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Volkswagen Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) Emission Test Handbook 1980-1997
Overview and Troubleshooting for Volkswagen Cars, Vans, and Pickups
OBD II fault codes
OBD II, model year 1996 and later: enter the P-code your scan tool displays (P0420) or the five-digit factory number (17828). Cars of 1990–1995 use the earlier system — see the Volkswagen Scan Tool Companion.
Which era? Emissions testing spans both: cars of 1996 and later report OBD II P-codes (look one up on the Volkswagen diagnostics page); 1990–1995 cars use the earlier system, covered by the Volkswagen Scan Tool Companion.
The code page: any of 774 codes, with the P-code key →
How a P-code is built — the full key
First digit — the system
- Pxxxx — powertrain
- Bxxxx — body
- Cxxxx — chassis
- Uxxxx — future systems
Second digit — who defined it
- P0xxx — Government required codes
- P1xxx — Manufacturer codes for additional emission system function; not required but reported to the government
Third digit — the subsystem
- Px1xx — measurement of air and fuel
- Px2xx — measurement of air and fuel
- Px3xx — ignition system
- Px4xx — additional emission control
- Px5xx — speed and idle regulation
- Px6xx — computer and output signals
- Px7xx — transmission
- Px8xx — transmission
- Px9xx — control modules, input and output signals
The fourth and fifth digits designate the individual components and systems.
Volkswagen Inspection and Maintenance Emission Test Handbook: 1980-–1997
This Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Handbook covers fuel injection and emission control systems for 1980-1997 Volkswagen models from the CIS-Injected Rabbits to the OBDII Motronic system on the VR6 engine. This handbook includes useful model-by-model overviews of almost twenty years of Volkswagen fuel systems.
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