In this video I go WAYYYY out of my wheelhouse and try my hands at diagnosing a check engine light on a 2011 VW Jetta. My used car guy dropped it off with the money light on but he reassured me it was gonna be easy. Ends up he was right, but boy oh boy did I remind myself why I don't work on these cars. finding the correct service info is a real pain in the butt! In my opinion any how. -Enjoy!
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49 thoughts on “Volkswagen jetta: p2431 secondary air injection signal improbable”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jason Tillilie says:

    I have to laugh at this. All the equipment on the car and a rubber hose in your mouth parts. I have to say VW's scare me too. I had one, needed to change a headlight, which would randomly go out. When I got to the bulb I looked for the plug for about an hour until I realized it was running off the principal of witchcraft and no plug was needed. Any car that says it will destroy your scan tool if you don't obey it has to be German.

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars paul joey says:

    I hate German ๐Ÿš—. I refuse to work on them.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Automotivated says:

    Wicked easy! Lol when I hear that I think… sounds like I might lose money!! Haha

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars John E. Carr says:

    Another great video.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Alfredo Carpaneto says:

    They stamp the engine code on the cylinder head on VWs

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars rudo 004 says:

    I want to vomit ๐Ÿคข

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jim Vet says:

    The LORD Bless you and yours……… good job boss

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ronald Smith says:

    Love your digital salute to the hose!! ๐Ÿ˜‚

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Joshua Davis says:

    Great job.

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Daniel Denton says:

    "alright, we made it passed the main menu" ๐Ÿ˜† baby steps

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ozzy Krahn says:

    watching this and im having vw car commercials popping up

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars WhyIsRumGone says:

    Air injection? Doesn't the engine suck in enough air already?

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Milan Radojevic says:

    Secondary air injection code is a vacuum leak on vw audi

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Andrew Michie says:

    Unrelated to the complaint:

    Melted fuse box? check the amps on the blower!
    When ever a V-DUB comes in with that code I look at the Fuse box and look for discoloration or melting of the plastic fuse holder, the first thing I do Is an Amp Clamp on the AAIBM. It can still function, and intermittently throw that code, and can causes excess heat in the flat fuse holder 2 the Batt without blowing the fuse.

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Enrico Pallazzo says:

    Yourapean? Imapean

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Kenneth Franklin says:

    Leaf blowers drive me nuts.

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Tom Dolgin says:

    That oil filler cap is aftermarket. Might be the cause. VWโ€™s are very particular with aftermarket parts, the oil filler cap should be black and say Castrol on it.

  18. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Shane Harrison says:

    Perhaps the pumps backwards from what it should be unless its electrical pump that garden hose and golf ball got me theres not owners manual for it oh not cool dude

  19. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Shane Harrison says:

    Good luck Etik good thing there was more service data to show you all its giggly bits when you said it's a 5 cylinder I almost spit out my coffee and laughed yeah they added a cylender to pump in more air. It's all your bud keep your hand sanitizer handy and have at it

  20. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Shane Harrison says:

    Euroscrapp had a plymouth Horizon roll into the garage tossing codes left and right and I ended up haveing to get a shop manual to explain the codes it gave me due to the fact it have a vw rabbit motor in it with computer for the same thanks Chrysler for extending my week

  21. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Fredrico Starone says:

    Very true about foreign & U.S. car systems.. And generic data online. You work without a manual or book kudos to you. Costly to have an actual library. In the past chilton and others would publish one large book for all U.S. made cars.
    I think they expect everyone to go to these mini college's to learn of the new computer controlled systems. Funny how so many have service updates after leaving the factory.
    Always like watching your videos. ๐Ÿ™‚๐Ÿ‘

  22. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars panzerveps says:

    This is my #1 issue with working on VWs.
    There's no way of telling if the signal voltage you read is right or wrong, and even the guys at tech support can't tell you.

  23. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars RJB says:

    What happened to the "Hey there viewers"?
    Remember the days when all you had to worry about was the plugs, points and carb adjustment?

  24. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Carson AC says:

    Vin Z is CBUA (pzev/cali emissions) The pzevs have emissions warranty 15year/150k miles

  25. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Gary Waisner says:

    If Europeans can build cars, Eric O can definitely repair them. No doubt.

  26. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Keith Gable says:

    The aftermarket radio problem on these stopped being a problem a long time ago, unless they use a very old wiring harness adapter which I don't think even fits this stereo connector.

  27. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Nicholas Andre says:

    Unscrupulous car flipper life pro tip: if the battery is dead as a door nail, steal a date sticker off the battery in autozone and slap it on the ancient one.

    Could also be a useful tip for those purchasing cars on Craigslist.

  28. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jeff Groves says:

    Good old VW plastic and rubber. It works great in temperate, cool Europe, but in the US, it self destructs in record time in our hot summers.

