Passat (B6) :: Code P2181 - 008 Performance Malfunction In Cooling System

This code came up on my car, what it means or what part needs to be replaced.

008577 - Performance Malfunction in Cooling System
P2181 - 008 - Implausible Signal - MIL ON
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 11101000
Fault Priority: 0
Fault Frequency: 2
Mileage: 84971 km

[Code] .....

View 2 Replies

Golf IV R32 :: CEL Code P2181 - Performance Malfunction In Cooling System

The code in question is:

18613 - Performance Malfunction in Cooling System
P2181 - 008 - Implausible Signal - MIL ON

Long story short, there are 5 main reasons this problem can pop up, listed in order of likelihood, least to greatest:

1) Coolant sensor
2) Thermostat
3) Bad fans
4) Coolant mixture
5) Water pump

It's a fun catch-all code that can be thrown from any of those. Given that our cars are approaching the 6 year mark, the coolant sensor & thermostat are the most likely culprits. Most of us up on maintenance have already done the green-top sensor, so it's probably the thermostat. In which case, here is the official changing the thermostat DIY: [URL] .....

If you get this code, first check your fans. They're running? Okay, change your sensor & clear it. If it comes back, change the thermostat. If it still comes back, which has been known to happen, investigate further. [IMG] [URL] .....

View 24 Replies

Passat (B6) :: Code P2181 - Cooling System Performance

Have an '07 2.0T w/92K on it. Check eng light came on over the weekend. Performance is fine etc. Went to AutoZone just to find the general area of the the trouble code since there's no one with a VAG Com nearby. The code is as the title indicates. For the last 5 months the temp gauge has been moving 1-2 ticks to the left (cooler) of the normal 200 degrees, then it will go back to 200 etc. It previously has always stayed on 200 once it warmed up. Does this sound like a thermostat?

If it is, I'm wondering if I could save some money while they were in there to go ahead and change the TB as well? From what I've researched the thermostat is in same area. I was planning on doing the TB at around 100-110k so while it would be earlier than planned I'd do it if it meant saving a bit from the combo work.

View 12 Replies

Golf IV R32 :: CEL Popped On / P2181 Code - Cooling System Performance

Last night on my way to go get hammered the check engine light popped on...

"Cooling System Performance"

I have read a few different post, and the last one I read referred to his radiator fans. I know for a fact one of them isn't working and I haven't replaced it yet because it hasn't advisable effected my driving.

So my question is what could be causing this? Also I'm not sure if this matters but my a/c doesn't work either.

View 10 Replies

Passat (B5) :: Code P1296 Cooling System Malfunction / P1654 Check DTC Memory Of Control Panel ECU

I am getting to check engine codes and I can't figure out what is causing them, one is P1296 cooling system malfunction, the other is P1654 Check DTC Memory of control panel ECU, any clues as to why I'm getting these, I did have a bad thermostat i changed that and it's still on, I also used the new prestone antifreeze for all makes and models, cause I am about 200 miles away from a dealership for g12.

View 6 Replies

Passat (B6) :: Engine Error Code P2181 / Coolant System

If I am not mistaken this error code means that I have a coolant system issue. I've checked both of my radiator fans and they both spin, so it makes me think that its the thermostat issue. If I am correct, any link to a replacement part? Or better yet a DIY? I've searched and no dice.

View 12 Replies

Passat (B6) :: MIL Came On - Cooling System Malfunction

My MIL came on the other night so I brought it to the dealer today for diagnosis.

Per tech, "Found 1 DTC P2181 for cooling system malfunction, checked measuring values, found thermostat sticking open.

Recommendation is to replace thermostat with housing." I have 95K miles on the car, original owner...first time in a long time to have an issue.

The SA indicated the thermostat replacement. The tech indicated the thermostat is in the front of the engine which is hard to access.

View 4 Replies

Passat (B5) :: P0118, P1296 - Cooling System Malfunction

The MIL came on and I scanned for codes. First was P0118, Engine Coolant Temp Circuit High Input. Reset it and then received P1296 -Cooling System Malfunction. Temp gauge needle is positioned where it always is.

View 15 Replies

Golf IV R32 :: CEL Code Is P2181 For Coolant System

So after 1.5 years of owning my R I got my first CEL. The code is P2181. I did some searching and this is a problem in the coolant system.

In the previous posts about this these were the possible problems:

1) Coolant sensor
2) Thermostat
3) Bad fans
4) Coolant mixture
5) Water pump

I checked my car and I have the updated green coolant sensor. My question is should I just get a thermostat and replace that or should I replace the green coolant sensor with another one? Do the green ones go bad?

View 7 Replies

Golf IV / Jetta IV :: CEL On For Code P2181 Coolant System Performance

Like the title states, I've got P2181 (coolant system performance) CEL on again. I've had this code before and finally had everything serviced. It was off for 5k miles! I've spent a lot of time diagnosing this on the previous occurrences, and was 99% certain it was the thermostat due to the coolant temp dropping a notch or so when engine braking* on the interstate for more than a few seconds.

The current issue is mainly that the car will not heat up quite as fast, but it will not go lower from engine braking for a good chunk of time. I'm getting fairly poor MPG compared to what I was getting a month or two ago. The major changes are winter fuel blends and winter tires, which I'm sure affect the MPG a little, but I would hope not as much as I am seeing. Old average was around 27mpg combined and 30 or so for mostly highway, now I'm getting 24 tops. This is likely due to engine temps not being up to allow for most efficient fuel burning.

