fault code 00561.

[swifty54]

hello there.

I have an audi a4 1.8.1996. which has been failing the mot each year on excesive emissians. have been putting aftermarket catts on due to the cost of audi catt costs.

after been into a garage for a replacment six weeks ago, i went back to check the emisians again.

this code was in the ecu. have been looking around on the internet for some information regarding this.

the audi is 1996 registered with 144000 miles on the clock. but has been well looked after.

any body out there had the sane problem.???

[Tech]

Hi, code P0561 is an ECU supply voltage problem.  It would be caused if you did not have a good 12 volt supply to the ECU.  This could be caused by damaged/corroded wires or terminals, an alternator charging fault or poor earth connections to the ECU.  It could also in very rare cases be caused by an ECU internal fault.  

 

The fault is not directly related to the emissions, if the ECU voltage was too low, the car would not even start.  Have you replaced the oxygen sensors (lambda probes) when you replaced any of the cat's?  The oxygen sensors degrade with age too and could cause over/under fuelling problems if the wrong information is being sent to the ECU.  Also check the exhaust and intake for leaks.

 

Tech

[swifty54]

hello there.

thanks for your reply, I'm not sure if your reply is correct. was told by the garage that there diagnostic equipment had the fault as a fuel mixture adaptation??? value to low??? am also checking with someone else who has seen the same problem on an Audi on a 1995 plate. have not replaced the lambda probe for 3 years. on the last mot the lambda reading on the exhaust test was in range aproxr1.00  the car does not pass the emissions unless I change the cat,problem is the cat s are expensive from Audi but are cheaper from any aftermarket supplier . approx.  £30.00 to 50.00.

im also concerned that the viscus fan is suspect and cooling the engine to much from cold. sorry to go on, but this is the only problem with car. 

also had to change the erg valve and piping along with another pipe under throttle assemble after cross threading an oil pressure switch.

so as you see I'm  trying to find my way to getting my car right.IIts a labour of love .Will ask my garage to check what you have posted and will get back to you

will also check intake side of engine. car runs with no miss-fire and no rough running.

[swifty54]

hello there.

 further to my problem with the above fault code, I have checked all the fastenings' that were disturbed when I changed the oil filter assembly.

I fount that they could be a little tighter, than they could have been.

also im having the car teracleaned on Tuesday morning.

will report an findings when I have the chance.

car seems to be better than before, so thanks for the advice, may well have been a small leak on one of the fittings.

[Tech]

Any leak on the induction and breather systems will play havoc with the oxygen sensor readings and therefore with the fuelling of the engine.  If the engine over-fuels then the cat gets damaged rapidly.  A catalytic converter should last more than a year (most have a 2 year warranty at least).  

 

If there is a leak in the exhaust before the cat/oxygen sensors this will have the same effect so check it thoroughly (including the manifold).

 

Rubber breather pipes can perish and things like dipstick tubes can break too, so check them all.  

 

You was right about that fault code, I confused the OBD code on your car 00561, which is indeed a mixture adaption fault with the OBD II code P0561 which is the voltage supply fault, sorry if I led you up the wrong path with that.

 

Tech

[swifty54]

hello tech.

no you didn't lead me up a garden path. Have checked all fittings on the car, also have had the car put through a teraclean this morning. The readings were well off, but the cat is only a cheap one. £30.00. was told by the garage these cats are used to get the car through a mot The co was 600 ppm the ho was 60ppm and the lambda was at 1.016. will do some further checks this week. And will post what I find out

many thanks for your reply

[swifty54]

hello there.

can some one please tell me the degree of the timing at top dead centre when the engine is on tick over.

[swifty54]

morning out in Audi land.

further to my other posts have news.

have know changed fuel pressure regulator, coolant temperature sender, and had the fuel injectors out and checked. also changed lambda sensor and air mass meter.

found that the fuel injectors were not as efficient as they should be. no leaks but 3 were below where they should be.

have had them cleaned and serviced with new caps and have been ultrasonically cleaned.

the car is not smelling of fuel on start up and for a car of the age of 17 years old goes like billy stink.

have not yet been for a smoke test yet but im hoping for a further reduction in all the readings.

[Audi Owners Club]

Have you had a look here?

 

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/00561

 

Mentions quite a bit about that code  :)

[swifty54]

hi there.

have looked at that page of faults. hope I have done all if the things on there to check

and replace.

will take it for a smoke test when I get the chance, and report my findings.

[Audi Owners Club]

Cool, let us know how you get on!

[swifty54]

morning to you all.

just an update as where I am with the above problem.

have taken the car for an emission's test and have decided to put on a category 3 after market cat.

Ho was at 80ppm. co was at 0650ppm. the lambda was at 0.9--1.00 when it was tested.

after putting on the new cat the readings were  ho 20ppm.  co was at 0.00.

I am going to run the car for a few weeks then take it for a re test.

will let you all know.

[swifty54]

hello audi land.

can any one tell me if you can swap out the cloth interior for a leather one. and if so where is the best place to find one???

[swifty54]

hello there.

Have to day taken the car for an emissions test back to the garage that fitted a new cat.

after getting the cat and engine hot there were on problems with the readings

 so far so good.