  29. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars BeardedWrench says:

    as a VW tech, this was awesome to watch

  30. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Alan Norman says:

    Why does VW make it so difficult? I guess they think their cars are so special they have to be โ€œdifferentโ€ then everyone elseโ€™s cars.

  31. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Andy Edge says:

    Eric, what model is the battery charger you are using. Iโ€™m in the uk and cant see it in the mac tools book

  32. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mike K8MGB says:

    I ainโ€™t quite hired yet, Hahahaha

  33. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Kevin Berg says:

    I believe the deal is that aftermarket radios or integration kits will sometimes put full battery voltage onto the network, because the OE radio is on one of the networks. If the scan tool attempts to pull the network voltage to ground to communicate when it has full battery voltage on it without a resistor, it will smoke the scan tool. I don't know that it is still a thing, but it was back in the early/mid 2000s.
    Anyway, I know you've been doing this a while, probably about the same length of time as me, but as someone who has worked in shops that worked on anything that rolled in the door (including Euros, motorhomes, ambulances, etc) and also working for a German car specialist in the past, I want to give you a piece of advice. I totally respect your decision to work on European cars on a very limited basis. They all love special tools and they love to make getting info difficult/expensive (see the next paragraph). My advice is to not be afraid of the technology. The wording may be different but the cars all work the same way. Lots of them use the same parts. EVAP systems on BMWs and VW/Audi (before going to NVLD) was the exact same LDP as Chrysler used, with all the same common failures. Now a days, most domestic cars are built the same as German cars. They all pretty much use Bosch GDI. Many are turbocharged used turbos from the same suppliers the Germans use (Borg Warner) so the systems are designed the same way. Pretty much all domestic cars now use the same network communications layouts that Germans have been using for nearly a decade. So, if you are afraid of "German" technology or the way Germans build a car, you aren't going to be happy working on new Domestic cars either.

    Regarding the lack of info availability for pretty much any German car, they are exploiting a legal loophole. The right to repair act requires them to make repair information available to independent shops for a "reasonable" price. Rather than doing that by making their service manuals available to aftermarket publishers (alldata, motor, identifix, etc.) they make it part of their OE scan tool and make the scan tool available for use with a J2534 device. You subscribe to their service, download the software, scan the codes and it gives you diag info for those codes. Its called "Guided Fault Finding" and it is absolutely ridiculous because it has you testing the car the same way that old printed flow charts used to, complete with the old "substitute a known good part" line. It's another way the German's make their cars intentionally harder to work on for independents.

  34. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars farm.central. ohio says:

    After watching this video I would really like to take that leaf blower and shove it up the operator's a@&

  35. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Keith Scott says:

    Down side to working on well built German cars.. they arnt barn door engineering and take alot of expertise to fix or a good knowledge of how cars work from ground up

  36. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Matt Man Productions says:

    I was just wondering since I have not seen many videos on them, but does new York never have s10 blazers or the k5's? Or did I miss them?

  37. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Matt Man Productions says:

    If the guy said it was easy, tell him to get under the car and do it than!

  38. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars b says:

    I enjoy your video

  39. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars kevralph says:

    This is one of the main reasons why I bought a used Lexus as opposed to a European car… He's worked on Toyotas and I could drive right in there and he would know what to do..

  40. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jerry Williams says:

    Eric oh wow, jetzt verstehst du, wie ich mich fรผhle, wenn ich an amerikanischen Autos arbeite. Ich mache jeden Tag deutsches Engineering im Vergleich zu amerikanischem Junk

  41. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Spectre XIII says:

    Is that a "Hondur" revving outside thought the video? Geez man.

  42. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars X Folium says:

    Same motor I have, see not so hard!!! Your a brilliant technician!!! With great diagnostic abilities.VW are nice, just like all manufactures have there good and bad. Newer car are getting cheaper and it shows in how much plastic are in them! I do like German car for there ride. But they are money pits.

  43. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars David Nguyen says:

    The Humble Mechanic is laughing his ass off.

  44. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Tanks critters and urban homesteading says:

    My 2012 2.5 pzev passat is at 2.56 atmospheric at 5400 ft. At 67 degrees. If this helps anyone

  45. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Tanks critters and urban homesteading says:

    Won't mess with scan tool as long as you install the radio without connecting to steering wheel controls and using an alternate remote turn on line from the factory one. Hope this helps anyone testing or owning one of these cars

  46. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Michael Bowe says:

    You are a super hero tech Eric O, no vw can beat you

  47. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Robert Kohut says:

    Nice!!

  48. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Diego de Farias Bruno says:

    My jetta has code 2431. This error only causes the CEL to light up after two cold engine starts. the first one detects the fault and if in the second match the fault persists, the CEL lights up. Is there any way to reset the ECU so that I can validate the result after sensor replacement? Because I have to wait for the engine to cool before I can start it again.

    I apologize if I have any errors, but I do not speak English and I used google translator to write this text.

  49. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Peter Sallander says:

    She did an awesome job

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