First plan is to change the CTS and see if that will fix it. If the code comes back after that, I'll have to check the thermostat and coolant mixture, but I wouldn't expect it to last only 5k miles.

Current: 105k

Thermostat and coolant changed at 100k

Water pump at 80k

CTS sometime around 70k

Engine braking lowering temp due to no fuel being ignited and coolant still circulating through the system if thermostat open.

View 9 Replies

Passat (B6) :: Engine Light Is On For Code P2181

My engine light is on.I took it to Autozone ,came up with a code P2181.........

#61 FAILED RADIATOR OR WATER PUMP
#62 CHECK ECT SENSOR

No overheating , No Antifreeze leak.....

View 3 Replies

Golf IV / Jetta IV :: Engine Management Light Has Been On - Cooling System Malfunction

Bought a mk4 1.8 gti golf last week and day after I got it I filled it up with petrol at Tesco. Since I did that, the engine management light has been on. It hasn't affected the drive or anything so haven't done anything about it yet.

One of the guys at work plugged in his computer thing to it to find out the fault and the code was coming up as 'cooling system malfunction'. He took the fault off so the light no longer comes on but now it makes the most horrendous noise like a grinder or something when the engine is running. I have not driven it anywhere and won't until it has been looked at but just wondered what others thoughts on it might be? Could the noise be something to do with the turbo? Had new cam belt, water pump etc at about 138000/139000 miles (November 2013) and hasn't done more than 10000 since.

View 1 Replies

Golf IV / Jetta IV :: CEL For Malfunction In Cooling System / Random Multiple Misfires

So I picked up this 24v vr6 in florida and it has the folowing codes:

p2181 malfunction in cooling system

p0303 misfire in cylinder 3

p0305 misfire in cylinder 5

p0300 random multiple misfires detected

p1570 engine control module disabled

I am thinking the ecu is fried? otherwise why else would that last code pop up. misfire codes im assuming are related to the ecu because theres new COP on each cylinder, newer starter, newer alternator, new spark plugs. Cooling system malfunction im thinking could be the ECT sensor, apparently the water pump was replaced a little while back.

If the ecu is fried can I buy a new one chipped from like APR or do they need the existing ecu and then they modify it?

View 5 Replies

Passat (B5) :: 2002 - AC Malfunction / Not Enough Cooling

Not enough cooling in the B5.5 Passat wagon.

I had the freon checked and it seems to be fine, however it takes a long time for the cabin to cool of here in North Carolina. THe air coming out of the vents doesn't seem as cold as my older 1998 Passat. I used to have a silver sedan 1.8T and the a/c was temperature was ice cold and it got very cold after 20 seconds or so. It reminded me of GM cars.

My wagon is dark blue and beige leather interior which is probably why it takes longer to cool off. If you go for a short trip and the car has been out in the sun it would take at least 15 to 20 minutes to get comfortable. The compressor generally cycles off only once and then it stays on for the duration. My old sedan was the same way. I use the a/c on the rec mode which keep the air colder but still not quite as cold as some other models.

View 5 Replies

Prius (2004-09) :: Code P0A93 - Inverter Cooling System Performance

I have a 2007 Prius, and bought it used about 4 months ago. I have not had any issues with it until last night. Last night I was driving home and the red triangle with the “ ! “ in the middle and check engine light came on. The car seems to be running fine, but it scared me to see the lights come on...so this morning I called my local Toyota dealership.

NOTE: I recently went to them for an oil change and they informed me that I had three recalls on my vehicle that needed replacing, but I did not get them replaced because I was told it would take 5-6 hrs (which I didn’t have at the time).

Anyway, they told me that it would cost $70 to have the codes read...and that did not include parts that may need replaced... I thought that sounded a little high for just having the codes read so I went to my local Autozone and they gave me this code:

P0A93 - Inverter Cooling System Performance

View 16 Replies

Passat (B6) :: CEL Came On - Cooling System Too Lean

So CEL came on a few weeks ago as it does here and there so got it scanned today and it said "cooling system too lean" could it just be the mods throwing the light. car is tuned so i thought cel wasn't suppose to come on and no mods to the cooling system beside cold air intake..

View 6 Replies

Passat (B5) :: How To Bleed Air In Cooling System

Planning on doing a flush, but how do i bleed the air in the system after? is there a bleed bolt?

View 5 Replies

Passat (B5) :: 1997 - Air Trap In Cooling System

I have a 1997 no turbo Passat 2.0 6 cyl.Over the weekend one of the plastic pipes for the coolant system cracked and after the replacement I end up with the panel telling me that there is no coolant on the reservoir. How to bleed the air out of the system or if there is any bleeding valve for this purpose? And where is located?

View 1 Replies

Prius (Gen 2) :: 2004 - Error Code C1310 / Malfunction In HV System

I have a 2004 Prius with 80k miles. Always has been a workhorse. Recently had a bad cell in the HV battery. Battery rebuilt with new cell and now works great.

Now it runs about 20 miles and then displays dash lights of red triangle and small exclamation (brake?) and VSC.
I took it to Advance Auto and their scanner reads C1310 'Malfunction in HV system'.

I actually replaced the entire HV battery again with the battery from my friend's car, and the 12V battery too, but no luck. Same error.

If i disconnect the 12v battery for a while, it will clear the code and the car runs fine for about 20 miles and then dash lights come on again.

Car runs perfectly, over 50mpg even with the dash lit up. What that code is?

View 2 Replies