · Original poster
I suspect that when the check engine light is triggered there is an electronic "limp home" mode that alters ignition timing to deal with poor fuel, poor fuel pressure, or other similar fuel system problems - thus the poor running condition.
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16 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261027T070717Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Regarding the check engine light on my 2002 C2 tiptronic:
My "check engine" light came on today, along with what I would describe as a poor running condition (less power, rough idle). It ocurred about 20 minutes after filling up an empty fuel tank on a very rainy day. The car runs, even at highway speed, just not very well. The check engine notice advises to "drive to the workshop". There is a note in the owners manual regarding poor fuel or a mis-installed fuel cap that advises the car will signal the check engine light, but there is no other info there.
I didn't notice overheated catalytic converters following my drive with the check engine light on, so there is not likely un-burned fuel running through the engine (which can kill a cat in no time). This would also indicate all cylinders are firing.
I suspect that when the check engine light is triggered there is an electronic "limp home" mode that alters ignition timing to deal with poor fuel, poor fuel pressure, or other similar fuel system problems - thus the poor running condition. It does not seem like an ignition problem to me.
Anyone have an experience like this? It could be poor fuel (as opposed to bad gas, which causes the windows to fog up inside the car but does not affect how the car runs ;-)
Isn't it worth getting a shop to diagnose it for you? There are all kinds of possibilities, based on your description. Some are benign, some not. For all it costs to have someone run diagnostics, it seems to me the peace of mind might be worth it. That's my unhelpful advice, anyway...
I will of course have it checked over at a dealer since you can't fix these cars with a hammer and a pair of vise-grips. I was hoping to hear some stories of experience here before I go to a dealer, bend over, and let them have their way with me. Knowing something before going to a dealer is way better than knowing nothing.
I've had several experiences like this. After refueling at the local Mexican Joint for lunch - sure enough 20 minutes later...
https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif
You could go to an auto parts store and have them read the error codes. Then come back here and we will see if we can help.
MAke sure ask the service manager at the dealership if you can get a complementary "reach around" after they bend you over.
BTW - thanks for posting the pic! Nice silver P-car.
That's true. I certainly felt better taking my car in for the reverse switch this week, thanks to help from this forum. Having said that, it should be added that DFC were actually great. I got out for $159, they got rid of a sunroof rattle for me gratis, and I got the car back washed and dried and with tire dressing, even.
(All props to you guys who would have done this job yourselves and saved an hour of dealer shop rates. But, as Dylan said, "It ain't me, babe.")
Posted here yesterday about the same problem I think - I needed my expansion tank replaced anyway, and during the work the dealer said they discovered bad fuel/gunked up fuel filter and replaced both. Car ran fine for a few days and then gave me the rough idle&CEL.
Had AAA flatbed it to dealer... should get the call today/early tommorrow and will let you know what they say.
Weird thing with me is I had no symptoms while driving w/the gunked fuel & filter or for several days after the swap... hopefully my car is just spewing contaminates into each new tank of gas.
That's a pretty good DFC experience. Last time I was there was for an oil leak on the drivers side head gasket. After an argument over whether or not the warranty covered it (it was 2 days past the end of warranty because they made me wait 2 weeks for the appointment ... they agreed the warranty would cover it) and my request that the oil should be changed, it only cost me $800. Thus my comment about "bending over". There was no complimentary reach-around although I suspected the service advisor would have like that.
See, mpn996's experience is exactly why I'm looking for other experiences on this. I don't like the idea of putting myself at the dealer's mercy, having him change all kinds of stuff that "could" be the problem (like an expansion tank - I never would have thought of that one, or any number of obscure electronic "controllers"). I can see a bill of $ thousands, and then have the problem happen agian.
Best case scenario is that some water is contaminating the fuel just enough to send the electronics into a safety mode. A lower humidity day could correct that all by itself.
My lucky day, maybe. I have to admit, I get my maintenance and mods done by a trusted indie. I would only go to the dealer for the kind of thing a dealer would have seen a hundred times... intermittent electrical stuff, for example.
Anyhow, good luck with this.
You know, I just realized that you said you'd refilled the car from empty. Was it really empty? That's a bad idea. This could well be just a clogged fuel filter.
YOU LET A DEALERSHIP WASH YOUR CAR!!!!!
The one and only time the dealer washed my car they put a ga-zillion swirl marks in it! It took me over 6 hours of polishing to get rid of them!
Sorry I shouted at you, but your statement gave me a flash back and I got pissed off all over again!
^+1 Too funny!
When I had my car in 2 weeks ago to replace the ignition switch that had coaused my a/c fan and wipers to not function (it's apparently a German thing), I told the service adviser NOT to let the apes wash my car. Needless to say, when I go to pick it up, they bring it around still wet. Arrrgghhhhhh
I was like you once.
Seriously, I don't worry about it that much. I don't have a driveway to wash it in myself anymore, and every other option has its problems. So, a couple of times a year, I give it to a very talented detailer to take care of for me, and I've learned from him that there is almost no superficial damage that an expert can't make disappear. My cars always used to look perfect. Now they just always look great.
But, yeah, when I had a house in the city with a driveway and a garage, I was always concours ready. I would have yelled at me, too.
The car was not completely "empty". The fuel light had just come on. It was a horribly pissy and humid day today, which would cause the fuel to contain more H2O even if it hadn't been contaminated with actual water. The fact the tank was near empty and then filled could cause any water in the tank (there is always some you know) to make its way en-masse to the fuel pick-up. I've had stranger things happen, which is why I was looking for related stories on this board.
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