Check engine light on

LMBUS

MEMBER
2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
85,000 MILES

Check engine light came on and car was idling rough. Didn't drive it and tried starting the following day. White smoke came from the exhaust and from under the hood. Turned the car off and had it towed to the dealer. The dealer had the car for two days. Drove it over 30 miles, did a compression test and couldn't find anything wrong and CEL didn't come back on. I picked the car up and within 10 miles the CEL came on again and car is idling rough. What should be checked next?

Friday, September 23rd, 2011 AT 7:42 PM

3 Replies

PROMECHANIC

MECHANIC
536 POSTS

Well, first I think I would take it to a different repair shop. If your check engine light comes on then there is a code stored in the computer. It sounds like this shop does not know how to diagnose problems.
You need to find out what the code is. You could call the dealer that checked it out and ask them what the code was.

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Friday, September 23rd, 2011 AT 7:44 PM

LMBUS

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Sorry, the code was P0303, cylinder 3 misfire

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Friday, September 23rd, 2011 AT 7:53 PM

PROMECHANIC

MECHANIC
536 POSTS

This code means that there is something causing a misfire on cylinder number 3. Things that often cause this are things like spark plugs, spark plug wires, coil packs, fuel injectors.
These are all things that they can test and inspect.
I would take it to a different shop that actually knows how to diagnose things.

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Friday, September 23rd, 2011 AT 7:55 PM