Bad Idle and poor running - 00268 Fault Code

[Stoo the worm 0]

Hi, i am having some poor running issues with my obd11 96 vr6.

When i start the car, the revs rise to around 2000rpm, then suddenly drop off, causing the car to stall on cold start ups. and until warm it keeps trying to cut out when the revs drop low.

It drives pretty much normally, but then sometimes it runs like a bag of nails, popping and banging almost making it impossible to drive.

I've scanned the car, and its kicking up 2 codes.

00525 - Lambda sensor (but has been throwing this up for a long time before these problems)

00268 - Shift solenoid sensor.

its this code that i find confusing only being relevant to Auto Gearboxes and mines a manual.

So what can throw this up...?

Thanks in advance.

Stuart.

[VR6Pete 1,455]

Hi mate.

It could be the MAF, it wouldn't show up a fault code, try unplugging the MAF and see if it it stays the same or runs worse.

Is it possible the car has previously been converted to manual and the ECU still thinks its an automatic?

[UnitedMotorsport 55]

What is the coding of the ECU set to? You can find this in VAG COM

[Stoo the worm 0]

Thanks for the replys guys...

As far as i know its always been a manual... But I will get the ecu read on a mates laptop just incase.

Regarding the MAF, I replaced that about a year and a half ago... So would it fail that quickly...? Will unplug and check for any changes in the morning.

Thanks again.

[Stoo the worm 0]

Ok i have now disconnected the MAF....and there is no change, still does the same on start up...could this mean that its the MAF at fault..?

it is now kicking up a fault - 00553 -Mass Flow Sensor.....which it wasn't before......surley if the MAF was at fault it would have shown this up before hand...!

[Stoo the worm 0]

Also just noticed a split in my pcv valve...could this be at fault...?

[Surreyvr6 199]

My maf was causing a similar problem a couple of months ago, when I disconnected the maf it idled fine so I wouldn't have thought it would be your maf

[Stoo the worm 0]

ok an update not this...i have had it not vagcom...and basically the lambda isn't working.

but i think i have found out why its popping and banging every now and then.....there is water getting into the main wiring connector above the aux water pump....so i clean it out....drive for about 50 miles, and it fills up again.....etc.

so I'm thinking a leak from either the aux water pump or the pipes going into it.....but I'm still confused how its getting in and on such a regular basis....!

[Woodyman84 3]

have you checked if you got any splits around jubilee clips etc? i had one recently where it would not leak until i was driving then obviously the movement in engine was causing the leak to be alot worse. took clips off the pipe and it had shredded the pipe to bits under the clip!

maybe worth trying to protect the wiring some how as well just to see if it clears it up for the time being.

are you loosing alot of water?

[VR6Pete 1,455]

Aux pump leaking is a common issue, simple job to remove plastics, coil-pack to inspect what is happening

[Stoo the worm 0]

cool yeah i changed it about 2 years ago, for a cheap one....so its probably that....im still unsure how it can get into the circular wiring block though. just sprays about i guess.

[VR6Pete 1,455]

Yeah, they are not exactly water tight plug, but any water ingress will cause you problems.

[Stoo the worm 0]

cool, that pretty much confirms my thinking, a second opinion always makes me feel better, thanks again.

[Stoo the worm 0]

some of the pipe under the clips does look a bit warn.....but its not loosing much water really

[VR6Pete 1,455]

What might only look a minor coolant loss when the car isn't up to temperature may be amplified once the coolant system is pressurized up, therefore even a pin-hole will probably spray out enough coolant to cause you problems.